Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-04-30
THEODORE PARKER.
The Great Thinker as Orator and Poll.
tician.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
Among those who most severely crit
icised the course of Mr.. Webster both
before and after his death, was Theo.
dore Parker. This remarkable teacher
and thinker had all the virtues of Chris
tianity, though he did not accept its di-
vine origin III the usual sense. His
congregation in those days, IN the Bos-
ton music ball. was sight to see. for
ample as its proportions were they
were hardly enough 90 for the crowds
which thronged to hear him preach an
ti.slavery, charity, temperance, and all
the major and minor virtues. OF
course some people went to hear con-
yersational religion spoken of sharply,
and to enjoy Mr.. Parkers' free method
oil handling the Bible and the creeds;
others were there out of curiosity; but
whether you were at one with the
speaker or not, so far as more than d
moiety of the assemblage was concern
ed, you felt that you were breathing an
atmosphere of sincerity and, | may
say, Of particular conscientiousncss.
Mr. Parker was not all orator. He
was no pulpit cultivator Of the graces.
He had not been petted and handled
into popularity. His rule had always
been to speak the things which were
true, rather than the things which were
agreeable. His sermons were pre-
pared upon no venerable model, and
no more reminded you OF Blair than Of
Jonathan Edwards; but they were so re.
plete with thought and courage, so
strengthened by unusual learning, SO
MASSIVE in their simplicity, so direct in
their point, and so recommended by
Exceeding honesty" that however
much one might disagree with the
teacher it was impossible not to respect
him. He had nota single dramatic ac-
cessory. He had no pulpit and not
even q church. His manner was quiet;
he used few gestures; the voice anu the
noble Socratic face supplied more than
the whole arnory of the deftest elocu.
ZIONIST. He preached about everything,
and that ls why he is in the present
company, for, of course, he preached
about politics. He plainly and plump
ly advised his people to disobey the
fugitive slave law, not theoretically but
practically. He was very little of q
non.resistant, and l doubt if even his
friend Garrison, that good man of per.
feet peace of the tongue, could have
held him hack from shooting, when
there was u reasonable prospect that
shooting would be efficient. AS for the
poor hunted runaway's right to resort
to knives and pistols, to keep his new
and hardly won liberty, why | suspect
that not even Mr.. Garrison had much
doubt about that. Somehow, the pa
citic theories did not seem so impoI-
tant when it came to the question Of
personal liberty or the death of the
kidnapper. Whatever his errors have
reason to remember Mr.. Parker only
with gratitude. had not long been an
editor in Boston, before / discovered
that for various reasons, | had entered
upon rather difficult business. 1t
was not then easy to speak words Of
Truth and Of humanity in opposition to
what were then regarded rs the mate
rial interests of the city. Commerce
and capital and manufactures we're up
on the other side, and even those who
meant to do right were occasionally
timid. So one day when Mr.. Parker,
with whom | had then no personal. ac-
quaintance whatever, walked into my
little room, and having introduced
himself with free, natural courtesy,
uttered words OF appreciation and en-.
enlargement, l felt that his single APP
prevail Was worth all the plaudits of all
the lawyers offices and warehouses and
counting rooms put together. When |
thanked him meant what said, Tor
had then many advisers who were but
Jobs comforters ut best. While they
were hanging John Brown in Virginia,
Mr.. Parker with his dying hand was
writing from Italy: There's II glori-
Gus future for America but the other
side of the Red sea, He, too, was OF
the prophets.