The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-18

head Of the days Of Cromwell. He wa
thoroughly in earnest, If not quite fanatica
in his politics. His courage was unfiinchins
and he would have died for his principles
| He had blunt, masculine eloquence rarely
equalled, and on the slavery question, as 1
stnmp speaker, 1t would be difficult to name
his superior.
In Februar7, 1859, at the Capitol in Wash
ington, speaking of the acts which led to
this trial, for harboring fugitive slave there
is one Of the boldest and most effective out.
bursts Of eloquence from Lovejoy to be
found in all the literature of the slavery
question.
He had been taunted and reproaehedH on
the floor of Congress, and stigmatized rs one
who, in aidingslaves to escape, had violated
the laws and Constitution of his country.
He had been Denounced as ''nigger stealer,' =
threatened by the slave holders, and they
attempted to intimidate and silence him.
They little knew the man, and his reply ST.
fenced them and extorted the admiration of
friend and foe. He closed one of the most
radical and impassioned speeches ever made
In Congress by unhinchingly declaring: "I
do assist fugitive slaves. Proclaim 1t, then,
upon the house tops; write it on every leaf
that trembles In the forest; make It blaze
from the sun at high noon and shine forth in
the milder radiance OF every star that be-
decks the armament of God; let it then echo
through all the arches of heaven and rever-
berate and below along the deep gorges Of
hell, where slave catchers will be very likely
to hear ii. Owen Lovejoy lives at Prince
ton, Illinois, thIee-quarters of mile east of
the village, and he aids every fugitive slave
that comes to his door and asks 1t. Thou in
visible demon of slavery, dost thou think to
think to cross my humble threshheld and for
bid me to give bread to the hungry and shell
ter to the homeless. bid you defiance in
the name of God ~
heard Lovejoy declare that after the death
of his brother he went to the graveyard at
Alton, and kneeling upon the sod which COW
cred the grave of that brother, he there, be-
fore God, swore eternal war and vengeance
upon slavery. He kept his oath.
He was q man Of powerful physique, in
tense feeling and great magnetism as speak
er, and he now went forth like Peter the
Hermit, with heart of fire and tongue of
lightning, preaching his crusade against sla-
very.
In the log school houses, in the meeting
houses and places Of worship, he preached
and lectured against slavery with vehe-
msnce and passionate energy which carried
the people with him. Tie martyrdom of
his brother was sufficient excuse for his vi
olence, and the name Of Lovejoy, the mar
tyr, like the name Of Rob Roy or Douglass,
in Scottish history, became name TO "cen-
jure" with. Some idea of his dramatic pow
er may be obtained from sermon preached
1t Princeton, in January, 1912, on the death
Of his brother. After describing his murder
by a cruel mob, because he would not sur
render the freedom of the press, he declared
that for himself. "come life or
come death, will devote the residue of my
life to the anti-slavery cause" "The slave
holders and their sympathizers," said he,
. have murdered my brother, and if another
victim is wanted, l am ready"
His aged and widowed mother was present
in the church. Pausing and turning to her,
be said
"Mother, you have given one son, your
elder, to liberty; are you willing to give an
,ther?''
And the heroic mother replied: (" Yes, my
'on; you cannot die in better cause"
He lived to see slavery die amid the flames
If war which itself had kindled.-Hon. l. |
N. Arnolds lecture before The Illinois Bar
as.. .-