Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-06-15
WENDELL PnlLLlPs.

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ploy the editorial "we," relates his ex.
penence at an anti-slavery meeting
held in New York City a few days be-
tore that date. He had heard several
speakers, when to quote his own Ian
Iguage: 1--WE became stupid and
obvious and at last. amid our dowsy
sensations, had vague idea that some
body was about to advocate PROPOSE
ton that our Political parties and Sec
tartan churches are the great bulwark
of slavery in the Union; : and just as
we were beginning to mediate seriously
on tine possibility of stealing softly into
the street, a gentleman with light HAIR
and countenance remarkable for its m
tellectual expression, took the platform.
As his bearing gave promise of some
thing above the ordinary eloquence Of
such meetings, we resolved to remain
a few moments longer. But Mr. Wen
dell Phillips had scarcely opened his
lips, when all were wide awake and
listening to burst of eloquence per-
fectly startling. The man was faultless
in his elocution, graceful in his action.
and his argument vas sustain I'd with a
language vivid and full Of that generous
power of feeling which is the lite and
soul of true oratory." This graceful
tribute to the oratory of the young
philanthropist, applies equally well to
his unnu mbered public utterances dur
ing the nearly forty years which have
elapsed since it was penned. The voice
of the great speaker is heard no longer
in public, but these words recall to
readers without number, its musical
cadence, exact propriety of expression,
and its every sentiment instinct with
the sympathy Of a noble nature.
Wendell Phillips was bonn in Boston,
November 29, 1871. He was educat-
ed at Harvard, where he was graduated
in the year 1891. He studied law at
the Cambridge Law School, and was
admitted to the bar in 1894. The
year after beginning the practice ofhis
profession in his native city, he became
known to the public as an eloquent ad-
vocate of the anti-slavery, temperance
and women's rights reform then earn
estly agitated, and continued his IN
defatiga BILE labors during The conflict
of opinion on the slavery question
which preceded the civil war. As a
prominent member of the Anti-Slavery
Society, he was the victim Of consider
able persecution. On one occasion he
was mobbed by fellow citizens of Bos-
ton. During the early stage of the war
he continued to advocate the emancl-
patton of the slaves in a wonderfully |
energetic manner. At a meeting held
in Cincinnati during this period of In
tense excitement, he spoke for an hour
amid jeers and Kisses, and running |
salute of eggs and ether missiles, when
the owner Of the hall, fearing serious
mischief to his property, desired his
withdrawal. He succeeded William L.
Garrison as president of the Anti.Sla-
very Society, and continued his men,
bership in that association until its dis
solution in 1870. Mr.. Phillips strenu-
ously opposed the policy of President
Hayes toward the Southern States.
The subjects of his lectures and ad-
dresses have included earnest appeals
on behalf OF Ireland. An edition Of
his Speeches, lectures, ana letters was
published in 1863. The hope is gen.
eral that he will enjoy the time and
necessary to the production
of such "reminiscences of his career as
would be invaluable material for the
historian. The old man, eloquent
still, resides in Boston, in a simple, un.
pretending way. His study an old
apartment, well stored with
books and bearing evidence of contin.
uous industry, Is ornamented with bus.s
of Elizabeth Fry, Theodore Parker, and
John Brown, and a statuette Of Charles
Sumner, after the model of Miss
Ann Whitney, submitted unsuccessful.
ly, when the construction ofa statue of
the great statesman for the Public
Gardens of Boston was under consider
alton.
Missouri Patents.