New-York tribune., 1884-02-03
WLNDELL PHILLIPS DEAD.
A QUIET END OF A WEEK OF SUFFERING.
DEATH CAUSED BY ANGINA PEcroRIs-coNscIoUs
TO THE END.

|
mon-st, of angina pectoris Mr.. Phillips mao
been iii for week with the disease,
which has been the death OF several
members of his family. He was last upon the street
on Friday Of last week, when he was feeling wen
but not strong, any exertion making severe TAX
! on his vital powers He suffered severely III his
last sickness the attacks of pain requiring the con-
slant attendance of physicians for their parta IT,
| lief
1t became evident to the physicians on lhurs-
day that Mr. Phillips coulduot survive. and he fuiiy
realized his condition. To-day he was Ill less pam
during tho morning. and it was thought lie might
! live for some DAYS He himself felt more
! encouraged and this afternoon about
o'clock he attempted to raise himself
TO an easier position in bed The effort brought on
! n severe paroxysm. which left him exhausted ana
| diving The pain was finally relieved by ether, put
he retained consciousness aud gradually sank: His
| invalid wife AID other members OF MS fanny
gathered at his bed ifbin SR6 he fnGf hSf 'nI am
hour of the end he spoke fcebly to one or two.
Finally, his strength failed, he dropped asleep IL
seemed and at G15 O'clock he had ceased 70
breathe No arrangements have yet been made lor
his funeral.
Wendell Phillips was born in Boston on NoVem-
Der 29, 1911, and belonged to family holding
most respectable place III the history OF that cl'y.
His father John Phillips, was the first Mayor OF
Boston, being elected about 1920. Wendell PM
lips went through the usual educational course
and was sent to Harvard College wheh
about sixteen years old He was graduated III
1881. and at once entered the Law School at Cam
bridge, where Judge Story had been for some years
the master spirit. He remained there two
years, and then continued his law studies
elsewhere. He was admitted to the bar in 1884
and his purpose then, apparently, was to give all
his attention TO the law. Circumstances, however
ordered his life and very differently, and he
soon became brilliant leader in that war
against slavery which was waged so long by the
AbO tionsts In 1886 he became Garrison
Abolitionist and in 1880 he gaTe up
his law practice from unwilngness to Oh
serve the oath of fea ty 10 tho Federal
Consultation. The Abolitionists held that Tie
Constitution of the United States was wretched
compact, having for its purpose the maintenance
of slavery and for that reason they refused to sup
port It, Accepting the logical consequence Of his
adherence to the anti-slavcry cause, Mr.. Phillips
gave up his profession and determined to devote
himself to the advocacy oi emancipation.
Ills FIRST ABOLITION SPEECH.
Mr.. Phillips first Abolit on sproch made to-
ward the close of 1S37. When the Rev. elijah Love
joy was shot down by a prJ-slavery mob at Alton,
| H., DR.. Wm. Ellery Charming and hundred o,her
citizens of Boston applied for the use OF
! Faneul Hall to give expression to their
man. But the authorities rejected their
application This refusal greatly increased the
popular indignation, and DR.. Claiming appealed tc
| the citizens OF Boston TO reverse the arbitrary
action Of the city government. This appeal made a
! deep impre,siO and meeting called IN the
old Supreme Court room to take into consideration
the assigned by the Mayor and Aldermen
for Withholding Faneul Hail, and 10 act in the
premises as may be deemed eXpedeut.' 4 commit
tee was appointed to renew the application,
which wGs successful
On December the citizens met in Faneu1 Hall,
and all went well until Attorney General Austin
made inhammatOTy aud exciting speech,
in which he declared that Lovejoy was not oDl-
prcsumptaOus aA1 imprudent while he lived, hut
that &" he died as the fool dicth." He alluded to
the slaves in offensive teTmsan his remarks were
vociferously applauded by the riOtO-s element of
the meeting.
When Mr.. Austin had finished his speech and re-
tirs - Nh Phillips ascendcd the PLATFORM and was
me with the hostile demonstrations of the parti
sans of Austin. He had gone to the meet |
ing with no intention Of taking any part
in the proceedings but Mr.. AustIn's speech was so
bitter a. to arouse his indignation. He replied to
Mr. Austin with great cloquence and potent argu-
ments, and his remarks were received with mingled
d Jnstrations Of censure and approval. During
his speech, referring to Mr. Austin, he
sand: Sir, for the sentiments he has uttered
soil conSecraed by the prayers of the Puritans
and the blood of patriots, the earth should have
was followed by al uproar, and the unruly mem |
bers of the audience declared that he |
should not be heard further until he !
had taken back his words. But Mr.. Phil |
lips peromptorily declared that he. would |
not take back his words, and proceeded |
the audience and tie next day Mr.. Phillips woke |
mp to find himself famous, and from that time he |
was the Orator of the Abolition cause.
HIS LABORs IN THE ANTI-sLAvERY CAUSE.
From the time of his Fanuicl Hall speech until |
1861 Mr. Phillips was prominent leader and the |
most popular orator of the AboltiOnist party His
name alone suiiiced to command great audiences,
and he probably did much any other pe,qon |
for the of the AbotIOnists. What |
he considered to be errors he handled |
in the fercest manner. His oratory was much as
sisted by the circumstance that he was a man of |
very commanding presence, an orators figure often |
having much to do with his effectiveness as his |
figures of speech He advocated dis
union as the only road to abolition |
until the opening of the civil war, when he |
sustained the Government for similar reason. In |
1S63-64 he advocated the arning, educating and en-
fTanchising the freedmen, and for the two latter !
purposes procured the continuance of the Anti
Slavery Society until after the adoption of the |
XVIII Amendment in 1863.
THE CANDIDATE OF PROHIBITIONIsTs.
In 1870 he was the candidate of the Prohib-
itOnists and WorkDgmen Of Massachusetts, for
Governor and he received about 10000 votes
Later the took up the GTeenback question, ana
during the last ten years his name has appeared |
several times on the Greenback and Prohibition |
State tickets in Massachusetts,, but not always !
for tie office OF Governor Mr.. Phillips lwas /
for many years an advocate of woman suffrage |
prohibition and prison reform and was opposed |
to capital punishment. In January, 1878, hc |
made strong speech in Faneuil Hall in sup
port of President GTants Louisiana policy speaking
before meeting called 70 dcnounce that policy.