The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-02-14

Wendell Phillips, the Nsted Orator and
Agitator, Joins the Silent
Majority.
The Distinguished Patient Conscious TO
the Last-BiOgraphlcal
Sketch.

Wendell Phillips, the "silver-tongucd ora
tor" is dead. After an agonizing illness he
expired peacefully at his home in Boston on
the I'd of February. Mr.. Phillips was sick for
seven days with angina pectoris, q disease TO
which his father and two brothers succumbed.
His last public address, at the unwilling of
Harriet Martineau's statue, a month before,
had been q severe tax upon him, and he
seemed TO feel keenly the waning of his
physical and mental powers Mr.. Phillips had
had one or two intmations OF heart trouble,
so that the final attack was hardly surprise
to himself or family. He was conscious
through it all, but he realized day or two
ago that IL was an unequal struggle, and told
his physicians that he should die. When IL
became evident that his life could not
be spared, the physicians devoted their en-
ergies simply TO rendering more peaceful his
last hours. During the more severe attacks
of pain he was kept partially under the In
huence Of anesthetics, but his suffering was
still great. Gradually he sank lower, keep
ing consciousness TO the last. His invalid
wife and other members of his family were
about the bed during the last hours, and he
recognized them all He spoke but little, and
his last words-about matter OF personal
comfort-were spoken about half an hour
before the end came.
Wendell Phillips was born in Boston, Nov.
20, 1911. His father was John Phillips, the
first Mayor of Boston. Wendell graduated at
Harvard Colleeesin 1881, at the law school in
1888, and was admitted 10 the bar in 1884.
Three years after beginning the practice OF
his profession in his native city he became
known TO the public as an eloquent advocate
of the anti-savery, temperance, and wom-
an s-rights reforms, then being earnestly agi-
tated, ana continued his indefatigatle labors
during the conflict of opinion on the slavery
question which preceded the civil war. In
holt Ionic laoxv-
ing been a warm admirer of Garrison and an
enthusiast on the anti-slavery question for
many years. SO strong were his convictions
on the slavery question that in 1889 he relin-
pushed law practice from unwillingness TO
observe the oath Of fealty to the Federal Con-
stitution.
His first notable speech was made in Fan
euil Hall, in December, 1887. Il. y. Lovejoy
had been murdered 10y a mob at Alton, H.,
where he was publishing paper of the most
radical anti-slavery opinions. DIR. Charming,
of Boston, had called an Indignation meet
ing at Faneuil Hall. James T. Austin, the
Attorney General of the state of Massachu-
setts apologi ed for the bloody deed or the
mob, and said that Lovejoy vas presumptu-
GUS and imprudent, and that "he died as
the fool ueth." Wendell Phillips, then a
young man fresh from' college, replied
TO the vindoator of mob violence. Fellow
citizens" said he, is this Faneuil Hall doe
trine? The mob at Alton were met to
wrest from citizen his just rfghts-met to
resist the laws. We have been told that our
fathers did the same, and the glorious manne
of Revolutionary precedent has been thrown
over the mobs of our day! Sir, when /
heard the gentleman lay down principles,
which place the murderers OF Alton side by
side with Otis and Hancock, with Quincy and
Adams, / thought those pictured lips
[pointing TO the portraits in the hall
would have broken into voice TO re-
buke the recreant American, the
slanderor of the dead. Great sensation
and applause. The gentleman said that he
should sink into significance if he dared to
gainSay the principles of these resolutions.
Sir, for the sentiments he has uttered on soil
consecrated by the prayers of puritans and
the blood of patriots, the earth should have
yawned and swallowed him. James Otis
Numbered in this hall, when the King did but
touch his pocket. Imagine, If you can, his
indignant eloquence had England offered 10
put gag upon his lips"
From that time till 1851 Mr.. Phillips was q
prominent leader and the most popular ora
tor of the abolitonists. He advocated disun-
ion as the only road TO abolition until the
opening of the civil war, after which he sus-
tanned the Government for similar reason.
In 1861 he advocated arming, educating,
and enfranchsing the freedmen, and Tor the
two latter purposes procured the continuance
Of The AntiSlavery Society till after the adop-
ton of the fifteenth amendment in 1859.
Probably the last public act of Mr.. Phillips
was TO write, the day before he died a letter
TO Rev. DIR. Miner, urging that he and all
other friends of humanity go to the superior
court at Worcester the next day and urge
that a light sentence be imposed on Burnham
Wardw ell, 1.-THE prisoners friend who was
10 be sentenced on that day for uttering q
criminal libel on the Sheriff of that county.
The letter was written against the protest of
Mr.. Phillips physician, who said that even 80
slight an exertion might result fatally.
h.. cty a1ar 20 fhnt Mrs. ltpg
wives her husband excites much comment.
When they were married about thirty
years ago, she was q hopeless invalid, and
one reason for her uniting herself TO Mr..
Phillips was her great desire that her fortune,
which was considerable, might be devoted to
the cause of anti-slavery. She expected to
die soon and thus seal her devotion to the
cause in which her affection was centered.
During the ensuing years Mrs. Phillips has
fingered helpless, the object Of her husbands
constant love. Many touching incidents of
Mr.. Phillips attention TO his wife are told.