Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-19

lied political party, which, raising the Con-
stitution as banner Of freedom, marched to
the polls to make the Union the citadel of
liberty. He, indeed. had rejected the Con-
stltutlon ana the Union as the OulWark OF
slavery. But he and the political host, widely
differing, had yet a common purpose, and
and were confounded in a common cOndem-
nation. And who shall count the voters In
that political army, and who the generous
heroes OF the actual war, in whose young
hearts his relentless denunciation Of the
Union had bred the high resolve that, under
the protection of the Constitution and by
Its own lawful power, the slave Union
which he denounced should be dissolved in the
I. rvid glory of new Union of freedom? His
plea, indeed. did not persuade his friends, ana
was 1urlously spurned by his foes. Hang
Phillips and 1ancey together-hang the Abo-
htionlst and the fire -eater-and we shall have
peace, cried mingled wrath and terror, as the
absorbing debate deepened toward civil war.
But still, through the startling flash and over
the thunder peal with which the tempest
burst, that cry rang out undismaYed, DeteRdd
Gdrthdgot The awful storm has rolled away.
The warning voice is stIlled forever. But the
slave I Mon whose destruction he sought IS
dissolved. and the glorious Union of freedom
and equal rights which MS soul desired is the
blessed Union of to-day.
But his judgment. always profoundly sim
cere, was 1t not profoundly sometimes mis-
TAKEN: No nobler friend Of freedom and OF
man than Wendell Phillips ever breathed
freedom surpasses his. But before the war
he demanded peaceful disunion-yet it was the
l mon IN arms that saved Liberty. During
the war he would have superseded Lincoln
but II was Lincoln who freed the slaves. He
pleaded for Ireland. tortured by centuries of
mlsrule, and while every generous heart fol-
lowed with sympathy the pathos and the
power OF MS appeal, the just mind recOlled
from the sharp arraignment of the truest
friends IN England that Ireland ever had. |
know II all; but know also, and history will
remember, that the slave Union which he de-
nOunced IS dissolved; that IL was the heart
and conscience of the nation, exalted by his
moral appeal OF agitation. as well as by the
enthusiasm OF patriotic war. which held up
the hands Of Lincoln, and upon which Lincoln
leaned in emancipating the slaves; and that
only by indignant and aggressive appeals like
his has the heart Of England ever opened to
Irish wrong.
Among her noblest children his native city
VIII cherish him, and gratefully recall the un-
bending Puritan soul that dwelt in a form so
gracious and urbane. The plain house In
which he lIved-severely plain, because the
welfare of the suffering and the slave were
preferred to book. and picture. and every fair
device of art; the house to which the North
star led the trembling fugitive, and which the
unfortunate and the friendlcss knew
the radiant figure passing swiftly
through these streets, plain as the
house from which it came, regal with a
royalty beyond that Of kings-the ceaseless
charity untold-the strong sustaining heart
of private friendship-the sacred domestic
affection that must not here be named-the
elOqu6nce which, like the song of Orpheus,
will fade from living memory into a doubtful
tale-that great scene of his youth in Faneuil
Hall-the surrender Of ambitiOn-the mighty
agitation and the mighty triumph with which
his name is forever blended-the conservation
of a life hidden with God in sympathy with
man-these. all these, will live among your
immortal traditions, heroic even in your
heroic story. But not yours alone. As
years go by, ana only the large outlines of
lofty American characters and careers re-
man, the wide republic will confess the bene-
diction of a life like this, and gladly own that
il with perfect faith, and hope assured, Amer
lea would stand and Ibid the distant genera
tions hall," the inspiration of her national life
must be the sublime moral courage. the all
embracing humanity, the spotlessintegrity, the
absolutely unselfish devotion of great powers
to great public ends, which were the glory of
Wendell Phillips.
The services concluded with the singing
of america" and a benedictiOn.