Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-02-07
WENDELL PHILLIPS,
The Life and Death Of One of tn
Apostles of Abolition.


Apostles of Abolition.
BosToN, Feb 3.-Werdell Phillips died
at 8 IL O'Clock last night. His death WAS
quite peaceful. He realised that he was
dying, and was conscious to the end.
Toward the last he suffered but little
pain, but at times since his attack he
was an intense sufferer, aud he ap-
peared to wsIcoms the end as bringing
him longed for relief. He was not able
to speak, and could only look his fare
we'll to those who surrounded his bed,
HIS invalid wife, his adopted daughter,
his physicians, and those of his house
hold. During the earlier part Of yesterday
ho appeared to be improving, and some Of
HIS family thought that he might after
all rally from the attack, but his physi-
oisns knew that 1t WAS but the Pickering
glow b.fore the fading of the flame. At
about 80 in the afternoon hs suddenly
tried to rise, but the effort was too much
for him, and from that time he sank
rapidly. Exquisite pain for few
moments followed this effort A slight
doss OF ether WAS administered to relieve
II, and he then rested quietly until death
came.
Mr.. Phillips illness began yesterday
week. He was out on the day before 0u
Sunday he W, quite ill, and had the
physician four times. After that he i'm
proved, and on Tuesday received some
callers, among them Mrs. John T, Sargent,
now of New York, but formerly OF this
city, and now we'll known as the hostess
Of the famous Radical Club at her house
in Chestnut street. He did not at tina,
time regard himself as very i'll. Other
callers were seen by him later In the
week, but after Tuesday he suffered such
keen pain that none were allowed to See
him except for q few moments at time.
Wendell Phillips was born in Boston
oo the 29th of November, 1871. He came
OF family that has most respectable
place in history. His father, John
Phillips, was the frat person elected to
to the office OF mayor OF Boston, over so
years since. The sou went through tbs
usual educational course, and he was
cent to Harvard College wheu about l6
y ars old. Hs was graduated la 1881,
and then entered the Law school at Cam
bridge, of which Judge Story had been
for some years the matter spirit.
In that school h- remained two
years, and continued his studies Of
the law elsew here, as he was not ad
mitted to practice till 1884, when he was
in his % year. A, that time his pur
pose WAS, apparently, to give all his
attention to the law; but circumstances
soon were TO order his life and career
very differently, and 10 make him the
most brilliant leader in the war against
slavery which for 81 long, and for long
time apparently so hopelessly, was waged
by the sbolitionists.
1t was In 1886, when he WAS in his
26:h year, that Mr.. Phillips formally
became one of the little band that was
destined to have so gIeat psrt in order
ing the hist ry OF this ccuntry This
led to the loss of his promising prof.s-
sionsl position. The abolitionists held
that the Constitution Of the United states
was a wicked compact, having for its
purpose the maintenance OF slavery, and
they refused assent to ii. Mr.. Phillips
accepted the Logical consequences OF his
adherence to their cause, and gsve up
his business in 1889 Thenceforth be
WAS to be reformtr in the broadcast
meaning Of the word aud he woulG not
divide his powers, giving part to the
world and part to the advocacy of emsp-
oipation. ALI that he could do vi as TO he
done for the latter.
From this date forward Mr.. Phillips,
until 1861, WAS every ywhere known as a
prominent leader of the sboltionists and
their most gifted and popular orator.
Rarely has eloquence like his been
known in this country. Until the open
ting OF the civil war Mr.. Phillips adyo-
Gated dsunion as the only road to aboli
tion, but after the war began he sus-
tanned .he government, and his reason
in this case was the came as in the first
He advocated in 1853 the armipg,
educating, and entranchisng OF the
freedmen, and, in order to secure the
two latter ends, he seoured the continual
tion of the Anti Slavery Society's ex-
istence until after the adoption of the
fifteenth amendment, in 1869
He had become now a prominent advo-
cate OF temperance and labor reform,
aud on those issues became candidate
for governor of Massachusetts in 1870.
He received nearly 10000 voteI. His
next notable appearance in public for
public csnss was made in 1875 at Fsneuil
Hall. 1t was meeting called to de-
uounce the Louisiana policy of President
Grant. Mr.. Phillips made a speech that
attracted wide attention, in which hs
declared in favor of that policy. Woman
suffrage is another topic to which he had
Of late years given his energies and his
eloquenee, ana he had also been promi
nent ss an advocate OF probibitory liquor
laws, prison reform, and the abolition of
capital punishment.
In 1882 the old and historic house in
E'aex street in which MIR. Phillips re-
sided for many years was removed to
make way for the extension of Harrison
avenue. Mr.. Phillips took up his resi-.
dence In it late in the year ls41 and con.
tinued to occupy it until May 18th, 1882
1t was in that house that john Brown
visited Mr.. Phillips and delivered into
his care his fugive slaves. The old house
Was carried off piece meal by relic
hunters, the choicest mementoes being
some tiny squares of wood from tue old
fashioned door castings, which Mr.
Phillips inscribed with his autograph
and gave to his intimate friends. Since
the destruction of his old home Mr..
Phillips and his wife had lived in Ccm
mon street, in the vicinity OF the Hollis
5trset Church, near the scene of the
| famous gathering of anti slavery men. in
which he participated.
A PH0TOGR1PHIC CHANGE.
The Wonderful Probabilities of n
| New Invention.
Edward w. Fell OF Cleveland Ohio.
after experimenting for two years, claims
/ 3T1,sn ii I,