The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-05
WENDELL PHILLIPS.
Another of the Old Guard of Adolf.
tionism Passes Away.
Account of His Illness and sketch
of Ris Life and Work---A
Bfographers Discrip-
tfOn of Him.

BosToN, Feb. 5.-Wendell Phillips, the last
great leader of the anti-slavery movement, is
dead. He passed away Saturday evening,
February ., after a most painful illness Of
weeks duration. His weil-known figure was
last seen upon the streets on Friday, the 25th
ult., when he spoke of his failing in strength,
but did not complain of positive illness. His
address month ago at the unwilling of the
Harriet Martineau statue proved a severe tax
upon his physical and mental powers, and he
told his friends that his platform DAYS were
over The first premonition of approaching
illness came on Saturday, the 2Gth ult., when
he felt the symptoms of heart trouble, such
as he had once or twice before experienced.
HIS disease, angina pectoris, had caused the
death of his father and two brothers and he
felt that in the end he, too, must succumb to
it. He suffered terribly, the pain being in
termittant and severe. He told his physicians
that he should never recover, but everything
was done to encourage him. Not until almost
the last did the physicians give up all hope
Of his rallying. The dying man was chiefly
grieved to know that after all he must leave
his much beloved wife.
Mrs, Phillips has been a helpless invalid
these many years, in fact, since before their
marriage, and many times it has been
thought her days were numbered but
she watched at the bedside of her dying
husband, whose tender devotion has been
the chief feature of his later life
At O'Clock on the afternoon of his death
Mr. Phillips felt somewhat easier, and he
attempted to raise himself slightly
in bod Nha
and severe paroxysm utterly
Frustrated him. He realized that he was dying
and said so. Conscious to the very last,
he recognized his wife aud other mem
bers of his family at the be iside and spoke to
them. His last words, spoken about half an
hour before bis DEATH, were about a matter
Of personal comfort. Then he dropped peace
fully away, apparently to sleep The end
came at G:l5 p. IN,
DIR. Phillips has scarcely been himself since
he was driven from his old homestead in
Essex street by the extension of Harrison
avenue two years ago to his late residence
on Common street, where he had lived
for forty years. He was never quite
content after this great break in
his quiet mode Of life A few
months ago at the request of many friends he
undertook to dictate for publication some
"reminiscences of his work as an Abolitionist
The task proved too great and he aban-
dOned it.
Wendell Philips was born in Boston, No
vember 20, 1911, and lived there all his life
His father, John Phillips, was the first mayor
OF Boston, and, of couse, sent him to Har-
ward, whence he graduated in 1881 He was
admitted to practice law in 1894 but, as
neither his tastes nor necessities required him
to remain in the profession, hesoon left il, land
for many years devoted his main
energies to the anti-slayery cause
with which he was prominently iden-
titled from the tine of the murder of
Lovejoy, which aroused his first eloquent
speech in Faneuil hall in 1887, to the close of
the late war and the enfranchisement of
black men He was an unfiinching, out
spoken Abolitionist, and never hesitated to
advocate disunion as the most expeditions
means of freeing the slave. In the height of
Gates were often treated with obloquy and
brutality, his eloquent voice commanded at
tentipn and respect from many who went
only to scott and jeer.
Some of Mr. Phillips bitterest speeches
were made during the war. From the first
he saw that the war was the opportunity
for the slave, and he kept urging the north
to more active measures. He was impatient
with Mr. Lincoln, and in one of his speeches
in Cooper institute declared that Mr.. Lincoln
was an "old turtle He made thrilling
speeches in favor Of arming, educating and
enfranchising the blacks, and was always
predicting that they would seize the oppor-
tunity to free themselves at the sacrifice of
their masters. He was warm advocate of
the emancipation proclamations Of both FIRE.
mont and Lincoln, and the fruition of his
hopes was found in the adoption of the fif-
tenth amendment
At the close of the war Mr. Phillips came
prominently to the front as an advocate of
the principles Of the Greenback- Labor party
and soon became celebrated for as marked
utterances on the labor question as had char
acterized his anti-slavery speeches,
Mr. Phillips was greatly in demand as a
lecturer Among his most celebrated leet-
ures were those on THE Lost Arts, y "Eulo-
gies Of Theodore Parker and John
Brown" and "Toussaint L'Ouverture The
Lost Arts" was a charming literary
production, full of curious data going
respects ahead Of the modern works Of art
He even traced the ancient history of many
modern jokes. He varied the lecture from
time to time, and delivered it hundreds of
times in various parts of the world
Oh the Chinese question Mr.. Phillips diff
fered from some of the old abolition orators,
and favored the restriction S Chinese immi-
grafton as q means of essential protection of
American workmen. He said: They who
seek to food US artifcially with barbarous
labor are dragging down the American home
to the level Of the houselea3 street herds of
China. If the workingmen have not com
bined to prevent this it is time they should
When rich men conspire poor men should
combine"
A recent biographer says: He has a
pleasant voice. which rang out like trumpet
when played upon by his varied thought and
feeling He has also q fine face, a good
figure, and he is master of the most graceful
elocution. Even when We do not like the
tune, we arc charmed by the beauty and
sound of the instrument. should add here
that he has a brave and fiery spirit-that ho
is the Hotspur of rebellion against many of
the old customs enthroned in society. He is
an iconoclast who spares no image that
binders him in his progressive march.
He seems to fave cranky wish
to be prominent on the losing side of cause
or controversy. His sympathies are not
only with the under dog in the fight but
he would shelter the dog that is mad. He
loves "a shining mark, aud being good shot
he is pretty sure to hit the 'bulls-eye.' His
target may be the administration, or po
litical organization, or the church, or some
moral reform. When he goes a-hunting for
human game, he attempts to bring down
some of the tails5t men, and would not be
satisfedif.. he didnot bag president, major
general or cabinet minister He makes
wa7 with the judiciary, the police the army,
the navy, the city corporation, the legisla-
ture, the club-and any head lifted above tna
crowd stands the risk of getting black eye
or broken nose. He is tall and symmetrical
His face shows earnestness, refinement and
culture; head large, with a fine front; eye:
OF blush gray color; hair, once auburn
now white. He has the air. look and carriage
OF gentleman. Before the audience he has
the self-poise and steadiness of nerve which
arise not from self-esteem but from calm