The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-02-18
MartyrdOm of LOvejOy.

meet all possible encouragement. But
when this is done all is not done.
There is another almost unmarked
over which granite shaft ought soon
to rise to remind the American people
what it cost to maintain a free press
in this republic Of ours. On the sth
of November, forty-eig ght years ago,
a dismal, rainy day, the first martyr
in the conflict between freedom and
human slavery was laid to rest on a
bluff overlooking the Mississippi, in
the cemetery at Alton, Ill This vic
tim of pro-slavery intolerance was the
Rev. Elijah Parish Lovejoy, man
destined thenceforth to live. Love-
joy was born in Albion. Me-, just
thirty-fve years before. He was grad
uated at Waterville College, in his
native State, and from thence went to
St. Louis, where he soon drifted into
journalism. He was an enthusiastic
supporter of Henry Clay for the Pres
idency, holding that statesman's views
on the subject of emancipation. In
1882 he went to Princeton to the the
illogical seminary there. He was IL
censed to preach by the Presbytery of
Philadelphia in the following year,
and returned to St. Louis Immediately
after, where he founded a religious
newspaper called the St. Louis Obser-
yer, in which, from time to time, he
gave his views on the slavery ques-
tion. He soon found himself in con-
troversy with the bigoted Romish
priesthood of the city. The United
States soldiers stationed there assisted
in the dedication of the Catholic Ca
thedral and lent their flags to Bishop
Rosatti for the pageant. This action
was strongly denounced by Lovejoy,
and in retaliation the priests raised
the cry of "abolitionism" The city
was under priestly and pro-slavery
rule, and from thenceforth the fear
less editor was a marked man. The
publication of the Observer was sus-
pended for while, but after short
period was resumed. In the spring of
1886 a negro who had killed man
under circumstances which greatly ex-
tenuated the deed, was chained to a
tree and burnt to death by St. Louis
mob A Judge who bore the fitting
name of Lawless. charged the grand
jury when the attempt was made to
indict the leaders, that the participa-
tors in such deeds of violence were
not proper subjects of punishment,
because they are hurried on by some
mysterious. metaphysical, and cleo
trio frenzy" Mr.. Lovejoy handled
The infamous Judge without gloves,
and soon the old cry of 'abolitionism"
was raised anew, and the Office of OBJ
server was destroyed by another mob.
Mr.. Lovejoy then determined to
move to Alton and issue his paper on
the soil Of free State But the fatal
cry had preceded him. His press was
destroyed the night of his arrival. A
public meeting was held the next day,
and the better class of citizens pledged
themselves to stand by him. They re-
imbursed him for his loss, another
press was procured, and the Alton OBJ
server appeared. On the 9th Of Au-
gust, 1887, the Office Of the Observer
was again destroyed. A convention
was held in Upper Alton, at which
were present leading men from differ
ent parts Of the State, who urged the
immediate re-establishment of the OBJ
server sin the interests of human
rights" and free speech" The pro-
slavery party was equally determined,
and called meeting to consider the
question whether the publication
should be allowed. Mr.. Lovejoy at
tended and made speech which
shamed his opponents. He declared
his intention to do his duty, for which
he stood pledged to God. II dare not, "
he exclaimed, "fee away from Alton.
Should I attempt it. | would feel that
the angel of the Lord, with drawn
sword, was pursuing me wherever l
went. The contest has come here,
and here it must be finished. Before
God and you all have pledged myself
to continue it, if need be, till death,
and if l fall my grave shall be made
in Alton!'
His words were prophetic. Another
press was procured and stored on the
9th of November in the warehouse of
Godfrey & Gillian, two-story stone
building which stood near the river
landing. About sixty men had en-
rolled themselves under the laws as a
military company and offered their
services to the Mayor to keep order.
This company assembled the next
evening, but was dismissed, no attack
being apprehended. About twenty
men remained, however, to watch.
The mob soon gathered and began the
attack, in which one Of their number
was killed. Re-enforcements gathered,
and the cry arose to burn the Aboli-
tionists. Mr. Lovejoy and two others
stepped out at the lower side of the
building, in order to drive away the
man who was setting fire to the roof,
but were fired at by parties concealed
behind pile of lumber. Mr.. Love
JOYS companions were wounded; he
himself received five bullets. He
walked up stairs to the Office, saying:
81 am shot; I am dead" and died
without struggle.
The martyr was buried the next
day without any funeral service. A
Methodist preacher, afterwards Mayor
of St, Louis, was present, but refused
to even offer prayer. The writer heard
this man during the past year declare
that the real friends of the negroes
were their masters. Lovejoy's grave
was dug by a colored man named
William johnson, who stained the
pine coffin with pokeberry juice.
johnson was raised in Scotland, and
when a boy served under Lord Aber-
deem. He died in July of the present
year. Three months previous to John
sons death the Rev. Thaddeus B,
Hurlbut, who assisted Mr.. Lovejoy on
the Observer, and who was present
when he was murdered, was buried in
Upper Alton. Only one Of the twen-
ty defenders of the paper on that ia
tai night, Henry Tanner, of Buffalo,
is still alive. The site of the