Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-07-24

framing worthy VI LIS po"eAo' 80
path to success lay at his feet. Pro
fesslonal triumph and social distinct
ion lay at his feet. Professional
triumph and social distinction await
| ed him. honor and fame were becon-
ing; but when he saw Garrison mob
bed in the streets If Boston for adyo-
eating the right Of personal liberty,
| all these allurenents Ae thrust aside,
turned his beck forever on all bis
cherished plans, faced the f.oHns OF
society and t.le .ieer5 Of former friends
to espouse the cause Of q hated race.
He became an abolitionisf; and that
was to incur alienation and ignominy,
to risk reputation and life.
Little does our generation conceive
the spirit Of the antl-slayery move
ment. The mobs and riots that from
time to time startle the land today,
recall but little of the deep frenzy and
lawlessness that ra;gned north and
south fifty years ago. Beneath the
seeming prosperity Of the nation rag
ed the volcanic fire Of passion. The
murder Of Lovejoy, while defending
his press at Alton, characterizes the
period. An American citizen shot
down by a mob for asserting the
right of free speach-a right lnallen-
able, a privilege inseparable from free
governments heritage which voices
from the past, whispers from the fu-
ture and the sacred memory OF the
brave, admonish Us ever to maintain!
Yet for asserting this right Garrison
was thrust into a felon's cell, and
Loveioy was made a martyr. Fired
! by this outrage to humanity and by
) the attorney generals public defence
) Of the murders in Fanueil Hall, young
Phillips made that famous speech,
. which ranks with Patrick Henry's
electrical warning and Lincoln's i'm
mortal address at Gettysburg. Sir"
said he, when [ heard the gentleman
lay down principles that placed the
murderers at Alton side by side with
! Otis and Hancock, with Quincy and
: Adams, l thought those pictured lips
t. would have broken into voice to re
buke the r~ecreant American-the
n slanderer Of the dead" Needless Of
y Kisses regardless of threats, Philips
). faced the whirlwind undismayed
lifted his voice above the tumult anc
by tile majesty Of his courage awet
the multitude into silence. His glow
| inc sentences touched the heart O.
the people and recalled the spirit o
l, liberty to its cradle in Faneui1 Hall.
le That speech revealed his eloquenc'
l and proclaimed his mission. Earnest
IS brave, heroic. Phillips began his work
$, For more than q generation thl
e matehless orator labored against hu
le man bondage. His Will aclzno%1edg
v ed no obstacle, his zeal knew II
Il L~abatement; he advocated, urged, Gle
le manded Immediate, uncondltlona
emancipation. Through all the wear,
g years Of the anti-slavery fight he ney
il or wayered. Year after year he poul
4. ed forth his wonderous eloquenct
day and night he gave himself to tn
q great work, until our boastol freedom
le was real and every slave was free.
to For this work Of arouslng the cour
a try Philips was peculiarly fitted. Ii
faith in the people was unboundet
be He believed that institutions are mad
d. for men, not men for instlt'
ed tons. His brilliancy attracted b
be the educated clas5es-and viii
.er audience bowed to the spell of b
he eloquence he presented his argumem
IN and urged his plea, His power
AZ ~invecjive surpassed that Of any 9th
on American. Harsh rebuke, stingir
II satire, scathing sarcasm be used VII
N. telling effect. No epithet was t
ed blistering, 10 denunciation too bitt
for those r~ecreant to the caus Of fire
cir dom. Combating at dcsl cIate od'
Ias a mighty system y wrong. with TO
S. million slaves dub suppiiaats at /
vas feet, he must not be judged by Il