Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-14
GARRISON"
The Other Side of the Question.
le Editor of THE EVENING STAR:


The STAR of the 7th instant contains an
anonymous communication signed 'Histor-
icus" protesting against the naming of one of
our colored school buildings fer William
Lloyd Garrison, the recognized leader of the
anti-slavery movement. and best friend the col
ored people of America ever had.
am sorry to see that .'Historicus" is sec
onded in his absurd demand by man of the
intelligence of Hon. Horatio King, who, in
letter published in last Sundays Post, indorses
all that ''Historicus says.
1t is hoped that the Commissioners, for their
own sake, at least as well as for the credit Of
this District, will pay no attention to this
absurd clamor. They cannot honor Garrison
by naming a school house after him. but they
can honor themselves by such an act. He has
taken his place in history the most perfect
specimen of manhood the nineteenth century
has produced. The city of Boston, that mobbed
him in 1885, has at last come to her senses and
honors herself by erecting statue to his
memory on her most fashionable boulevard.
.'GARRIsoNs sHIBBoLETH."
When Historic u.s. states that Mr. Garrison's
"shibboleth" was down with the church, the
clergy and all governments, courts and statute
laws" he states what is not true
In the declaration of sentiment of the Ameri-
can anti-slavery society, organized in Philadel-
=
delegates, representing eleven states, may be
found the following, which was written by Mr..
Garrison, then twenty-three years of age:
With entire confidence in the overruling
justice OF God. we plant ourselves upon the
declaration of our independence and the truth
OF Divine revelation, as upon the everlasting
rock. Our trust for victory is solely in God.
we may be personally defeated but our prin-
clples never. Truth. justice. reason, humanity,
must ana will goriously triumph. = = Sub
uniting this declaration to the candid examina-
ton OF the people OF this country, and of the
friends of liberty throughout the world, we
hereby affix our signatures to it. pedging our
selves that under the guidance and by the help
OF Almighty God We viii do all that in us lies,
consistently with this declaration of principles,
TO overthrow the most eXecrable system of
slavery that has ever been witnessed
upon earth. to deliver our land from its
dea lliest curse, to wipe out the foulest stain
| that rests upon our nationa, escutcheon, and to
secure to the colored population of the United
states all the rights and privileges which be-
| long to them as men and Americans, come
what may to our persons, our interests, our
regulations; whether we live to witness the
trIunph of liberty, justice and humanity,
| perish untimely as martyrs in this great benev-
olent and holy cause"
Is there ANYTHING in this language to justify
'Hlstoricus" staten mt that Mr.. Garrison was
opposed to all churches. governments and
courts of law? On the contrary does it not
show that he was in favor of everything just
pure and holy. He was opposed to a pro-
| slavery church. every man ough. to be.
The declaration of sentiment. part of which
have quoted, was signed by John G.. Whittier,
the eminent poet, who was a member of the
convention, and who though then an editor of
| recognized ability, insisted that Mr.. Garrison
should write the declaration. he regarding him
| as the best fitted for that task. Mr.. Whittier
remained Mr.. Garrison's steadfast friend from
| that day until his death, when he wrote a beau
tlful HYMN, which was sung at the funeral, clos
ing with the lines:
"Go up and on, thv day well done
Its morning promise we'll fulfilled;
Arise 10 trlumphs yet unwon,
To holier tasks that God las wed.
go. leave behind thee all that mars
Tue work below of man for man;
With tine white lcgions of the stars
Do service such as angels can"
Concerning the beginning of his career an
other great poet, James Russell Lowell our
late minister to England, wrote:
I'm small chamber friendless and unseen,
The place DARK, unfurnitured and mean,
let there the freedom OF u race began"
1t seems, despite the opinions of "Historicus'
and MIR. King, that Whittier and Lowell. two of
our most eminent poets, delight to honor Gar
rison as the leader of the great anti-slavery
movement.
"Historicus" SAYS ''Why not name the school
| buildings for Lundy?" If he were better posted
| he would not ask such question. for he would
| know that Lundy was Garrisons old partner in
| business.
AS far back as 1923, when Garrison was but
| eighteen years of age, he edited an anti-slavery
| paper IN Bennington. Vermont, called The Jour
'.at OF ne Tunes which supported John Quincy
| Adams for the presidency. 1t was while edit
ing this paper that Benjamin Lundy who
| was publishing paper i'll Baltimore called
The Genius Of Emancipation. made journey to
| Boston all the way by stage, and from there on
| foot through deep snow to Bennington, where
| DerSualpN 70 with il,
| MS Baltimore enterprise, which resulted in
| Garrison being thrown in Jail, where he re-
manned for forty-nine days, until Arthur Tap
pan of New York paid his fine and costs and
set him at liberty.
| CLAY AND GARRISON.
1t is not generally known but nevertheless o
fact, that Henry Clay, through the instru-
mentality Of John G. Whittier, who at that
time was great admirer of Clay, had inter.
| ested himself for Garrison, and was about to ac-
compllsh his release, when Arthur Topper
forestalled his action by paying the entire fine
and costs. 1t was while incarcerated in this
| Baltimore dungeon that Garrison composed
and inscribed with pencil on the walls of his
cell the two sonnets, entitled 1.-The Guiltless
| Prisoner" and Freedom of the Mind" which
| the Rev. DIR. George Il. Cheever pronounced
sufficient to immortalize his name, if he had
never done anything else. Garrison and Lundy
continued fast friends until the latter's DEATH
| 1t will no doubt be news to many to know
that Garrison came very near starting his
| Ltberdtor in Washington. In August, 1880, he
issued prospectus of weekly paper to be
published here called The Liberator. The
project was finally abandoned and the paper
brought out in Boston.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GARRISON.
There never was a man more misrepre.
sented than VIM. Lloyd Garrison. There
was nothing rash or cranky about him.
A more clear-headed. cautious. conservative
man never lived. He was socially great
favorite wherever he went. With a som
| imbued with love alike for the Shareholder and
the slave. as we'll as for all mankind he placed
at the head of his paper the motto: Our coun.
try is the world; our countrymen are all man.
| kind"
He possessed a certain charm of manner that
made him irresistible and won friends wherever
he went.
On one occasion he met a STAKEHOLDER in the
cars who was so pleased with his manner that
he said when they separated. Il will be pleased
to see you and to hear you lecture at the south
II the abohtonists were all like you they
would be welcome to our homes, but If we evel
| catch that Garrison there we will make quick
work with him." ''My dear SIR" said Garrison
II am the man you SO despise." Then" sale
the STAKEHOLDER, ''if you are Garrison, am az
abolitionist from this date" 1 remember Of
hearing him say: ''If could strike the chains