St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-28

What then gave it power and con-
tinueS the sale of the book?
First of all, it made a broad
application of the American idea that
every man should have the privilege
of liberty, intellectual, spiritual and
physical. But every man is entitled to
this liberty. The blessing is so COM
mon it is not appreciated, but it is,
/ nevertheless, of the greatest value. Mr..
Cable illustrates it in the story Of Bras
Coupe. Who was Bras Coupe? An
African chief. What was peculiar
about his history? His position was
the situation as long as he could hold
the place; when a stranger came he
failed. Was he comfortable? Some
times in abiect poverty. He was cap
tured, put aboard ship, brought to the
plantation, had plenty TO. eat, but was a
Slave. One day he struck down his
ovenseer and escaped TO the swamp.
Why? Because starvation and liberty
were dearer to him than plenty and
slavery.
g The next instinct to which she APP
pealed was that of family life. The cot
tage with wife and children is the
foundation of all life. What is our de-
Tense as a people? Is it our coaSt-line
forts, with froWning guns, commanding
our wide ocean? Or the great ironclads
that defy the widest storm as they pillow
the angry sea? Or massive army
panoplied with steel marching under
flying eolers? 1t may be these. but
back of all these we must have homes
lighted with love and warmed with sac
ritice. This human slavery denied to
the black man. And when men and
nt,I- ind wolf Of
once that great wrong had been done
to race of people.
But above all things else Mrs. Stowe
made effective in her book was the use
of the religious sentiment. With most
negro populations religion becomes
easily grotesque display. Do you not
feel the uneanny influence from the
weird songs of the plantation and camp
meeting? But here is black man taken
under precisely the conditions that or
dnarily prevail, made power, espe
clally with the average reader.
There are few scenes more impressive
than the spirit of forgiveness displayed
on the Red river plantation, or the
mystic thought of
THE OLD SLAVE
when little Eva passed away and he
felt that in some way he might be given
privilege to see the glory as the briGe-
groom opened the celestial door; and
where do you find more impressive
scene than the dying master, when
asked if he would have a clergyman,
answering in the simplest words, "Tom.
prayw Mr.. Croly gave magnificent
description of the burning of the amphi-
theater when Nero fired the city of
Rrme, and the most impressive sight
was fine specimen of ETHIOPIA. slave,
sitting high above the fighting beasts
and wreathing flames, patiently wait
ing his hour. That was stoicism.
Nerved against pain. he waited his fate.
But Uncle Tom bled and suffered,
was whipped and tortured; and when
he endured, was there not a higher
idea, the hope of a waiting heaven, the
grace of forgiveness in pure heart;
and as he was wont to sing the demon
stration of the fact that love can make
dying bed as soft as downy pillowe are.
Not one of the great orators OF the pc
Rod could have used this as Mrs. Stowe
has done, and this element introduced
into her work will not only make 1t
strong for that time, but Will make it
strong in all times, in the future as in
the past.