The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-13
ELIJAH PARISH LOvRJOY.

Illinois. shot down by mob that at
tackled LovEJoY and a small band OF
deserted supporters on the night OF
November z, 1887. lie was born in Maine
and died at the age of 80 years. OF the
band of defenders and of the mob 1t is
not likely that more than one or two
may be alive today, but the principles
for which LovEJoY stood have become
lasting principles in this American
nation.
Those were the days when anti-slavery
sentiment was hardly less welcome in
the North than in the South. In Boston,
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON had only
been saved from hanging at the hands OF
a Massachusetts, mob by being committed
to jail on the Mayors order as "dis-
turber OF the peace" and the killing of
LovEJoY martyr to the cause of human
liberty, vindicated at so great cost of
life and treasure i'm the next generation,
then called from no lip or pen a word
of protest. To the majority of Northern
people, in 1897, however wrong, morally
and economically, slavery might be- its
existence was recognized and guaranteed
by the Constitution, and the organic law
of the land was not to be protested
against. And though there was no SYM
pathy for mob law, it was easily conceded
that a man who was a martyr to 1t, In
any such cause as slavery, was more TO be
pitied than upheld.
And yet, today, how strange it seems
that in this land man .shonldT have ever
died Tor the principles that LovEJoY
matntained, the. right of freos men and
free speech principles which are ex-
pressed as well as possible in his own
words:
81 have sworn eternal opposition to slavery,
and by the blessing of God l will never 20
back"
"Brt, gentlemen, as long as ] am an Amer
1
run in these veins, shall hold myself nj
liberty to speak, TO write. to publish what,
evef please on any subject-beings amenable
to the laws of country for the same"
LovEJoY was by no means a radical
aboltionist. He was killed for pointing
out the evils OF slavery in his newspaper,
and for advocating only gradual aboli-
tion and emancipation. His martyrdom,
however, made radical abolitionists
, where temporizers had before existed and
, crystalized the conservative anti-slavery
sentiment of the North. 1t made
radical OF WENDELL PHILLIPS, and
PHILIPS made radicals of thousands OF
Others.
Now, half century from the time OF
, that first tragedy in behalf Of human
rights and free speech, it is proposed TO
, build a monument to ELIJAH PARISH
LovEJoY. In the city of Alton the first
blood was shed, the first armed resistance
made to the aggressions of the slave
power that went down, finally, only after
the most terrific war in history. That his
toric episode and LovEJoY's martyrdom
are to be memorialized in a shaft for
which the State OF Illinois has appro-
priated s25, 900, conditioned that the
tribute may have a national scope on the
raising of s12, 500 more by January 1,
1896. The Monument Association will,
we shall trust, secure these additional
funds quite readily, and il any OF our
readers want to contribute, in large or
small amount, such contributions may
be sent to JOHN L. HAYNER, president
Alton Savings Bank, Alton, ILL.,
For twenty-five years or more, the
grave OF the hero and martyr was un-
marked. and narrowly escaped utter
oblivion. For thirty years it has been
marked only by simple stone Of remem-
brance. The site set apart in the Alton
City Cemetery for the proposed monu-
ment is circular plat on a lofty bluff
overlooking the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers, and wide expanse of country in
Illinois and Missouri. The location is
said to be unsurpassed for beauty and
sightliness. The monument will be- in
full view OF every train passing through
the city, and from every steamer on the
two great rivers OF the West.
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