The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-06-27

Quincy Adams, ex-President of the
United States, but then a member of
the House of Congress, fell dead at
his desk. He was the "old man elo-
quent," of the House and its most dis
tinguished member" Massachusetts.
always taking pride in her congress
sional representation, with Webster
as one of her Senators, looked about
for worthy successor. Horace Mann
had just moved into the district
Adams represented; but SO great
was his fame and SO high his
standing as man of honor and
power that he was chosen to fill the
seat of the venerable and eloquent
Adams. This was at time when the
slavery question in its various forms
was the chief topic of interest
But Mr.. Mann could not forget his
darling matter of education and la
bored faithfully, but as it proved in
vain, to have a National Board of
Education established. But he also
was mindful Of the great national
issue of slavery. An attempt had
been made to carry some slaves out
of Washington to free them; the pro-
moters of the scheme were indicted.
Not a lawyer in Washington could
be found to defend them; but Hor-
ace Mann undertook their defense
and writes that he "longed to do it,"
On all the many bills affecting slav-
cry, Mr.. Mann's voice and vote were
for freedom. He even dared to antag-
onize Daniel Webster, then the most
powerful man in New England spolit-
ical life, by writing a letter against
his famous pro slavery speech on the
7th of March, 1850; and for this was
defeated in the convention for nom
nation of congressman through Web
ster's influence. But he ran on an
independent anti-slavery ticket and
was returned by the enormous vote
of 1000 out of total of $1,000
votes. In 1852 he was nominated as
candidate for Governor by the Free
Soil party of Massachusetts,, but was
not elected, owning to the backward
ness of sentiment on the slavery ques-
ton. This closed his political life
but he had in this short time done a
good work for freedom.
Henry Wilson, in presenting his
name for Governor, said, "Within
few days he has uttered on the floor
of Congress one of the most brilliant
speeches for liberty that ever fell
from human lips"
On the same day that he was NOM
mated for Governor he was elected
President of Antioch College, Ohio,
and after his political defeat he &C
cepted this position. Here we enter
the closing chapter of his life.
Antioch College had been founded
under the auspices of the Christian
denomination. Mr.. Mann was called
as its first president before the build
ings were completed. There is not
time to tell the story of the college
or of Mr.. Mahn's wonderful sacri
fees in its behalf. But we have here
a unique and altogether remark
able institution as compared with the
colleges of the land. Situated in a
new country, the buildings put up
amid the stumps of trees where the
forest had been felled, amid popu-
lation of uncultivated people, Anti
och College has left deep impress
sion upon the education Of this cen
trail West. 1t is needless to say that
Horace Mann was its guiding spirit.
The examinations for the first admis
sions were held on rude board tables
in the open air from which the din
ner of the crowds of applicants and
guests had just been removed. For
three days the alternate use of these
tables for eating and examining went
on. Out of $50 applicants only eight
were found fitted for the freshman
class. The rest, many of them men
and women in middle life, some who
had been preaching for years, were put
into preparatory course. Amid such
surroundings, in rude buildings, with
such class of students, Antioch Col
lege began its life. Its story cannot
be told here, nor the struggles of
teachers and students; but what is in
point is the ideals it stood for.
At this time the higher education
of women in this country had scarcely
begun. AS we have seen, Horace
Mann admitted girls into equal
standing with boys in the first Nor
NAL school established in Massachu-
sets. So here for the first time, l think,