Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-11-19
4 Martyrs Memorial.
Monument Erected TO the Memory Of
EliIsh Lov'J"y, who WIthstood an
AniI-SlRvery Mob to the Death.

Monument Erected to the Memory of
! Enjah Lov'Joy, who WIthstood an
Anti-Slavtry Mob to the Death.
Sunday, Nov. 7, was the G0'h anniversary
Of the murder Of Elijah p. LovejOy at Al.
| ton, H., by a prO.slavrry mob, aud Monday
| thu LOvejOy monument was dedicated with
impressive ceremonies Toward the cree
tlOu OF this monument Democratic lpgis-
lalure made an appropriation Of S2j, 600
! Thomas Dimmock of ST. Louis, the bio
grapher OF Loveiuy, was the orator Of the
! day, and Lieutenant Governor Northrop
! spoke for the state.
The monument is a handsome one.
The cen raj shaft, including the colossal
figure which surmounts H., is 30 feet in
height. The base consists OF circular
plaza 40 feet in diameter, elevated four
feet above the general level Of the ground.
The central or grand column, supporting
the statue of Victory, representing the
triumph Of free speech and a free press, is
OF solid granite, and it is elevated upon
pedestal, the four panels Of which bear
bronze insignias illustrative Of LovejDy's
life. IT. also contains a bas-rrlief Of Love-
joy, which was made from the only like
ness in existence, a silhouette.
Elijah p. LovejDy was born at Albion,
Me, in 1902 and his early life was spent
on his fathers farm. His preparatory ed
ucation cons sted of a few terms at Mon
mouth and China academies, after which
he entered the sophomore class Of W tter-
vile college and was graduated in 1926
with highest hOnors. He went to ST.
Louis in the latter part OF 1927 and in 1928
was on the staff Of the Times, then advo-
eating the election Of Henry Clay to the
preside In 1888 he established
weekly religious newspaper, the Observer,
in ST. Louis, the first number Of which
was published Nov. %, and in the summer
of 1884 he formally announced himself
champion of the anti-slavery cause Then
began the conflict which ended in his as
sassinatiOn. The opposition grew stronger
as the editor continued his attacks on
slavery, and the owners Of the paper finally
decided to move it to Alton, H., that be.
ing in free state. Before this was done,
however, persons entered the Observer Of.
fee, broke up some Of the furniture and
material, and threw the remains into tue
river. The press was not seriously dam
aged, and it was shipped to Alton, where
It was Immediately destroyed by persons
unknown and thrown into the river A
new press was procured and the publica-
o
1876, and continued without interruption.
but not without opposition. uutil August,
1891. On July II, 1887, az puolic met ct
Ing, resolutions were adopted condemning
the course Of the Observer, aud a commit
tee appointed to present them TO Loyrjuy.
His reply WAS dignifrd and dispass iou ate,
but manifested an uuallrrabe purpose
On the night OF Aug. II a MOB broke into
the Observer Off zee and destroyed the press
aud printing material. Undismtyed, Love
joy ordered fourth press. Before il ar
rived excitement rose To a fever heat, and
on Nov. public Indignation meeting
Was held. LOvejuy was present and he
addressed the excited gathering. He told
the citizens of Alton that he would con-
tinue the publication e the Observer until
they xiii him, and that no threats would
cause him to swerye an inch from his
course.
When the fourth press arrived it was
carefully guarded by its supporters and
they were confident that the crisis was
over. At 10 o'clock in the evening. how
ever, an armed mob demanded the press,
but Mr.. Lovejoy declared that he aud his
comrades would resist TO the death. An
unsuccessful attempt was made TO set fire
to the building. Mr.. Lovejoy then came
out and stood looking around when there
was voley from the river bank and five
balls entered his body. Though MORALLY
wounded, he had the strength TO reach the
warehouse and ascend one flight OF steps
before he fell and expired
The next day, Nor. s, 1887, the 3jth
anniversary Of Loyejoy's birth, his body
wa. removed to his resi- lence, and the fol-
lowing day the funeral occurred, Rev.
Thomas Lippncott officiating There was
no inquest. Thus ended the life of Elijah
Parish Loyejoy, whose steadfast and hero
lie adherence to principle, has now been
justly recognized 10y the erection of an en-.
during monument to his memory.