Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-25

ton he embraced the Presbyterian
faith, and his purpose in life was sud
denly changed. He entered the Prince
ton Theological Seminary in 1882, and
was licensed to preach year later by
the Philadelphia Presbytery. Return
ing. however, to st. Louis, he was as
sisted by friends in the founding of
weekly newspaper, which he called the
st. Louis Observer. The first number
appeared Nov. %, 1888.
The slavery question was then agi-
tating the community, and 1t was i'm
possible for a man of his positive con-
victions to keep still on such a vital
subject. During the summer of 1884 he
formally announced his opposition to
the whole system of slavery, and there
nv began his troubles. His editorials
soon began to be talked about, yet they
would read as very mild utterances to-
day. They are significant also in that
they prove that Lovejoy was not an
abolitionist. He said in his own col
umns: Gradual emancipation Is the
remedy we propose. This we look up
on as the only feasible and, indeed, the
only desirable way Of effecting our
freedom from the thralldoE in which
we are held. In the meantime the
rights of all classes of our citizens
should be respected, and the work ,
nosed. carried on and finished ms one
i'm which all classes are alike interest
ed. and in which all may be called up
on to make sacrifices of individual in
sterests to the general welfare Of the
community" On another occasion he
ssnid that emancipation should be eff
footed "by the masters and no Others"
He hated slavery, but appreciated the
uosition and feeling of the slavehold
ers. and frequently stated that 1t was
Z q national and not sectional evil. Yet
even this line of argument was bitter
hly resented, and under cate of Oct. 5,
1S35. n letter was sent to him by COM
mittee of st. Louis citizens command
ing that he cease talking Of slavery in
his paper. He refused fatty and In an
, editorial said: 1.-The free communion
tion. of thoughts and opinions is one of
tbe inaljenable rights Of man, and any
person may freely speak, write or print
ON any subject. being responsible for
tbe abuse Of that liberty" In the clos
ing paragraph he thus declared him
self: II do, therefore, as an American
citizen and Christian patriot, In the
name OF liberty, law and religion, sol
emily protest against all these at
tempts, however and by whomsoever
made. to frown down the liberty of the
press and forbid the free expression of
opinion. Under A deep sense of my OBJ
legations to my,ceuntry, the church and
my God, l declare 1t to be my fixed pur-
pose to submit to no dIctation. And I
am prepared to abide by the conse-
.quencesy ! have appealed to the Con-
stitution and laws OF my country; IL
they will fail to protect me I appeal to
my God, and with Him chcerfully
rest my cause" This brought n re-
quest for Lovejoy to resign as editor
of the Observer. He did so at once,
but the paper was In debt and the stock
wassturned over to Mr.. Moore, who
replaced him In charge, and they de-
cided to bring the plant to Alton. This
was reconsidered, however, and the
paper continued. In April, 1896, ne
gro was lynched. The Observer de-
nounced the lynching as a disgrace to
the community. and when the Judge
OF the local court quashed proceedings