St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-30
VOL. LX---NO. 3131


the Journal speaks of it in the following
way:
"The second lecture in the Old South
Course was given Wednesday afternoon
on Wendell Phillips, by his pamesake,
Wendell Phillips Stafford of St. Johns
bury, Vt. Mr.. Stafford is not relative
of the famous abolitionist for whom he
is named, being the grandson of fel-
low worker in the anti-slavery cause
who lived in those days in Cummington,
Mass, Bryant's old home, but so elo-
quent speaker is he, that if Mr.. Edwin
d. Mead who introduced him, had not
made this explanation, his audience
would surely have believed that he was
ineal descendant, and that no small
portion of Wendell Phillips power Of
oratory had reappeared in him.
although still young man Mr.. Stat
ford is one Of the leading lawyers of
his state, has been conspicuously emf
nent as member of the legislature, and
has won distinction for his literary work,
some of the best of which has been
printed by the Atlantic Monthly"
The following report OF the lecture is
taken from the Boston Advertiser:
The lecture was upon "Wendel Phillips
or Anti-Slavery on the Platform" 1t
was one of the most stirring and popu-
lar of the many popular and stirring
lectures there delivered.
Pres. Edwin Mead of the society, in in
Producing the speaker said that the occa-
sion was one of double significance, be-
cause not alone was Wendell Phillips the
subject of the lecture, but because to him
more than to any one else, excepting, per-
haps, Mrs. Hemmenway, do we owe the
preservation of the sacred walls Of the
Old South Meeting House. Mr.. Mead
quoted from Phillips plea for the old
South.
Mr.. Stafford said in opening that he
had barely missed hearing that speech of
Phillips. Although he had heard him be-
fore and afterward the bitter disappoint-
ment of that moment had never been for
gotten. The speech was the simplest ex-
planation of Phillips own career.
ut shows what value he set on his
toric associations, keynote to his char
acter. He himself has recorded how
dear to him were the streets of Boston
and it's consecrated buildings. The Old
South was his school and college. The
glori6ed past stirred his heart. inflamed
his Imagination and nerved his courage.
He became the American Revolution
brought forward; he was the Declara-
tiou of Independence applied to his own
time; he was Boston itself
phillips was not less clear. sighted
than he was courageous and determined.
When he saw the right he acted, regard
less of the rank of quality of those ar
rayed against him. His speeches are full
of scornings of the most august names of
Boston society. He knew that he was
making history for he often spoke OF pill
lorying names and persons so that they
would never be forgotten.
"The doors OF Boston houses and
churches were closed to him. Boston So
ciety turned it's back on him. Yet | do
not believe that these socalled sacrifices
ever cost him single regret or abated in
any degree his courage.
Graceful, light-hearted, courageous,
he showed himself always to be; not in
resent ment, not in bravado.
"His espousal OF the anti-slavery cause,
which was due more to Lydia Child than
to Garrison, was not d moral conver.
sion. His heart was right before. 1t
was intellectual. Phillips was forever
anxious to see the right and then to do
it.
Independence was no mere word with
him and conventions did not dismay
him. He saw that the constitution was
the very citadel OF slavery, he proclaimed
no union with slavery, and fought for
disunion lor 20 years. The constitution
was the bond that held 13 snarling colo
MES in leash, as ]. Q. Adams said it was
a compact for preserving, propagating
and perpetuating slavery. He saw that
while it endured there was no hope o.
equal freedom and he preached dsunior
from 1881 to 1861.
THE early years were the time wher
the young reiormer coming back from
Baltimore found the doors OF the Bostor
churches closed in his lace; time whei
| theological professors in Andover wer,
) advising divinity students to avoic
} mention of topics touching on slavery
when the North bowed its neck subser
viently to the South's command.
"Such was the current of though
, when Wendell Phillips shook the dus
from his feet and came out tor the abol
ton Of slaves. Disunionist, traitor h
was styled. Men doubted his sanity
He trampled on the constitution;
ment that he could not practice at tn
:, bar, that he could not vote. He was
political and civil outcast, an exile
the city OF his birth, man without