The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1898-02-17

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 a 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 it 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
u1nns: 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 thralldo1 in which
we are held. In the meantime the
rights of all classes Of our citizens
should be respected, and the work ! y
posed. carried on and finished as one
in which all classes are alike interest
cd. and in which all may be called up
on to make sacrifices of individual in
terests to the general welfare of the
community" On another occasion he
said that emancipation should be eff
fected "by the masters and no others"
He hated slavery, but appreciated the
nosition and feeling of the slavehold-
ers. and frequently stated hat it was
national and not sectional evil. Yet
even this line of argument was bitter.
lv resented, and under cate of Oct. 5,
1o35. a 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
ton of thoughts and opinions is one Of
the inalienable rights of man, and any
person may freely speak, write or print
on any subject, being responsible for
the abuse of that liberty" In the clos
ing paragraph he thus declared him.
self: 81 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 deep sense of my OBJ
legations to my country. the church and
, nv. God, declare it to be my fixed pur-
pose to submit to no dictation. And
am prepared to abide by the conse-
! auences. l have appealed to the Con-
stitution and laws Of my country; II
they will fail to protect me appeal to
! my God, and with Him l cheerfully
rest my cause" This brought 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
was turned over to a Mr.. Moore, who
replaced him In charge, and they de-
cided to bring the plant to Alton. This
was reco.- sidered, however, and the
paper continued. In April, 1886, a ne
gro was lynched. The Observer de-
nounced the Iynching as disgrace to
! the community, and when the judge
of the local court Quashed proceedings