Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-22
CHAPTER VII.

The lynching at Hambright had stirred
the whole nation into unusual indignant
interest. 1t happened to be the climax of
a series of such crimes committed in the
south I'm rapid succession, and the death
Of this negro was reported with more than
usual vividness by a young newspaper
man Of genius.
grand mass meeting was called In
Cooper Union, New York, at which were
gathered delegates from different cities
and states to give emphasis and unity to
the movement and issue an appeal to the
national government.
When Salle Worth reached Boston she
found Helen Lowell at home alone. The
Hon. Everett Lowell had made one of the
speeches OF his career at the mass meet
ing held I'm Faneuil hall, and he was in
New York where he had gone to make
the principal address in the Cooper
Union convention of negro sympathisers.
George Harris had accompanied him, SUI
premely fascinated by the eloquent and
masterful appeal for human brotherhood
he had heard him make in Boston. There
was something pathetic in the dog-like
worship this young negro gave to his
brilliant patron. In his life in New Eng
land he had been shocked more than ones
by the brutal prejudices of the people
against his race. His soul had been tried
to the last of it's powers of endurance at
times. He found to his amazement that,
when put to the test the masses or the
north had even deeper repugnance to the
person of a negro than the soutnerners
who grew up with him from the cradle
He had found himself cut off from every
honorable way of earning his bread, gem
tleman and scholar though he was, ana
had looked into the river as he walked
over the bridge to Cambridge one night
with a well-nigh resistless Impulse 10
end IT all.
But Lowell had cheered him. laughed
his gloomy ideas to scorn, and, more
practical still, he had secured him clerk
ship in the custom house, which settled
the problem of bread. Others had falled
him. but this man of trained powers hao
never failed him. He had taugnt MN 70
lift up his head and look the world square
w in the face. Lowell was. to his vivid
African imagination, the ideal man mace
in the image of God, calm in judgment
free from all superstitions and preJudlces'
a citizen of the world of human thought
a prince of that vast ethical aristocracy
of the free thinkers of all ages who knew
no racial or conventional barriers between
man and man.
Harris had published a volume OF poems
which he had dedicated to Lowell ana
his most inspiring verse was simply the
outpouring Of his soul in worship OF TINS
ideal man.
other and more powerful reason. In his
daily intercourse with him in his library
during his campaigns he had frequently
met his beautiful daughter, and had Ialieh
deeply and madly in love with her ms
secret passion he had kept hidden In ms
sensitive soul He had worshipped her
from afar as though she had been
white-robed angel. To see her and De IN
the same house with her was all he asked
Now and then he had stood beside the
piano and turned the music while she
played and sang one of his new pieces,
and he would live on that scene Tor
months. eating his heart out with VOICE
less warnings he dared not express.
In his music he made his greatest sue
cess There was a fiery sweep to his pas
sion. and a deep oriental rhythm IN MS
cadence that held the imagination OF ms
hearers In a spell. 1t is needless 70 say
Il was in this music he breathed his Sc
cret love.
At first he had not dared to hope for
the dav when ne could declare this secret
or take his place in the list OF her ad-
nirers and fight for his chance. But Of
late a great hope had filled his soul ana
illumined the world. AS he had listened 10
Lowell's impassioned appeals TOT nuInallH
brotherhood his scathing ridicule or PRIDE
and prejudice, and the poetic beauty or
the language in which he proclaimed ms
own emancipation from all the laws or
caste the fiery eloquence with which ne
trampled upon all the barriers man mad
erected against his fellow-man his soul
was thrilled with ecstacy with the con-
,,iction that this scholar and scientific
thinker. at least was free man. lie was
sure that he had risen above the imita-
lions Of provincialisms, racial or national
pretudices.
He had begun to dream Of the day he
would ask this Godlike man for the priv
nge of addressing his daughter.
The great meeting at Cooper union hau
brought this dream TO a sudden resolu-
ton. Lowell had outdone himself that
night With merciless invective he had de-
nounced the inhuman barbarism or the
south I'm these lynchings. The sea OF eager
faces had answered his appeals as water
the breath of a storm. He felt its mighty
reflex influence sweep back on his soul
and lift him 70 greater heights. He de-
manded equality Of man on every inch OF
this earth's soil!
II demand this perfect equality" he
cried absolutely without reservation or
subterfuge. both in form and essential re-
alItv. 1t is the life-blood Of democracy 1t
is the reason of our existence. Without
this we are a living lie stencil In the
nostrils of God and humanity!
A cheer from a thousand negro threats
rent the air as he thus closed. The crowd
surged over the platform and for ten
or continue the program. Young Harris
messed his patrons hand and kissed 1t
while tears Of pride and gratitude rained
down his face.
This speech made a national sensation.
II was printed in full in all the partisan
papers where IL was hoped capital might
be made of IL for the next political cam
paIgn. and the national campaign commit
tee of which he was a member, ordered
a million copies Of It printed for distribu-
ton among the negroes.
When Lowell and Harris reached Boston
as they parted at the depot Harris said;
"win you be at home tomorrow, Mr..
Lowell?"
Yes; why?''
It would like to talk with you In the
morning on matter of grave importance.
Nav call at o'clock?'
Certainly. Come right into the library.
You'll find me there. George"
That night as Lowell walked through
| his brilliantly lighted home. he felt
| sense of glowing pride and strength. With
| his hands behind him he paced back and
| forth in his great library and out through
| the spacious hall with firm tread and
flushed face He felt he could look these
| great ancestors in the face tonight as they
gazed down on him from their heavy gold
/ frames. They had called him to high am
| billions and a strenuous life when his in
| dolence had pleaded for ease and the
| diiettanteism of a fruitless dreaming. His