The colored American., 1902-05-31

upon this mortal stage OF action; while
in our own beloved land the names OF the
Pilgrim Fathers and the Revolutionary
Sires are ever hallOwed and reyered
In the presence OF such ~ell-knOv-1
historical facts little need IS there of al
apology on our part that we are here to
day 10 recall the times which produced
these giants, TO laud their patriotism and
martial valor, and 10 search II the con-
ditions OF the present auSPlcIous oInen5
for the future
The stage upon which II heroes acted
their part was as large as our whole land
the drama IN which they were con
spicuously engaged was the saving OF
nation and the freeing OF people; they
were inspired BY The love OF liberty and
patriotic ardor, while they played
attentive audience composed OF the whole
civilized world
The times which molded and fashioned
these heroic men were, N some respects.
unique: never before had such existed
in this country, and let IS pray God thai
they may never again affliCt Us.
From the inception Of our Government
down 10 the beginning OF the great Re
beilion for the destruction OF the OnIoo
the moral forces ot our land had been
arrayed against that pesuferOus evil. hu-
man slavery not inaptly termed BY one,
the sum of all yillaInies by another,
likened 10 the great Cpas tree. the touch
OF which is fatal 20 living forms; and
also 10 that strange plant 0; the Anti
podeS, facetiouSly called the lawyer
vine" which, entwicIlig some proud tree
OF the forest i rs close embrace. hn2!ly
srnOsherS Il IN is relentless folds. and
then. proudly victorious, stands n rs
stead.
Those were the times when men OF
nerve, intellect and moral courage were
IN demand and when, IN titanic struggle,
quarter was neither asked nor granted
Their impact raised sound which
Tore HelIs cOncave. and beyond
F-ighted the reign ci Chaos and old
Night"
First and foremost among those w!to
backed on his arnoT, n the beginning OF
the last century. was that earnest Quak-
e lad. Ben amin Luldy, with his Genius
q Universal Emancipation newspaper.
ard MS Union Humane Society, OrganIz-
Cd AZ Mount Pleasant, Ohio.
During the third decade OF the same
century. We md Elijah p. LoveJOy toll
ing. Contending and dying IT the cause
OF human lherry, II the Safe 81 Illinois.
Then along stalks old William Lloyd
Garrison-Speaklng publishing newspa-
pers and generally OontendIng Tor
Emancipation as the right o. the slave
and the duty OF The master; disclaITlIns
ali ,emporizing. al rlake-shiftS, al COM
promises; condernRing colonization and
everything else that involved or implied
athlIaIiC1 or sympathy with S!avehoid
t-S" His motto was, Our Country Is
the World; Our Countryr'en Are u!
Mankind"
Sometimes langu:sh.ng Ike the apps
Ties OF Christ. y prison, ard again beng
hauled through the streets with . rope
around hlS neck. he fought the good
:g,," arc lived 70 see the cOnsumua-
tioa 81 h dearest hope.
4 tall and stately man of Sonlbre hue
shes his castor into the arena, and, fresh
:-0rl the hcso1r OF the hated antagonist.
MS knowledge md his recent su1erIngs
inspire n him mortal hatred. and arm
k:1l Tor the fray. Do you ask his name?
l. : THAI S-alwar- veteran who. never
,,ca-ying Of the STRIFE. even after the
F-cc,a--zt;or Rad ber1 issued. g;rded
himself for thac neyF and weIl-nigh n
,---rirable struggle fo- equal rights ~
the spirit II ri7e law l. : he who, ~
The close Of long. evea-iul and useful
lie. received the ConCuerO-S crown. Il
: that earnest. stately, faithful patriot
philOSpohor-F Douglass!
Towering above the -abble Who despsSe
and deT:dc HIM. another form. oOnSpicu-
GUS tCr SIS Cca-,ag and commanding n
his speech, contro-.tS uS-oae 20 whom
high birth. riches and the learning OF 81