New-York tribune., 1903-01-18
TWO .4BOLITTONISTS.
Strenuous Experiences IN Promoting
4nfi- .S{aUeru Cause.

The fortieth anniversary Of the emancipation Of
the slaves under the proclamation of PRESIDENT
Lincoln, celebrated New Years Day In
connection with the recent death of the widow OF
General John c. Fremont the fact is recalled that
as mitarv commander in ST. Louis General Ere
mont declared slaves free in Missouri on August
81 1851, but the order cancelled by the Presi-
dent. The following account of the strenuous
services of we'll known abolitionists. Stephen
s. Foster and ns wife was written for The New
England Magazine by Mrs. Lille B. Chace wy
man. author of Poorest Grass:
1t was my good fortune in early girlhood to
ter County. Massachusetts. my hosts the aooi-
tionsts, Stephen s and Aoby Kelley Foster. They
affection and purpose, but 1t is doubtful II it ever
think of the wife as Mrs. Stephen Foster. They
socaton in struggle of grim incident and grand
signifcance-a struggle which had led them to per
Rshtions 1Ra underestimate the 'a'ae OF many S0'-'
He was of those unique characters who come
an an-slavery or womans right meeting he M might
Lowell wrote about Theodore Parker:
Every word that he speaks has been herily fur
In the blast of life that has struggled In ear
nest
He was logical to the point Of unreason. Mary y
him in later years, smiling the while at some reeo-
style Of arsamet was e as % foIIo%s: Slavery is the
sum OF IN Hi!iaaies sucn as theft muroes ana
hence southern elergymen are guilty Of ali VII;
lanies; Northern clergymen extend the right hand
of fellowship to Southern clergymen. thus they
condone and partake of their guilt. From such gen
eral premises ne would proceed with unfaiterins
energy to the close personal conclusion. that the
Rev K, Northern gentleman OF the most ami ami
able character conceivable was guilty before
God Of theft murder and rapne. An argument OF
Theodore Brown Harry Blake and John c. Wy
bewilderEnent. Blake. who loved the Rev Mr.. X,
was a transcendentalist of that New-England
type of character which Is helpless in the clutches
of its conscience and be frightened into the
conviction that anything is sinful by the mere
suggestion that it may be. Foster has proved 1t,
lamented Blake to his lighter minded companions
they all walked away after the argument, Fos-
ter has proved that x. is q murderer and thief
and yet he isn't!''
Mr.. Foster was. nearly it is possible for a
man to be. free from unkird personal feeling: HIS
attitude toward opponents was always such as
once irnpeled him to say in a public meeting. II
love my friend Higgnson, but loathe his opin-
ions. In his home life, as I knew him. this
of men, gently lenient to chattering tmperti-
nence. and sympa thetcauv disposed-to the spirits
of youth.
He was sturdy farmer of his New-England
fields. '+T should hate farming in the West" he
once said II should hate to put my spade into
ground where it did not hit against rock. His
features were rugged as the rocks he loved, and
his hands hard and gnerled with toll. His
gestures were ungainlv. but his voice was beau
tiful. His eyes were blue and kind. but sometimes
there was look in them of bent in
deed on going his appoint ted way in this world but
who did not always see light upon that way.