The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08
change which had come over his feelings
toward the old country

Another great anti-slavery advocate
| whom our author met for the first time II
| New York was Wendell Phillips. Every
body knows that Wendell Phillips was foi
many years the most distinguished and
effective among abolitionist orators, and
IL Is known 10 all Harvard men that he was
a man OF aristocratlo birth who had ell
joyed the amplest educational advantages
that In his youth America could furnish.
Our Ango-Irsh visitor recognized that
Wendell Phillips was a man OF high Gull
tire and refined taste, and the sincerity
OF his devotion to every great cause he
advocated became with him a positive
passion. He would hear of no compromise.
he could make no allowance for another'e
early training for the prejudices and the
sincere although perverse convictions OF
an opponent. He was as unconditional a
champion OF total abstinence from alco-
holic drink as he was Of negro emancipa-
ton. and he could hold no parley with any
proposal for lowering his STANDARD In either
cause. Unlike Horace Greeley, who was
also convinced teetotaller. Wendell
Phillips would not consent 20 make one of
any social gathering where wine, or spirits,
or beer came on the table.
Our author says that he has always re-
garded Wendell Phillips as one Of the greatest
orators he has ever heard and he would
rank him as a public speaker with Bright
and Gladstone. He seemed to me TO have
fiuency equal TO Gladstone's and at the
same time simplicity of diction which
might we'll be compared with that leading
quality in the eloquence of Bright Mr..
bnJ l,t
lectures before he had an opportunity OF
listening to him AZ a great orator, addressing
large and tumultuous meeting. The first
time he heard him deliver speech OF this
kind was at a vast meeting held at the Cooper
Institute. New York. IL was a meeting at
which several other speakers ar we'll as
Wendell Phi lips were 10 be heard. The
speaker, addressing the meeting at the time
OF my arrival, spoke in what appeared to mo
to be one OF the finest and most powerful
voices | had ever heard. II never occurred
to mo Mt the moment that the owner ot this
superb voice Was no other that Wendell
Phillips himself. Such, however, proved
TO be the fact and il was my first experience
OF the difference in voice between Wendell
Phillips the lecturer and Wendell Phillips
the orator. Not often do we find in public
life man who can win success both as
lecturer and as a political orator but Wen
dell Phillips was equally power on one
platform and the other.
OF William Lloyd Garrison. another ia
nous leader Of the movement for the aboli-
ton OF slavery, our author says with truth
that while he had not anything like the
eloquence of Wendell Phillips. or his literary
ba Ia sha h. t.s,,-
Gated an indomitable resolve and a power
fI capacity for commanding attention.
He had risked his life again and again a.
times and IN places when the denu7oation
of the slavery system surrounded him with
reckless and ptiless enemies, &c Ind been
proseculed and Imprisoned foi witt .igs and
speeches assaili1g tho party which vas
then most powerful in the Urited States
he had been threatened with assassination.
and, even in Boston, he had been subjected
to personal violence; but no threats and no
dangers could ever turn him from his self
appointed task He visited Great Britain
several times and won hosts Of admirers
and supporters there. During his last
atay in London he was entertained at n
great public banquet where many Of the
most eminent Englishmen Of the time were
present.
During his first visit 10 New York our
author had the pleasure of meeting George
William CIrtis, whom he correctly de
scribes as one Of the most charming writer's,
interesting speakers and fascinating per
sonalities that then existed in the United
States. Curtis ranked among the most
successful literary lecturers of that time,
4 I q
ing him whenever 1 had the chance.
shall never forget the manner in which
during one OF his lectures. he quoted that
and noble lyric by Arthur Hugh
Clough. Green Fields OF England !
thought at the trne that any EnRishman
however proud and fond Of his countrys
and scenery, must have found
a new thrill Of patriotism given 10 him by
listening TO those lines "a they came with
such exquisite music and meditation from
the lips of an American
Still another of Mr.. McCarthy's American
friends WAS Bayard Taylor, the poet, novelist
and traveller. our author does but jus
lice TO Taylor when he says that he was
among the frst of travellers who devoted
themselves 10 the task. not only Of explora
ion. but also OF literary and poetic ilumina-
ion of far of scenes. II Is also true. though
now 1t is sometimes forgotten. that Bayard
Taylor made what l believe TO be the
first complete translation into English of
ioethes Faust Up ~ the publication
II that volume the English reader If I'M
acquainted with German. had 10 be con-
ent with the first part 81 the poem. which
,nds with the fate of Gretchen. Bsyard
Taylor, like every true lover u Goethe.
-egarded such way OF dealing with Faust
IL absolutely misleading apd even intoler-
.ble. spelling the whole narrative and
purpose Of the immortal drama
Our author being himself newspaper
man, and therefore capable Of compre- |
lendiug the incessant strain upon members !
Il the craft, does not forget 10 mention as
that with all his work M world I
raveler, a writer Of poems writer Of
loves and n translator Bayard Taylor
.ept up his regular and continuous labor as
Journalist Il have seldom met with any
me who compressed so much variety Of
york. and most Of II brilliant work, into
he compass OF life which yet found ample I
ime for healthful exercise and for amuse-
nent Such English books as | have read .
L home about life in American cities had I
ot prepared me for man ike Bayard 1
'aylor.
.-c~a