The American eagle., 1905-12-17
small windows bespattered with print

small windows bespattered with print
er's ink; the press standing in one cor
ner, the composing stands opposite,
the long editorial and mail table COW
cred with newspapers; the bed of the
editor and publisher on the f1oor--all
these make a picture never to be for
gotten"
Garrison's Motto.
Who would have thought that forth
from this "dingy," obscure room would
fly the thunder bolts of truth destined
to shatter to it's lowest base the slavery
iniquity in this country? 1t makes no
difference who you are, or where you
are, if your trust is in God and your
love is unselfish and as broad as hui
man need, and your purpose Heaven
high, you will be heard. The sublime
COUNTRY is THE WORLD-OUR
COUNTRYMEN ARE MANKIND" :"
This is the note which to-day needs
to be sounded through the length and
breadth Of orr beloved republic, rent
and torn as she is by bitter race an
tipathies.
20 Truth! o Freedom! How are sc still
In the rude stable, in the manger
nursed,
What humble hands unbar those gates
of morn,
Thro' which the splendors of the new
day burst"
We shall not pursue the course of
Garrison's life farther. My purpose is
to show you in a general way the hand
Of God in the making of Garrison and
in the period during which he lived,
with view of getting our bearings
in the present through which we are
passing. There are some parallels be-
tween his times and ours to which I
call your attention.
II will leave in the midst of thee
a poor and afflicted people, and they
also shall trust in the name of the
Lord"
Many think that because that portion
of the population which has no wealth
or influence or great commercial stand
ing, and no social or political prefer
ment, they have therefore no rights,
and can be with impunity ignored or
trampled upon. This is perilous.
The tests of a Christian civilization
and of true national strength is the
ioI, W o.
ments of the state receive at the hands
of the rich and powerful. The toll
ing, unwritten multituGes of the poor
of all classes are the security or the
menace Of society and the state. Their
contentment, their cordial relations one
with the other, and their gradual up
lift in righteousness is the hope OF
society and the goal of the church and
state. Christianity and proper legis-
lation should effect these results.
The Oppression of Wealth.
The search for wealth and the So
cial and political preferment which
race or a large portion of the popula-
ton may boast of only tends to imperil
and weaken that class in certain great
essentials. The absorption in wealth
piling in the vast majority of instances
harCens the heart and makes man cruel
towards his brother, even as James
has said: do not rich men oppresS
vou?"-the poor. The love of money
was the tap-root of slavery; and 1t is
the love of exclusive power and
money which afflicts us to-day.
When men begin to boast of blood,
family. wealth and race, they separate
themselves from their more loWly
brethren. and the rights and claims OF
others are easily trampled upon Price,
arrogance, self-inGulgence and social
excesses which lead to domestic lrreg-
ularities and infelicitie3 follow nard
upon wealth and worldly honors and
influence,
But the poor have NO wealth, no So
cia1 standing. no family name, and no
high position to boast Of or set up as
. ground for recognition. Well, What
have theyo They may have character,
thev NAV have truth on Their siGe, they
NAV have faith in God, and therefore,
when trampled upon, they may appeal
70 the universal conscience, ard plead
the eternal principles of justice and
brotherhood.
And whenever a man. obscure anC
crude Gespised for his poverty or race,
stands out and contends for truth IN
the spirit of Jesus, who is the TRUTH
against injustice, the rich, while tney
hate him, respect him, and feel MS
mower. and know he is right. and by
that poor mans complaints the ruling
classes anG the nation become aware
If how far in sentiment and laws tney
have drifted from Gcd This, sense Oh
darcer anG the quickenirg OF the ma
tional conscience is the sign OF dawn.
81 will leave in the midst OF thee a
Moor and afflicted people, and they snail
trust in the name of the LORD.
The Afro-Americans are loaded down
with excellent advice from every Glrec-
tion: but they are not the only ones
VIM need main. hard counsel. we are