New-York tribune., 1909-04-04


other uses than mere expense or comfort, A
narrow door opened into a narrow hall out of
Whlch climbed narrow stairs with a narrow
Ianolng half way up where the stairs turned,
ana al the top still narrower passage TO the
ooor OF the parlour. Inside, the same impress
elon OF restricted space; room perhaps Is feet
by IA, and plainly furnished; q worn carpet on
the floor, a large shabby sofa at the end nearest
the door opposite the fireplace Phillips was sit
ing on the sofa He rose and held out his hand:
II s very good Of you to come. I am afraid I
was abrupt this morning" Then he plunged. al
most at once. into the situation with a forecast
OF what he thought likely to happen. Not
much II anything, till the meeting Of the Anti
Slavery Society in January. That 1 dare say,
they VIII try TO break up. Lincoln has been
eIected President and Andrew Governor. You
KNOW what think of Lincoln But Andrew
know well, and I do not believe mob law will be
allowed to rule while Andrew is Governor" He
had already described Andrew in fremont Tenn
pie; For the first time within my memory we
have got a man for Governor of Massachusetts
frank. true, whole souled, honest MAN"
Alas! Andrew was to disappoint him bitterly in
this one matter of free speech. though in no
other
But You are to speak in another fortnight at
the Music Hail." said. DO you think they will
let you alone them" why" said Phillips
that's on a Sunday."-as II that would matter
to men whose Passions. interests, animosities all
led them TO silence the orator whom they
thought. honestly enough from their point Of
view, a public danger. He asked me II I had
heard anything. I had not. but when Phillips
told me he was going TO speak on ''Mobs and
Education" I answered. But that's a chaI-
lenge"
They can take it as they like" he replied
quite softly and coolly, adding: IF you hear
anything perhaps you'll let me know"
Our talk lasted late turned on some personal
matters; then drifted far away 10 national is
sues and much else. I thought Phillips, If any
thins, more eloquent in talk than in ora
tory, yet with never q sentence which had in II
the ring Of the platform. He was direct SIM
pie. persuasive. and luminous. His frankness
surprised me. but he told me afterward he had
made inquiries and thought it safe TO be frank.
No doubt, he saw that mine was sincere devo-
ton, and perhaps he aware Of the enchant-
ments he wove about whom he would. At any
rate, he gave me his confidence from the start.
During the next fortnight I saw many men
among my Wing ecquaintances. They made no
secret Of their purpose to break up that Sunday
meeting at the Music Hall. Soon these rumours
became public. When the subject Of Philips's
discourse was announced, the rumours spread,
and grew more menacing. The police felt them
selves called on 70 take notice OF what likely
TO happen. Phillips. long used to dealing with
mobs seemed TO think the police superhuous.
Some of US who had looked into the matter.
well knew they were not. Seeing Phillips from
day TO day, l asked him again and again TO
promise his friends one thing, viz that he would
put himself and leave himself in their hands
He still thought were making too much
OF a slight danger, but finally he promised.
where the police and the mob had acted
gether. They so acted when Richard s. Fay and
Amos Lawrence, and Murray Howe and their
friends broke up the AntI-Slavery Convention in
fremont Temple on the morning of December
3d-this same month. And it that mob
from which Phillips to take his text
this Sunday piquant situation: II it had not
been something much more serious; with all the
OF a great tragedy.
This time the mob leaders. whoever they were
had changed their tactics They did not propose
10 capture the Music Hall prevent Phillips
from speaking. He be dealt with outside
None the less did the police and PhiHips's
friends, unaware Of details, take measures 70
guard the interior. The police were in force in
the lobbies and passages and at the exterior ap-
proaches TO the platform; but out of sight
Scores of them were in the building, and a much
larger force in waiting hard by The platform
W hich ran from one side Of the hall 10 the other
at the south end, garrisoned by Phillips's
friends. armed. The enemy also were armed,
and no man could say what that Sabbath morn
ing might bring forth. Naturally. did not
know Of the decision OF the mob leaders-al in
broa dcloth-to postpone their assault till the
meeting was over. We expected trouble inside
and were ready for it. I said little pos
sible 10 Phillips Of what thoughtful 10 hap
ek,oti 10 he oi fhara
any peril in freedom Of speech. his speech would
be freer than ever
He always believed in personalities. In such
a cause as ours you must at all hazards rouse
attention. Men whose minds are made up
against you will listen TO personal attack when
they will listen 10 nothing else II | denounce
the sin they go TO sleep. but when denounce
the sinner they wake up There was TO be no
going TO sleep on this eventful Sunday. The
speech on 'Mobs and Education" Is perhaps the
most personal, and the most merciIess' OF all
Phillips's speeches. The fremont Temple rioters
had delivered themselves into his hands: He
knew every among them and the joint in
every armour Many OF them were there on
Sunday. You saw the arrow leave the platform
and sink deep in the quivering flesh. The cheers
were soon mingled with Kisses. The air grew
hot But the majority were there TO hear. and
the misses sienced. There were passages
of burning eloQuence; of pathos; of invective.
that tore its way through all defences.
Il have used strong words But | was born
In Boston, and the good of the old town
is bound up with every fibre of my heart l
dare not trust myself 10 describe the nsoience
Of men who undertake to dictate to you and me
what we shall say in these grand old streets
Thus spoke the arstocrat, the Bostonian proud
Of Boston and Of his own descent from six or
seven generations OF the Boston Phillipses; an
aristocracy equal 10 the best. His contempt for
the Fays 6nd the rest Of the cotton clerks" was
la rgely a contempt for the plebeian. Plebeians.
TO the Boston mind most Of them were. Fay is
oilloried forever in this speech: and others are
oiloried.
| will quote one passage, not from Phillips,
but passage from Edward Everett free
speech which Phillips himself quoted toward the
md or his | IL because Phillips