Franklin's paper the statesman., 1911-12-16
GENEROUS APPRECIATION
FOR WENDELL PHILLIPS.
Country Wide Encomium For Fearless
Champion of Human Liberty.
BY N. BARNETT DoDsoN

The large number of meetings held
by A fro Americans throughout the
country in honor of the centenary OF
the birth of Wendell Phillips clearly
indicates the apprecia ton of the race
for those who paved the way for its
freedom from the curse of slavery.
Some of the organizations which con-
Quoted meetings We're the American
Negro academy in Washington. the
National Independent Political league
and the New England Suffrage league
in Boston and the National Associa-
ton For the Advancement of Colored
People. New York. which held its
meeting at Plymouth church in Brook
lyn.
Dr. Newell Dwight Hills presided at
the Brooklyn meeting. which was en-
thusiastic and largely attended. The
speakers were Mr.. Charles Edward
Russell. the Rev Reverdy c. Ransom
and the Rev. DR.. John Haynes Holmes.
Each of the speakers paid a glowing
tribute to the work. manhood. zeal and
personal sacrifices of the great anti
slavery hero and champion of the cause
of the oppressed and unjustly afflicted
slaves.
Significant and timely was the ad-
dress of the Rev. DR.. Il. c. Ransom.
which was in part as follows.
One hundred years ago Nov. % Wendell
Phillips was born. His unselfsh devotion
to the cause Of humanity has made not
only black men but liberty loving men
and women everywhere. his debtors. The
surroundings amid which these commem-
oratiye exercises here tonight are set are
significant. while lending added inspiration
TO the hour. We are wahin the walls Of
Plymouth church. whose pulpit Henry
Ward Bcecher made famous throughout
the English speaking world. At time
when the American pulpit was for the
most part either dumb upon the evils OF
slavery or threw about that iulquitous in
stitution the sanctions Of religion Henry
Ward Beecher stood there. mighty Jove,
hUrlng the hot thund-rbolts OF his wrath
against d
lie was one of the best friends the cause
OF freedom eyer had. lie has demonstrat-
ed the power and Influence OF the uumuz-
zled pulpit He was much more concerned
with the acts OF the supporters Of slavery
than he was about The acts OF the apos
ties He had the courage To- do that f1f
lack OF which the church and the un-
churChed masses are uerishiug today He
stood on the banks ~ the Hudson instead
OF the banks Of the JordGn and applied
the Eospei To- the moral political ana so
ciai problems Of mis- time Wendell Phil
lips labored TO make the constitution con.
form 10 the Declaration Of Independence
Llncoln's proclamation Of emancipation
the victories OF Sheridan and sherman.
Meade and Grant put jefferson Davis to
flight and completely subdued the south's
power OF armed resistance
The south sued for peace not because 1t
had changed ITS attitude. not because its
baptism Of IRE through four years Of
bloody war had converted II TO Summers
view OF the barbarisrn OF sl5 very. but be-
cause God had made It helpless by press
ing the bitter cup OF Its iniquitios to Its
lips until II had been drained to the dregs
As Wendell Phillips took his stand out
side the constitution while 1t sanctioned
slavery so today the only impreEns bic
position can take is TO plant our feet
upon the constitution as amended and
stand there without compromise