Evening journal., 1912-02-27
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Challenge That a Great
Orator Unexpectedly
Answered
By Holland

At the time when the country was
wrought up to a dangerous pitch by
reason of the agitation for the aboli-
tion of slavery which was led by Will
liam Lloyd Garrison and by counter
agitation carried on by those who be-
lieved that political agitation was not
the proper way to treat the great
questions involved in the maintenance
Of the slave system, Wendell Phillips
made his living by delivering paid lee
lures upon the lyceum platform Ali Of
his addresses in opposition to slavery
we're delivered without fee, but so
intense were Phillips convictions
upon the slavery question that he was
apt to inject something about the
slaves into his paid lectures The
knowledge that Phillips did this some
times kept away from his lectures per-
sons who otherwise would have been
glad TO see and hear the man who was
regarded as the most consummate
master of the platform oratory Of his
time.
Shortly before the beginning of the
Civil War Mr.. Phillips was engaged by
the lyceum bureau of Utica, N. Y, to
deyliver one OF the lectures in the
course. AS he had already delivered
his most famous lecture, that on "The
Lost Arts, two or three times in Uti-
ca, the lycum committee, was anxi-
GUS that he should select another. Mr..
Phillips therefore. wrote to the COM
mittee that he would deliver his lee
ture on Social Life in Europe" his
record showing that he had never le-
livered that in Utica. When deliver
/ ing this lecture, it was Mr.. Phillips
custom not to make any reference to
the slavery question.
There was published in Utica at that
time a newspaper which was strongly
opposed TO the abolition agitation and
gave the strongest support to that
wing of the Democratic party which
was not in favor Of the Free-soil
movement, as it was called. When it
was announced that Wendell Phillips
would appear in the towns lyceum
course of lectures and deliver his lee
ture on Social Life in Europe" this
newspaper spoke in most glowing
terms of Phillips as an orator. 1t went
so far as to say that It was rejoiced
that the people of Utica, Of whatever
party, we're to have an opportunity to
wonderful oratory without being Of
Tended by reference by Mr.. Phillips to
the everlasting negro
Shortly after Mr.. Phillips arrived in
Utica a personal friend called upon
him to assure him that he would have
very large audience, and that some
persons who had never heard him
would be present because in his lee
ture there would be no reference to
slavery.
What's that?" said Mr.. Phillips,
''They are going to come to my lee
ture because they think | do not speak
about the slaves in it? How do they
know that?'
In reply the FREUD showed him a
copy Of the newspaper.
so they think that in my lecture on
Social Life in Europe there will be
no reference TO the black manT
said Mr.. Phillips. There has been nc
reference to the black man in that lee
! turo as | have delivered 1t in the past
But this article is a sort Of challenge
or defiance ! think before ] finish this
lecture | shall confound the editor.
The great hall was filled when Mr.
Phillips stopped upon the platform
Those who had heard him at other
times were of the opinion that neve;
we're Mr. Phillips graces and charms
as an orator more perfectly revealed
All through the lecture, as he was ac'
/ customed to deliver it, the audience
listened as one man Then, without
changing his intonation without any
gesture without the slightest intima
] 90 ~
tinued:
when I visited Rome / spent many
hours in that wonder of architecture
which is the illustration Of the almosf
divine genius of Michael Angelo, st
| Peters Church I saw the rich ant
poor gathered there. some in devotion
some standing in awe-stricken silence
as they surveyed the dome, / passed
along, bearing that spirit, till / came
TO one Of the chapels. There ! saw
black man, with all the emblems o
the priesthood upon him, occupied
with devotional services and will
many white people meeling before
him. And / said to myself, Truly
am three thousand miles distant from
Broadway and from Boston!
without another word Mr.. Phillips
walked from the platform, and TO
some moments that great audience sa
there amazed. dumfounded, at his an
swer to the challenge, as he called II
of the editor who had dared to tell hi
readers that there would be no refer
ence to the black man in the lecture
Copyright, 1912. by f. j. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell o
when Stevenson Revealed His Great