Oakland sunshine., 1915-09-18

ClOCh Ou luc dllcIuoOu VI July tAO
veil fell from the $4,000 bronze statue
Of Wendell Phillips in the Public Gar
den, and a crowd Of from 5000 to
5000 acclaimed with cheers and patri-
otic song Daniel Chester French's al
most speaking memorial of Boston's
famous orator and abolitionist.
AS the sun was sinking behind rain
clouds in the west little John G. Phil
lips, Jr., the great-grandnephew of
Wendell Phillips, the man who de-
clared that if he lived long enopgh he
would make Boston streets 100 lure to
bear the footsteps Of -fave, pulled
the cord releasing the mantle which
for several weeks had yelled the statue
AS the folds fell away from the figure
Of the great abolitionist GLORY, Glory,
HaIlelujah." burst from chorus Of
colored singers.
Fervent was the prayer of Rev.
Montrose w. Thornton, pastor Of the
historic Charles Street church and also
chairman of the executive committee
of the local Equal Rights league
branch; sterling and practical the trib-
ute of the acting mayor, George w.
Coleman, a man of Wendell Phillips
principles, as was every speaker.
Illuminating and forceful' was the
life story by Secretary William d.
Brigham Sweet and inspiring were the
singing by the colored singers, led by
nr yo1f n Eo r N
Jones. and the music of the brass band
of Company L, Sixth regiment of Mas
sachusetts militia. Picturesque and
touching was the encomium by the only
survivor of the New England abolition
lists, Frank B. Sanborn, now elghty-three
years old. still active, coworker with
Phillips. Earnest and unqualified was
the praise by the spokesman for col
ored Americans, W. NJ. Trotter.
Fired with eloquence born of love
was the eulogy of Ireland's friend and
friend of all oppressed by Michael j.
Jordan, son of O'ConpelPs island home;
tuneful and noble tho paean Of the poet
of the occasion. &r; 7dson Of Phillips
party leader. beari1. his name, William
Lloyd Garrison. livery participant was
an emulator of the Prophet Of Liberty,
Champion of the Slave" while the
colored women of the Woman's Relief
corps held the colors.
The monument, Iasterpiece by
Daniel Chester French, the sculptor,
represents the great abolitionist stand
ing at reading desk, his right hand
resting upon the desk. his left out
stretched and hotdins bit of broken
fetter. Upon tie marble background,
above the head 0. 5he statue, are the
words, whether In Chains or In Lau-
rels, Liberty Knows Nothing but Vic
tory" On the pedestal, in front, are
the words in raised bronze letters:
WENDELL PHILLIPS
1Sl1-1SS4.
PROPHET OF LIBERTY,
CHAMPION OF TRG SLAVE.
On the reverse side of the back
ground is tk.s quotation from Phillips:
81 love t.aeApressibly these streets OF
BostGs, over whose pavements my
mot er held up tenderly my baby feet,
and If God grants me time enough
will make them too pure to bear the
footsteps of slave"
The exercises were opened by Mr.
William D. Brigham, secretary Of the
Wendell Phillips Memorial association
! who introduced the acting mayor
George W. Coleman. president Of the
city council.
Mr.. Coleman then introduced, In
turn. four speaker wb> presented q
verbal panorama OF Wendell Phillips
life. William d. Brigham spoke on
Morning Youth and Vision Frank.
lin Benjamin sa1, horn on "Noon-the
Abolitionist PNriod;" William Monroe
Trotter on "AfJernoon-Citizen Fol
the Colored American" and Michael j.
Jordan "Evening-What Mr.. Phillips
Did For Ireland" MIR. Coleman, In
introducing William Monroe Trotter
said that nothing was so appropriate
as for the colored race to have 9
spokesman in dedicating monument
to Wendell Phillips and that there
could be no more fit representative
| than William Monroe Trotter.
| Mr.. Trotter said that Wendell Phil
lips was the originator Of the north's
policy of reconstruction and pioneer
advocate of the ballot for coloret
Americans. No man had done more fol
| the cause of human rights, perhaps
than Wendell Phillips, save Charles
| Sumner. Wendell Phillips was among
the first to announce emancipation Al
the purpose of the war and to urg'
that the people of color should be uset
as soldiers to help to save the Union.
He was a pioneer in the movemen
for suffrage He saw to 1t that slav
cry should be torn up by the roots ant
that as far as federal law was con
cerned every man. white and black
should have citizenship and suffrage.
Wendell Phillips believed, as we dc
that the greatest thing is human free
dom. said Mr.. Trotter. and 1t can
be maintained without equality
there can be no equality withc
ballot