Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-04

ri HISTORY is written so as to
make young readers think
the anti-slavery agitation
centered in New England.
hut at the time of my fathers con-
niction it centered in the West" said
Uncle Joe Cannon in a reminiscent
mood. The southern half of Illinois
and Indiana projected like wedge
into slavery, and there were no people
in the country who were subject to
such bitter controversy over the ques-
ton. The early settlers were at war
with each other on this issue. and
preiudice ruled. In the southern part
of Indiana we had comparatively few
New England people, and the general
opinion of the Puritan was that eX-
pressed by Peter Cartwright. the old
Methodist circuit rider who once de-
feated Lincoln for the Illinois legis-
lature Cartwright declared that all
Yankees were imps of the devil who
lived on oN storS instead Of honest corn
bread and bacon.
I'm the West the bitterness over
slavery rose to such a height as TO
result in murder ard riot. You have
read in history of Elijah Lovejoy's
murder by mob for editing an abo-
lition newspaper. But perhaps YOU
don't know that Lovejoy's brother,
owen. was quite his equal in courage.
Owen. who went to Congress when the
islaVcry element got the upper
hand. lived at Princeton. ILL.,. which
was one of the important stations on
the underground railway. and he was
one Of the most energetic agents in
helping escaped slaves to freedom.
Faces Hostile Crowd.
81 saw owen Lovejoy face and COW
crowd that was hostile and muir
derous in almost as dramatic way
as 6id Old Dick OGlesby in his dam
nation speech at Charleston. 1t was
at Greenup, Democratic community
whose population came from Ken
lucky and Virginia and sympathiZed
with the South ON slavery. When
Iovejoys intention 10 speak there was
announced. word was sent over to
Cumberland County that he would not
he permitted TO talk. Everybody eX-
pected trouble. / heard of it in Coles
County, where l lived. and drove
across country to attend that meeting.
Greenup was a little town, but there
was a great crowd for the expectation
of violence had drawn people from
everywhere. The meeting opened
amid much excitement. in which you |
could hear cries Of 'niggerskin' and |
damned aboitionist' from those who |
were bent on mischief.
when Lovejoy rose TO speak he |
&c
eyes from group to group as though |
to read their purpose. Then, with |
grave deliberation, he began:
Begins His Speech.
"I have been told that Owen Love |
iov would not be here today, and that |
if he did come he would not be al
lowed to speak. The oldest member
of my family lies in his grave over at
Alton on the Mississippi, a victim OF
mob violence. He died in defense OF
liberty. 1t is the most man can do
in any cause. l will speak here to-
day
you could hear the leaves rustic;
his voice being the only other sound
to disturb the air. The crowd was
silent. LoVejoy had thrown spell
over them. He was not afraid, and
his opponents knew it from the mo-
ment he rose to his feet and uttered
that defiant declaration. They listen |
ed. and from the beginning he spoke |
in plain unequivocal language, call |
ing spade a spade. He said:
81 am called an abolitionist. Some !
Republicans are afraid of being classed |
with me- If ! am an abolitionist, |
make the most of it. and you must
know that there are many more like
me-
Controls Voice Well.
HE had exquisite control of his |
voice. He began like lawyer trying |
a criminal case before a jury. He |
looked out over the crowd as he said: |
"In try this case and l want l. |
men, all of them Democrats, to stand |
up
Then with judicial solemnity he |
charged the jury:
"'You will well and truly hear the |
statement touching the question l
am about to put. and true verdict
render IS you shall answer at the
last judgment day.
after a pause, Lovejoy resumed:
"'On a plantation in the distant