isa-normaladvance-1909-00365

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE36 5We of the twentieth century can hardlyrealize the conditions with which Phillips hadto cope. We know little of the turmoil andstrife of this, the greatest of Civil Wars.That we may better appreciate the spirit of thetimes and the courage of this reformer, let usrecall a scene in Faneuil Hall, Boston. In1837, E. P. Lovejoy was ruthlessly murderedby a lawless mob at Alton, Illinois, for daringto assert the rights of an American citizen. Hedied a martyr to the cause of slavery and hisenemies exulted over his death. The tidingssoon swept the continent and public opinionwas aroused as never before. When the newsreached Boston, a meeting was held in FaneuilHall that the people might express theirhorror at this outrage. Upon this occasion,James T. Austin, Attorney-General of Massachusetts, arose and in a speech filled with bitterness and insult, compared the black race toa menagerie of wild beasts, and the mob atAlton to the Revolutionary patriots who threwthe tea overboard in 1773. He declared thatLovejoy died as the fool dieth. WendellPhillips had come to Faneuil Hall to listen,but when he hear these infamous words hisindignation was beyond control. He felt thathis duty was to lift a voice in behalf of theAbolitionists. Scarcely had Austin retiredwhen Phillips, kindled with wrath and resentment, mounted the rostrum. Calmly and unflinchingly he faced the terrors of the hour andamid hisses and cheers uttered these defiantwords,—A comparison has been made between the events of the Revolution and thetragedy at Alton. We have heard it asserted,here in Faneuil Hall, that Great Britian hada, right to tax the colonies, and we have heardthe mob at Alton, the drunken murderers ofLovejoy, compared to those patriot fatherswho threw the tea overboard! Sir, when Iheard the gentleman lay down principleswhich place the murderers of Alton side byside with Otis and Hancock, with Quincy andAdams, I thought those pictured lips wouldhave broken into voice to rebuke the recreantAmerican,—the slanderer of the dead. Sir, forthe sentiments he has uttered, on soil consecrated by the prayers of Puritans and theblood of patriots, the earth should have yawned and swallowed him up. Such was the courage of Wendell Phillips, the Reformer. Thisis one of the greatest scenes in American history, and the speech may well be compared tothat of Patrick Henry at Williamsburg and tothe daring words of Martin Luther before theDiet of Worms. Phillips revealed himself asa great man fighting for a great cause. Hewas ordained by the Omnipotent to show anerring people the way of Truth.Out of the past Wendell Phillips speaks tous of the twentieth century. He says to theyoung man of wealth,—devote your life to agrand and noble cause. To the statesman hesays,—seek public office not to satisfy selfishmotives, but to help mankind. To the Churchhe offers this plea,—abandon false creeds, andremember that the spirit of Truth takes awaythe doctrines of Men. To all American citizens, Wendell Phillips is an inspiration and aguide. He consecrated his life to the upliftingof humanity no sacrifice was too great.He stood upon the worlds broad threshhold wideThe din of battle and of slaughter rose,He saw God stand upon the weaker side,That sank in seeming loss before its foes.He humbly joined him to the weaker part,Fanatic named, and fool, yet well content, So he could be nearer to Gods heart,And feel its solemn pulses sending bloodThrough all the wide-spread veins of endlessgood.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34395
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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