THE
SLAVE STRUGGLE IN AMERICA.
(George III. to Abraham Lincoln.)
By HYPATIA BRADLAUGH.
LECTURE IV.
John G. Whittier was appointed Secretary to the National Anti-slavery Convention in 1833, and a member of that Convention noted of the Quaker poet that "his broad, square forehead and well-cut features, aided by his incipient reputation as a poet, made him quite a noticeable feature in the Convention." Thirty years after Whittier had signed the Declaration of Sentiments he says: "I love, perhaps too well, the praise and goodwill of my fellow-men; but I set a higher value on my name as appended to the Anti-Slavery Declaration of 1833 than on the title page of any book." Mr. Wilson says: "In counsel and action always sagacious and practical, he participated in those movements which finally resulted in the organisation of that powerful body which overthrew the system of human bondage and dethroned the slave power. . . . . All along the struggle these lyrics of the meek-visaged, but fiery-souled Quaker rang out their notes of warning and appeal." His "Massachusetts to Virginia," "Stanzas for the Times," and a Virginia slave-mother's farewell to her daughters, once read will not be quickly forgotten. If to-day we, here in England, are moved by the fierce indignation, bitter sarcasms, and stern rebuke of his verses, we can well imagine how great was their influence fifty years ago in America. I quote the following lines from his "Stanzas," which may perchance suit other countries and other times, as they did America fifty years ago:—
"Up, then, in Freedom's manly part;
From greybeard eld to fiery youth,
And on the nation's naked heart
Scatter the living coals of Truth!
Up,—while ye slumber deeper yet
The shadow of our fame is growing.
Up,—while ye pause the sun may set
In blood, around our altars flowing!"
