A Visit to the United States in 1841 by Joseph Sturge
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page 59 of 367 (16%)
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triumphant and glorious issue of the present struggle remains
firm. 'Truth smote to Earth revives again; The eternal years of God are hers-- But error wounded, shrieks with pain, And dies among her worshippers.' "From this time henceforward, Pennsylvania must become the great battle-field of opinion on the subject of slavery. The light of that evening's sacrifice has reached already every portion of our State. Men are every where inquiring why the sacrifice was made? Why a mighty city was convulsed with violence? Why a noble hall was burned by incendiaries in the view of gazing thousands? Why the 'shelter for orphan children' was set on fire, and why the houses of our citizens were surrounded by a ruffian mob? They may be told now by the perpetrators of these outrages, that all has been occasioned by the conduct of the abolitionists. But the delusion cannot last. Truth will make its way to the abused ear of the community; and it will be known that the scenes which have disgraced our city, are directly attributable to the influence of southern slavery. The spirit of free inquiry, now fairly awakened, will never again slumber in this state. Like the Greek fire, it will blaze with fiercer intensity for every attempt to extinguish it." The proceedings of the authorities and the public at large, consequent upon this act of incendiarism and outrageous violence, were truly |
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