However, what do these two young people rely on to resist the prejudice and narrowness of the whole society and the whole country? Although the road ahead is full of difficulties and obstacles, although the goal is so far away, the sacred and lofty fire of faith burns the souls of the two young people, and they are extremely pious and persistent in the cause they pursue. Benjamin Lundy is one of these two young people. He founded the spirit of universal freedom in Ohio very early. He is a young man with extraordinary perseverance. He walks 20 miles every month and carries all the newspapers home from the printing house. He also took the trouble to walk 400 miles to Tennessee for publicity, just to increase the number of newspaper subscribers.
With the help of William Garrison, he worked more actively in Baltimore. At that time, the main streets of the city were covered with fences holding slaves, and those unfortunate people who were loaded with slave ship left their hometown and relatives sadly and were sent to the southern port; The scene in the slave auction market is even more heartbreaking and terrible. Violent slave capture often happens, and the means are cruel and outrageous, which left an indelible impression on Garrison. Because of the difficulties in family life, Garrison's mother had no money for him to go to school, but as early as childhood, she taught him to oppose tyranny and oppression. In order to fight for the freedom of these poor and unfortunate people, the young man decided to fight indomitable and even prepared to sacrifice his life when necessary.
Garrison shouted in their first newspaper for the immediate liberation and abolition of slavery, which triggered an avalanche of insults and abuse. His views were opposed and condemned by the whole society. After that, he was arrested and imprisoned. This news touched John John Greenleaf Whittier, a noble and upright friend of his in the north, but because of the poor economic situation, he was unable to pay Garrison's fine, so John Greenleaf Whittier turned to write to henry clay and asked him to pay Garrison's fine to save him. It's been 49 days since Garrison saw the light of day.
Wendell phillips said of Garrison: "He was only 24 when he went to prison for his opinions. He was still young when he challenged the evil of the whole country. "
Garrison fought alone in Boston for many years, because in that city, Garrison had neither the support of friends nor the help of any influential social forces. Penniless, he started writing The Liberator in a small attic. Look at this hungry young man's clank declaration in the first issue of the newspaper: "I will be as ruthless as truth and as indomitable as justice." I won't be vague and ambiguous, and I won't make excuses for myself. I will hold my ground, never back down. I believe that one day the world will hear my voice and understand me. My feelings are from the heart. "What a brave young man this is! He fought against the deepest prejudice of that era and fought alone with his own efforts.
Otis, the mayor of Boston, received a letter from Horn Haley in South Carolina, saying that someone had sent him a copy of The Liberator and asked him to check the name of the publisher. Otis wrote back that he found this humble newspaper printed by a poor young man in "a dimly lit hole". His only assistant is a black boy, and people of all colors support his views. They are insignificant and insignificant. "
However, the poor young man who ate, slept and printed in that "dimly lit hole" used his efforts, thoughts and words to make the whole world start thinking about his problems and opinions.
However, in the eyes of many people at that time, such dangerous elements were definitely to be suppressed. South Carolina's alarm agency offered a reward of $65,438+0,500, demanding that all those found spreading the liberator be arrested and convicted. The chief executive of one or two states also offered a reward for the capture of the editor of this newspaper. Georgia's legislature has clearly announced that it will offer a huge reward of $5,000 for the capture of Garrison. Few people applauded Garrison's career, so Garrison and his assistants were attacked and criticized everywhere.
Because of supporting Garrison's cause and protecting Garrison's printing press, a priest named Lovel Joel was killed by thugs in Illinois, but in Massachusetts, known as the cradle of American liberalism tradition, it was all industrial giants, authorities and cultural celebrities who angrily concentrated on punishing this "abolitionist". In the dark crowd, only a promising young lawyer, wendell phillips, asked to speak on the podium, which was unheard of in faneuil Hall.
Wendell phillips, standing on the podium, pointed to the portraits hanging on the wall and said, "When I heard that gentlemen decided to compare the names of Lovejoy killers in alton with the glittering names of Otis, Hancock and Adams, I thought that the originally closed lips in these paintings would make angry voices and give the most severe condemnation to those cowardly Americans and those shameless villains who spread rumors and slanders on the dead. In this sacred land where we live, the blood of Puritans and pioneers is everywhere. According to what the lost soul did, in this beautiful land, every beach, every cultivated land, every green leaf, every chirping insect and even the juice flowing on the tree are full of memories of him. "
The whole country is excited and excited about some hot hearts. There has been a long and fierce conflict between the pioneers in the north and the planters in the south. Even in distant California, the two forces are clearly opposed. With the outbreak of civil war, this kind of conflict has reached the most intense level. After the war, after 35 years of indomitable and heroic struggle, Garrison was received by President Lincoln as a national VIP, and he saw the stars and stripes fluttering in the wind over Fort Sumter. He was warmly welcomed by a liberated slave, two daughters of slaves, and two girls who were no longer slaves, and put a beautiful corolla on Garrison to show his infinite gratitude. Garrison's achievements will go down in history. He lit the torch to illuminate others' hearts, which was handed down from generation to generation and finally illuminated people's hearts.