John Jay Chapman, William Lloyd Garrison

[231] in either passage. Emerson was the last man in the world to feel condescension. If he had had an inkling of what Garrison's activity signified he would have shouted approval. Emerson's humility was abundantly approved in the outcome. Let this be noted: Emerson was a perfectly courageous person; regard for appearance has nothing to do with the ineffectuality of his perceptions. Upon Lovejoy's murder, in 1837, Emerson “sternly rejoiced,” says Dr. Edward W. Emerson, “that one was found to die for humanity and the rights of free speech and opinion” ; and soon thereafter Emerson delivered a lecture in Boston in which “he suddenly looked the Boston audience in the eyes” as he said these words about Lovejoy, “and a shudder seemed to run through the audience, yet unprepared for this bold word, for a martyr of an unpopular Cause.” Dr. Emerson cites this episode twice over, once in the Journals, and once in the Works, and he adds, “of course Lovejoy had other defenders in Boston.” Yes, Lovejoy certainly had other defenders in Boston; and it is fortunate for us that he had.

Emerson's words of approbation for Lovejoy seem to have been carefully