years later, when he made his memorable visit to this country.  In vain was the monster document unrolled in Faneuil Hall, and many Abolitionists with Irish blood were put forward to sweep the chords of Erin’s heart, and to conjure by their eloquence the disciples of St. Patrick to rally under the banner of freedom.  There was no response, except the response of bitter foes.  Erin’s harp vibrated to no breeze which did not come out of the South.  The slave-power had been erected into patron saint by the new Ireland in America, and the new Ireland in America was very well content with his saintship’s patronage and service.  Thus it happened that the great expectations, which were excited by the Irish address, were never realized.  But the pioneer had other fish in his net, had, in fact, meanwhile, got himself in readiness for a launch into a new and startling agitation.  As to just what this new and startling agitation was we must refer the reader to the next chapter.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE PIONEER MAKES A NEW AND STARTLING DEPARTURE.

When Garrison hoisted the banner of immediate emancipation he was over-confident of success through the instrumentality of the church.  It did not enter his heart to conceive that after he had delivered his message touching the barbarism of slavery that a church calling itself Christian, or that a ministry arrogating to itself the character of the Christ, could possibly say him nay.  But he learned sadly enough the utter folly of such expectations.  For from pew and pulpit the first stones were hurled against him, and the most cruel and persistent opposition and persecution issued.  Then as the movement which he had started advanced, he saw how it was, why the church had played him false and the cause of freedom.  It was because the poison of slavery which the evil one had injected into the nation’s arteries had corrupted the springs of justice and mercy in that body.  The Church was not free, it, too, was in bonds to slavery, how then could it help to free the slaves?  That was the reason that pulpit and pew cried out against him and persecuted him.  It was not they but the slave despotism, which ruled them, which wrought its fell purpose within them.

If the reformer cast his eyes about him for other help it was the same; the slime of the serpent was upon State as well as Church.  Both of the two great political parties were bound hands and feet, and given over to the will of the slave tyranny.  In all departments of Government, State and National, the positive, all-powerful principle was slavery.  Its dread nolo me tangere had forced Congress into the denial of the right of petition, and into the imposition of a gag upon its own freedom of debate.  It was the grand President-maker, and the judiciary bent without a blush to do its service.  What, then, in these circumstances could the friends of freedom hope to achieve?  The nation had been caught