I also
published a volume of educational papers, which had a considerable
sale, especially in the State of Ohio, where a copy was ordered for
each school library.
XXIII
PHI BETA KAPPA ADDRESS AT CAMBRIDGE
About ten days before the 18th of June, 1861, Judge Hoar called at my
office and invited me to deliver the Phi Beta Kappa oration at
Cambridge on the 18th of the month. Although I had but little time for
preparation, I accepted the invitation upon the understanding, or
rather upon his request, that I was to deal with the questions then
agitating the country. Among my hearers was the venerable Josiah
Quincy, formerly President of the College. My address was so radical
that the timid condemned it, and even Republican papers deprecated the
violence of my language--they then living in the delusion that
concessions, mild words and attitudes of humility could save the Union.
Mr. Quincy was not of those. He gave to my address unqualified
support, and I had not doubt that the majority of my audience
sympathized with my views. There were, however, copperheads, and
peace-men at any price, and gradually there appeared a more troublesome
class of men who professed to be for the prosecution of the war, but
criticized and condemned all the means employed. They were the
hypocrites in politics--a class of men who affect virtue, and who
tolerate and protect vice in government.
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