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Entcrcil according to Law, in the Office of the I.ibrariiUJ of Congress, at Washington, D. C, 
 in the year i8Si, by Jamks Robkktson. 
 
 A PLEA FOR HUMANITY. 
 
 "IVai-e^M^jU-tK; good will to man ;" was sagely taught j-. . _ 
 
 >/ii'tCTiii^fnurieN, lacking nineteen years ago. 
 Vainl/stHl the sages hold the grand untried thought 
 To l)e the true ruling precejit of life and action : 
 'I'hat love shoulil govern and mercy sway humanity, 
 ■|"o greater hajipincss: dethrone the yet savage practice 
 Of vengeful life fur life. The good example must begin 
 .\t the top of the social fabric, to inspire the lower units 
 With resjjcct. Strange that none will do what all wish dtjne 
 Hy their fellows; seWishness holds the heart cnthrall'd so lirm 
 That unrespected human life is liartered in usurous purpose. 
 \o Garrison, nor Philips stand in the gap now to stay the wrong. 
 A murder most foul has struck the core of the world's heart, 
 .And a j aiicial murder is most imminent to expunge the crime — 
 .\ vicario.is atonement to sate the conscious responsibility 
 ( )f all. Who is blameless of this bloody deed? Stand forth ; 
 To them alone be given power to mete out justice, true, 
 .Vccording to their wi>dom, on the facts and merits of the case. 
 He mindful how slight the difference between cult us and culprit. 
 
 < )n that depends responsibility; whether before or after birth 
 Kndow'd the puling babe with bare possibilities of life : whether 
 ( )r not by prece|)ts, examples, models, guides and uidcnown laws 
 Never taught, the life is directed and moral nature moulded. 
 If the seeds of good and bad wishes, desires and acts are planted 
 Hy intent or neglect, can liability begin before self control 
 And knowledge? Experience is the lamp of life. .\ life time 
 Is scant time to train a life for life's duties. 
 Is a bad man not a sijccimen of bad communal work? 
 To destroy their bad work is in efl'ect to make bad, worse— 
 A heinous diffusion proportionate to its influence. 
 Atrocious threats are habitual mouthings of all. 
 .\ relentless model will many hearts incite to evil act. 
 I pray and plead for living humanity's sake; oh ! give ear — 
 Not to set a fresh impetus to crime by gladiatorial 
 i\cts juilicial. The whole world in susjiense waits 
 The denouement of this terrible tragedy. Pander not 
 
 To the giusscr passions of the lowest nature; rise 
 lo ihc grand o|»portunity, and lay the most glorious 
 Wreath immortal above imperial decorations 
 On the t.>ml> of the late Martyred Chief. Establish 
 His memory in the eternal evolution of humanity, 
 (irowing greater in grandeur daily. All the noblest 
 
 < )f earth's unpatented stand manlike ! godlike ! to sing 
 Pa-ns of joy to a new era. Twenty centuries of the 
 Holiest meditation advise the inauguration for posterity. 
 All earth's Motherhood crave this blessing for futurity. 
 Contentment of life would (ill the heart to proclaim 
 The glad tidings of the New World found at last. 
 
 Iamks Robkrison. 
 East Caiiihriii);e, J/,tss., Se/>t. jjih, /SS/.