He saw before him the eager
multitude, and he was laying bare to them the picture of their wrongs.
So much depended upon this speech! If he failed now, he failed in
everything--all that he had done before has gone for nothing! Ah! if
only one had a voice that could reach the whole world--that could
shout these things into the ears of the oppressed!
His friends had said they would come at a quarter to eight. But they
came at half past seven, and sat round and waited. It was thought best
that they should not arrive until the precise minute of the meeting;
and meantime they outlined to Samuel the plan of campaign they had
formed.
Dr. Barton was to make the opening speech, introducing Samuel; and by
way of outwitting the police, he was to be particularly careful to get
into this "introduction" all the essential facts which it was desired
to lay before the people. He was to tell about the twenty thousand
dollars which Hickman paid to Slattery, and about the acknowledgment
which Wygant had made to Samuel, and about how the boy had been turned
out of St. Matthew's Church. If the police attempted to interfere with
this, the doctor was to persist until he had been actually placed
under arrest; and then others were to take up the attempt in different
places, until six had been arrested. In this case Samuel was to make
no attempt to speak at all; they would "save" him for an out-door
meeting--and also Everley, who was to defend them in court.
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