r/Conservative • u/DEYoungRepublicans Conservatarian • Sep 15 '17

This week's quote goes to first female writer in the United States to make the abolition of slavery her principal theme.

“A glorious land is this of ours, A land of liberty! Through all the wide earth's bounds you ‘ll find None else so truly free! Go north or south, or east or west, Wherever you may roam, There's not a land like this of ours, The stranger's refuge home! And yet methinks it were but well, The tale might not be told, That where our banner proudliest floats, Are human sinews sold.”

These word's come from Elizabeth Margaret Chandler in one of many poetic works dedicated to the abolition of slavery. This one is dubbed "The True Ballad".

Chandler was born in Centre, Delaware, on Christmas Eve, 1807. They were members of the Religious Society of Friends (or Quakers), and they lived the strict, orderly and disciplined life of a Quaker family.

By the time she was nine years old she had lost both her parents, she and her brothers were living with their grandmother, Elizabeth Guest Evans (1744–1827), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth attended a Quaker school and there embraced the Quaker view of antislavery. Elizabeth started writing poems at a very early age. She left school when she was about twelve or thirteen (sources differ), but continued to read and write with a passion.

Chandler died from "remittant fever" on November 2, 1834, shortly before her 27th birthday. She was buried near the family farm at Hazlebank. Her articles, poems, and letters were gathered and published as two books, by Benjamin Lundy, and the proceeds from the sale of those books went to the cause of abolition.

To exonerate her legacy, the Radiance Foundation has been chosen as a featured channel. One of today's leaders in the modern abolition movement.

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u/CarolinaPunk Esse Quam Videri Sep 15 '17

Brings me back to my American Literature Course.

Its somewhat sad, (or reflective of the time and current tribulations) we do not seem to producing works of the same kind of impact.

3

u/Kossie333 Sep 15 '17

The appriciation for a certain work of art might just grow in following generations. A perfect example for this are the paintings of van Gogh. While his artworks were not really liked while he was still alive, future generations had an other point of view and value his paintings as some of the most influential ever.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 15 '17

We're not allowed to tip sacred cows today anymore than she was in her day.

Slavery was the sacred cow that no one was allowed to talk about. We figured we could avoid Civil War if we just didn't mention slavery to each other at the time.

1

u/ThreshingBee Sep 16 '17

To exonerate her legacy

Exonerate? I'm also confused by the reference to overturning Roe v Wade, as modern abolitionists fight modern slavery, not abortion.