The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-08-03
Sympathy for the slave.

The inquiry is often made by our opponents
why is all this sympathy and brotherly kindness
manifested towards!he blacks, when you feel Mt
more for the suffering whites in our own and Other
countries than ourselves ?'-and then the conclu,
sion of the whole matter is, 1t is all mistaken
philanthropy; blind enthusiasm Of weak-minded
men and silly women
Now we fatty deny this charge. Abolitionists
are the friends of humanity the world over. They
sympathize equally with the oppressed son Of Eu'
rope, Of Africa, and of our own country, irrespec-
i've of color Their efforts are more particularly
directed to the coored people of our land, because
their degradation is so unparalleled. What race
Of people under heaven are at this moment pinine
beneath such an oppressive and cruel system o
slavery? What nation caa be named, whose cit
izens are, by la,o torn from their homes, theil
friends, their kindred, their everything, and sold
like meat in the shambles--destined to drag out
their whole life, whether it be longer or shorter
under the lash Of the cruel task-master? Gould
single instance, equal in cruelty TO that of oul
own country, be pointed out, think you the sym
pathes of abolitionists, TO an equal degree, would
be for moment withheld?
Abolitionists sympathze with the oppressed
blacks, not because they are blacks, but because
they are MEN-not because they have coJored
SAin, but because they have IMMORTAL souLs-not
because they rcpresentthe colored race, but be-
cause they are representatives of all mankind
They remember that he bears the image of God
that Jesus Christ died TO redeem him--that he
is our brother by creation, by affinity, by redemp-
ton--that in his veins flows the one blood of all
but a little lower than the angels, crowned him
with glory and honor, tho he is now dethroned,
degraded and imbrued.
Let our opponents bear these truths in mind,
when they look at the condition of the colored
population in our country, and think you they will
wonder at the degree of sympathy manifested to-
wards them VIII they not rather stand amazed
at our slight exhibition of the good Samaritan's
spirit, and abashed that they have so long seen
their brother robbed and spoiled, and consented
thereto
Abolihonists denouncc this prejudice against CO.
Tor, which exists to such degree in our land that
it would deprive the black population of all the
privileges and enioyments Of civilization which
would shut them out from the common civities
Of life, and even deny them the facilities of public
and the benefits of our houses of pub
ic entertainments and which would deny them
seat Tor at least, coop them up in the house of
iod They say that this is one of the many in
,entions which men have sought P'1t; that it isl
,ot natural-that it is ungenerous, unchristlan
md inhuman.
The friends of humanity anticipate the time
when the maxims of this world and the customs
If society shall have been done away,-when all
nations shall be gathered before the throne of God
0 be Judged for the deeds done here in the body. |
Of what avail will it be to US, when inquired of
low we have treated these representatives of Je-
us Christ TO answer, they were blacks, and pub
&c opinion was such that we could not, consistent
y with our dignity minister unto them? Think
-ou this excuse will stand in judgment? Will