The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-03-23
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, MARCH %, 1889.
Political Action.

Political Action.
Let it be understood, once for all, that when we
speak of the political duties and responsibilities o.
abolitionists, we are not catering for this or that
party. Anti-savery carries no flag but that ofuni'
versal humanity. Itinsists on no party shibboleth
1t finds humanity PROSTATE and bleeding and cry
ing for help. 1t beholds the natural as we'll as
civil rights of 100000 struck down by the hand
of violence 1t sees the highest prerogatives Of
freemen daily offered up in sacrifice to slavery.
1t sees a great nation Keeling to and fro like a
drunken man under the ponderous weight trans
gresson. In short, it views the great moral con-
fict between liberty and slavery as question oil
life and DEATH Anti-savery addresses itself to all
men who have principle enough to espouse truth
and justice and mercy-to all who have humanity
enough to feel for others woes-to all who have
religion enough to remember them that are in
bonds as bound with them'-to minister to the
painting victim Of oppression who has fallen among
thieves, is bruised, stripped and left half dead
1t is asked, why do you bring the claims of a
cause so high and holy in its aims, into the arena
Of political action? Because we are honestly op-
posed to slavery and would not be chargeabe with
the inconsistency of following up our talking and
writing and praying for the slave with our voting
against him Slavery itself is the creature, the
offspring, the pet of political action. Slavery has
been Graded, nursed and brought up by political
action. By that door, Disgusting its real name, it
first came sneaking into our political household
a mere tenant at will. Though remaining only
by indulgence. 1t has brought deep disgrace up
on the whole family, down through every degree
of consanguinity. 1t has made frghtlul havoc of
mind and morals-debauched a whole nation in
their conceptions of right and wrong, in relation
to human liberty-embargoed improvement-im-
poverished the sate-passed an act of outlawry
against the rights of manknd-usurped the reins
of government--proclamed itself dictator for life
and now threatens to turn the owners of the home
stead out Of doors. We repeat, political action
has given birth to slavery. Free suffrage has made
it and free suffrage must abolish it. The ballot
box is one of the instruments which good Provi-
dence has placed in our hands as a liberty life
preserver. Let it be used in the fear of God, in
every lawful manner promising relief to the OPP
pressed.
Nor let it be said that political action is some
thing wholly diverse from moral action 1t is not
So The outward act of depositing vote is strict
ly physical act. The outward act of prayer to
God is not less so, but both alike should be per-
formed in spirit of obedience to the Judge of
quick and dead. Political action, voting action,
is fitted to move minds that are too gross to be af
fected by reason and argument 1t by no means
supersedes the necessity of moral weapons. 1t is
impotent and useless without them. But moral
power, unaccompanied by consistent corresponding
action must inevitably bring disparagement and
upon the cause. Multitudes of men, alas,
are as mpervous TO the power ofruth as the bars
of a castle. But even such may be made to feel
the power of
s'That weapon which comes down still
As fakes the Sod
But executes freeman's will
AS lightning does the will Of God "