Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-09-19

fitting food for a greedy and gossiping com
munity. An effort is made to fasten upon
the advocate of truth the broad surmise of
something wrong, the foul stigma of indis-
erection, improperly or actual crime. No in
telligible account of the source of these re-
ports can be given, their truth nobody is able
to vouch for, but still the SANDER lives. and
the suspicion cherished that all is not RIGHT.
No matter how pure and f~aultless may be
the individual, indeed the truer, and better
his life, the deeper the malice, and the more
inhuman the butchery of his reputation. If
like Jesus of Nazareth he goes about doing
good, if his whole life is devoted to deeds
of kindness, and works of mercy, the more is
he assaulted, and the more vigorous are the
efforts to undermine his influence, and black
en- his fame.
Although the source of these rnmors is
generally unknown, yet we believe they al
most invariably have their origin among those
who stand highest inpublic estimation; those
who give tone and character to the public
sentiment. The proud Pharisee, and the
ungodly Priest like those of olden time, con-
spire together to prosecute him, whose truly
Christian life is a rebuke to their own hvp-
o%critical professions. They know that the
mask will be torn from them, that their hid
eous deformity will be exposed, SO they fore
stall the true testimony, which would seal
their condemnation, by attempting to destroy
the reputation, and therefore the influence of
him who %testilies against them. We come
to these conclusions from the fact, that SLAM
der, that many-headed monster with enven-
omed tongue, is nourished and cherished in
the benevolent associations of the church.
and even the Sabbath school and the pulpit
are perverted to its uses. The children are
taught to regard the Christian reformer as
one of vile character, as one having a devil,
are designed to fix upon him the seal of G.
ternal Reproduction in the public eye. The
Priest trembling for his power, and feeling
that his foundation is being undermined, like
the dying man who clings to a straw, at
tempts to sneer at, and scolf, and ridicule
him who teaches the fundamental law of
Christianity.
We do not say but these monstrous inven-
tons are credited by some, and very likely
many believe there is room for suspicion in
the case of every one whom they meet, and
they think SO for the very good reason, that
they judge others (being ignorant of their
character) out of their own hearts. Being
themselves corrupt, and destitute of moral
principle, they can appreciate nothing high
er, aaI believe all to be governed by the
same sinister motives as themselves. Go a.
mong a people where deception and falsehood
prevail, and you will find it very difficult to
establish a reputation for voracity. Go a.
mong those who overreach their ncirhbor,
who exact usury, and enrich themselves with
legalized plumber, and it is almost impossi-
Bile to make them believe you are governed
by principles of strict equity and Justice
Go among a people who are addicted to lcwd-
ness and vice, and very likely you will be
suspected of RIGHTEOUSNESS, because they
judge those of whom they have no knowl-
edge, by their own conduct. The rcformer
may always know the character of the peo-
pie, of the church and clergy where he is, by
the rumors that are put in circulation about
him.