Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-04

all those who would preserve things as they
are. Has not the NJ. Il. Church, controlled
by leaders, enjoined silence upon its subordi-
nate preachers, on the slave question! But
it is not our purpose to dwell longer at pre-
sent on the church influences, but to refer to
others, that have their weight also, in prevent.
ing the people from taking true grounds on
the slave question.
Brulus, when he sacrificed his best friend
said, mot that loved Cesar less, but that
| loved Rome more" Christ e%nioined upon
us to love God and his law supremely. lie
also said, 'He that lovelh father or mother
more than me, is not worthy of me; and he
that loveth son or daughter more than me, is
not worthy of me-"
If we love the bubble reputation, populari-
ty with wrong doors, property, parties, sects,
friendships, even life itself, or a glorious I'M
ion with shareholders, better than the true
and the right, we will sacrifice the right for
these, because we love them better than the
right, and by many, for these the interests
and rights Of the slave are sacrificed.
If the people would but free themselves
from their leading strings, by which they are
bound by priest and politician, and act as
though they felt themselves to be men and
women-men and women willing to part
with reputation, popularity, property, parties
and sects, slaveholding churches, and a glo-
rious union with Shareholders, for the sake Of
the true and the right; if those who profess
TO be Anti-slavery, and who are largely con-
trolled by Anti-slavery feeling, would do this,
in our opinion there are enough of them to
consumate the work Of emancipation in a
short time. We can readily bring ourself to
believe that there is much truth, in most in
stances, in the oft repeated declaration, 81
am opposed to slavery" but there is general
ly something in the way which prevents their
opposition from being felt.
If we are attached to anything that is in
fact an obstacle to emancipation-so much
attached that we will not cast it aside, our
opposition to slavery is neutralized, for the
obstacle will be preserved and the opposition
not be felt. If we aim a shaft at a target,
and something intervenes between us and
the mark, which intercepts that shaft in its
flight, the mark will not be reached, until the
opposing obstacle be removed.
If we are opposed TO slavery, and love a par
ty, sect, or anything else that stands between
us and emancipation--that is, the antagonists
of the slaves cause and if we are unwilling
TO remove the party, sect, &C.. out of the way,
that opposition to slavery will be impotent
TO effect anything for the slaves redemption.
The common sense Of every one teaches him
that if we are more friendly to that which pre-
vents emancipation, than we are to the inte-
rests of the slave, that we will let the slave
pine in his bonds.
There are Shareholders possessed of much
Anti-slavery feeling, but whose dread of pub
lie sentiment prevents them from giving Ii
berty TO their slaves; but what avail is their
opposition to slavery, so long as public SEN
timent, or anything else, prevents them from
emancipating their slaves
There is a conservatism which would not
so much preserve the existence of slavery it.
self, but which clings to, and keeps in exist
ence, those obstacles to emancipation, that
alone prevent the abolition of slavery.