Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-02-13
From the LiJcraiOr.
LETTER FROM FRIEDRICH DOUG
LASS,
Victoria HoTEL, Belfast,
January lst, 1916
From the Li6craiOr.
FRIEND GARRISON:

Ny DEAR FRIEND GARRISON:
| am now about to take leave of the Eme-
raid Isle, for Glasgow, Scotland. Ihaye been
here a little more than four months. Up to
this time, | have given no expression of the
views, feelings and opinions which | have
formed, respecting the character and condi-
ton of the people of this land. | have re-
Trained thus purposely. | wish to speak ad-
visedly and in order to do this, | have waited
till | trust experience has brought ny oPin-
ions to an intelligent maturity. ! have been
thus careful, not because | think what ! may
say will have much effect in shaping the O.
pinions of the world, but because whatever Of
influence | may possess, whether little or
much, | wish it to 60 in the right direction,
and according to truth. | hardly need say
that, in speaking of Ireland, | shall be infu-
enced by no prejudices in favor of America.
! think my circumstances all forbid that. /
have no end to serve, no creed to uphold, no
government to defend; and as to nation, | be-
long to none. | have no protection at hong,
or ~resting-place abroad. The land of my
birth welcomes me TO her shores only as a
slave, and spurns with contempt the idea Of
treating me differently. SO that am al out
cast from the society OF my childhood, and
an outlaw in the land Of my birth. Il am a
HAAdl0tI Will t!itiS diu q ctlJHItNI dS u itN
fathers were.' That men should be patriotic
is to me perfectly natural; aud asa pailosoph-
ical fact, | am able to give it an intellectual
recognition. But no further can | 90. If
ever | had any patriotism, or any capacity for
the feeling, it was whipt out Of me long since
by the lash Of the American Soul-driyers.
In thinking of America, | sometimes find
myself admiring her bright blue sky-her
grand old woods-her fertile lields-her beau
tiful rivers-her mighty lakes, and star-crown-
ed mountains. Butt my rapture is soon check
ed, my Joy is soon turned to Mourning
When | remember that all is cursed with the
internal spirit of slaveholding, robbery and
wrong,-when | remember that with the wa
tiers of her noblest rivers, the tears of my
brethren are borne to the ocean, disregarded
and forgotten, and that her most fertile fields
drink daily of the warm blood Of my outrag-
ed sisters, | am filled with unutterable loath-
ing, and led to reproach myself that any thing
could fall from my lips in praise of such a
land. America will not allow her children to
love her. She seems bent on compelling
those who would be her warmest friends, to
be her worst enemies. May God give her
repentance before it is too late, is the ardent
prayer of my heart. | will continue to pray,
labor and wait, believing that she cannot al
ways w ~ WV SAAb Va IVA :
or deaf to the voice of humanity.
My opportunities for learning the character
and condition of the people of this land have
been very great. lhave travelled almost from
the hill of 'Howth' to the Giants Causeway
and from the Giants Causeway to Cape Clear.
During these travels, | have met with much
in the character and condition Of the people to
approve, and much to condemn-much that
has thrilled me with pleasure-and very much
that has filled me with pain. | will not, in
this letter, attempt to give any description of
those scenes which have given me pain
This | will do hereafter. | have enough,
and more than your subscribers will be dis
posed to read at one time, of the bright side
of the picture. ] can truly say, | have spent
some of the happiest moments OF my life since
landing in this country. | seem to have I'M
dergone a transformation. | live a new life.
The warm and generous cooperation extend
ed to me by the friends of my despised race
the prompt and liberal manner with which
the press has rendered me its aid-the glori-
Gus enthusiasm with which thousands have
hocked to hear the cruel wrongs of my down
trodden and long enslaved fellow-countrymen
portrayed-the deep sympathy tor the slave,
and the strong adherence of the STAKEHOLDER
everywhere evinced-the cordiality with
which members and ministers Of various re-
ligious bodies, and of various shades of re-
ligious opinion, have embraced me-, and len
me their aid-the kind hospitality constantly
p%roiiered to me by persons of the hlghes