Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-02-13
From tie Pennsylvania Freeman.
TIE LIBERTY PARITY.

from ne IeHHSHirGi!tG fFt-W1H.
THE LIBERTY PARTY.
To the few words which we have to say
upon this subject, we respectfully request the
attention of the abolitionists of the Liber,y
Party. We are aware that in that party there
are warm-hearlod and sincere friends of the
slave, and however mistaken we may regard
their policy, we doubt not they are seekinr
to promote the cause Of freedom. Such cam
not close their eyes to the fact, however much
they may desire to do so.that the Liberty party
is on the decline. They, doubtless, have per-
ceived and regretted this, yet perhaps, will
be startled at our prediction, that, in a rery
short time, it will have gone the way Of ali
similar parties. and the places which now
know it will know it no more. Judging from
the history of the past, and from the nature of
things, we believed, at the beginning, that it
was destined to a brief existence, but now
there appear evidences of its actual decay,
which must arrest the notice cf its friends
and supporters. We speak Of these in no
spirit of triumph over opponents, nor from 4
desire to prove the verify Of predictions, ut
TERED at an earlier stage of our enterprise, but
because they are facts which demand eXpla-
nation, and which, we believe, may be used
for the benefit Of the anti-slavcry cause.
Vt the time of the last Presidential cleo
ton, il was accounted a striking evidence Of
the growing prosperity of the Liberty party,
that, amid the excitement of the struggle,
when so great and sometimes Successful eff
forts were made to win abOlitionists from
their integrity, and induce them, fer onre, on
so important an occasion, when the annexa-
ton of Texas, and the consequent extension
of slavery was to depend, perhaps, on their
votes, to give them for assiFehnldor, that par
ty was able to poll so many votes as the re-
turns of the election showed. At cur last e.
lection, then, when these difficulties no long
err existed, and the comparative apathy of
the public mind was favorable to lis success,
the party, even if it had made no progress in
the interval, should have polled IA much larg-
er vote than in 1914. But what was the
fact! In Massachusetts, the pioneer state,
where no efforts have been spared, and no
zeal wanting among the leaders of the party;
there, with a daily issued organ, and all the
appliance of successful operation, the num-
Der of voters fell, in round numbers, from
nine to six thousand. In Ohio and New
York, other strong holds of the party, there
has been no pcrceptible increase, and in east
ern Pennsylvania, where it has had the adj
vantage of a weekly newspaper, able lectur-
ers, industrious committees, and a fair field,
furnished by the apathy of the public mind,
relative to the election, the increase was scarce
" worth notice. 1t is Il fact somewhat re-
markable, that in five years, there should have
been an increase Of less than two hundred
votes. In 1870, the vote for Birney was 1907;
in 1871, for Lemoyne, 1913; in 1914, for Biz
ney 227; in 1915, for Canal Commissioner,
3Ol.
As to the western part of the State, we hav1
the testimony Of one of its leaders, and the ed
tor of its organ there, that the professed friends
of its principles, seem indifferent about vot-
ing for them.
In New York the party is on the eve OF a
disastrous crisis. In the approaching cleo
ton 10 form a Convention for the purpose Of
amending the State constitution, its friends
will be compelled to choose between adher-
ence to the party organization, and fidelity to
principle. The extension of the right Of suf-
hage to the colored population being the on
ly question of peculiar interest to anti-slave-
~ voters, the Wings are very naturally call
ing upon them to aid in securing it, AID not
to defeat the measure by pursuing their poll
CIV of independent nominations. If they re-
linquish this policy, and unite with the
Wings, they will probably carry this meas
ure, but they will lose their identity as a par
ty, and practically acknowledge that it is
sometimes right to vote with pro-slavery par
ties, thus conceding the point for which they
have SO long commended; if on the other hand
they pursue their plan Of independent nomi-
nations, they will prove that they value par
ty forms above practical righteousness
Whichever course, therefore. they may adopt,
the party must sustain severe injury.
There is, doubtless, Il combination of caus-
es to which the diminution of Liberty votes
may be traced, but we do not think that it is
to be ascribed to a tagging zeal in behalf Of
freedom. A principal cause, we believe, is
a want of faith, and consequently of interest,
in the party, as an anti-slavery measure. 1t
certainly is not the result OF a want OF zeal
want of vitality in the party.
In view of these obvious facts, we cannot
hut hope that many of the friends of the slave,
who are supporting this party, are beginning
to perceive its inadequacy as a means to the