Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-11
From the .3nti-Siarcry Standard.
Doctor FOllen and the Liberty Part

Doctor FOllen and the Liberty Party.
in the address of the Southern and Yves.
tern Liberty Convention, to the people Of the
United States, held at Cincinnati there is a
quotation from an article written by DR.. Fol-
len, in the summer of '3G, for the Quarterly
Anti-Slayery Magazine, entitled the Cause
of Freedom in our County,"
1t is so evident to me that the writer of
the address is not justified in the use he
makes Of this passage, that | feel bound to
give my testimony upon the subject, and TO
state what | an certain were DR.. Follen's
real views, for | do not feel free TO see his
name, and the weight of his character, used
in favor of Il cause of which ] am convinced
he would not approve.
The object of the article by Dr.. Follen,
was to show the strife that always has eX;s-
ted between the principle of freedom and
oppression, and how fearful were the en-
croachments of Slavery in our land. The
passage quoted, forms the concluding para
graph, and is as follows:
"If there ever is to be in this country a
party that shall take its name and character,
not from particular liberal measures, or popu-
lar men, hut from its uncompromising adhe-
renee to freedom, a truly liberal and thor
oughIy republican party, it must direct its
first decided effort against the grossest form,
the most complete manifestation of oppres-
sion and having taken Anti-SlaveIy ground,
1t must carry out the principle of Liberty in
all its consequences. ii must support every
measure conducive to the greatest possible
individual and social. moral, intellectual, re-
ligiOus, and political freedom, whether that
measure he brought forward by inconsistent
shareholders or consistent freemen. 1t must
embrace the whole sphere of human actions;
watching and opposing the slightest illiberal
and anti-republIcan tendency, and ever con-
centating its whole force and influence
against Slavery itself, in comparison, with
which every other species Of tyranny is toll
cradle, and by which every other is strength
encd and justified"
THUS says the writer of the address,
wrote Charles Follen, in '3G. Ills impos-
sible to express better the want which en-
lightened lovers of liberty lolt Of a real dem
ocratic party in the country, democratic not
in name only, but in deed and in truth"
The writer then goes on to prove that from
a sense of this want the Liberty party had
its origin. He says that a party was call,
ed for, which was not merely an abolition
party, but also a democratic party, aiming at
the extinction of Slavery, because Slavery
was Inconsistent with democratic principles
lie calls the Liberty party of '45, the Liber
ty party Of '76 revived. sit is more," he
says. SIT is the party of advancement o
freedom. which has in every age, and witt
VARYING success, fought the battles of hui
man j )erty against the party of false con
servatism and Slavery" The writer ther
calls on all to join this party.
That there have been many short sighted,
honest people who have really believed tina.
the Liberty party was what it thus pre-
tended to be, cannot be denied, but now
at this period of its history, there are sure,
ly few who do not see that If such wa;
the honest aim of its leaders, they have
most lamentably missed it, that if true
liberty and real advancement were the OBJ.
iects they were contending for, they have
either not been very valiant or have beer
peculiarly unfortunate in the contest. Blu.
this is not the question. 1t is simply this
whether DR.. Follen did really anticipate il
these words Of his, the formation of such
party as the Liberty party, and whether he
would have ever given himself TO it.