Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-12
Put your own Shoulder to the Wheel.

Iut lOul UMH OHUuiutl W tllG W llcbI.
We not unfrequently receive letters from
friends in various neighborhoods, asking us
TO use our influence to have lecturers 20 in
their direction. ave are very lukewarm,
and need stirring up," says one-"We are
all asleep" says another, sand labor is very
much needed here"
Abolitionists ought not TO be lukewarm
while 20, 900 slaves are annually dying in
their letters. A~nti-Slavery men ought not TO
be asleep while the oppressor is ever vigilant
and ever watchful. The giving of lectures,
or the listening to them is but a small portion
of the duty of an abolitionist. There is home
work that needs 10 be done, neighborhood du-
ties which none can attend to but those upon
the spot. We fear that too many have de-
ceived themselves with the idea that the An
,i-Slavery reform is not only great in its re-
suits, but great in its details and as their
self-esteem is so small that they feel they
eau never speak any great word, or do any
great work, they leave it to others TO speak
the word and 10 do the work. A greater mis-
take than this vas never made, nor one more
injurious to the cause Of freedom. Every
man, we care not who he is so that he be
baptized into the anti-slavery spirit, can do
his appropriate work in carrying forward this
reform, if he but SO wills it. The means by
which it is proposed to overthrow slavery, is
by the change of public opinion, and any
man, woman, or child whose thoughts and
speech do aught to form the sentiment that
now uPholds the system, is the person who
needs TO be converted.
We wish we could hold a friendly chat
with those of you who depend too much up
ON aid from others, and manifest yourselves
too little relf-reliance, and feel, we fear, too
little self-responsibility. We are confident
1t each OF you would but resolve him or her
self into a Committee of Ways and Means,
you would very soon find a way in which 10
labor, and discover means with which to la
Dor, and would no longer complain that you
and your neighbors were lukewarm or asleep.
You must not however expect 10 interest
others in a subject unless you are yourselves
Interested in it; and the first thing TO be
done in regard to the matter under conside-
ration, is to make your neighbors understand
that you regard the anti-slavery question as a
question Of Importance, as one that ought to
receive the attention of every friend of his
race. If you are backward in presenting the
claims of the slave, or if, when you speak
OF his rights, you do it as though you were
half disposed to beg pardon for the introduce
ton Of an unwelcome subject, depend upon
it, you will never awaken those who are
asleep, or infuse vigor into the lukewarm.-
1t you speak as you ought to speak, it will
be with warmth and feeling, it will be in
such a way as TO make you a marked man
among your neighbors, a living epistle Of
freedom which they cannot but read. And
every earnest man-however erroneous NAV
be his opinions-will respect you the more
for such a course, for it is the course which
he pursues to advance the interests of his
sect or party. Be sure then that in attempt
ing to be a reformer you start right. See to
it that your own life does honor to the prin-
ciples you proiess-that your actions abund-
anIiy prove your zeal and sincerity.
And not only should you have zeal to
warm, but knowledge 10 enlighlen. When
you plead the slaves cause you should be
qualified TO plead it i~ntelligently; you should
draw information from the manifold sources
that are open to you, and tr easure up for use
the facts and arguments thus obtained. The
press has been made a mighty instrument for
the slaves oppression, use your efforts to
convert it into as powerful an agent for his
deliverance. Take its offerings. You need
such aids, not only TO enable you 10 keep up
with the march of the anli-slavery host, but
you need them as instruments for the CONVEX
sion Of your neighbors.
We can readily imagine how a jealous,
whole-hearted, intelligent abolitionist re-
ceives his weekly paper. His son brings it
from the office, the sheet is opened, and its
contents scanned. THAT'S right" he en-
%slairns, "I'm glad Of it," and he reads to his