Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-30
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Bdgle--NaiionaI Era--GarfiSOn,
Douglass, &c.

Douglass, &c.
DEAR FRIEsDs =
Id The Bugle becomes daily more interesting
to me, as | travel from place to place, come in
contact with the public mind, and read what
are called Anii-slavery papers. There is SO
much pandering to the corruptions OF the age
so much winkiug at the oppression OF our
race, so much dwelling subserviency TO self
interest and popular clanor, that to see one
paper in the West, speaking freely its own
free thoughts, is like a sudden gust of air to
a fainting man. The lone in which a man
speaks Of a thorough, out-spoken, fair-deal-
ing, iruth.telling paper, developes his charac'
ter aboutas correctly as anything with which
l am acquainted. The Bugle is a good Their
mometer, by which 10 test the amount OF an
ti-slavery feeling and principle Of hundreds.
And | would that il could be put into the
hands of hundreds who think they are anti
slavery, but are not sure; it would help de-
eide their character quickly. Occasionally
/ meet an individual who has taken the Blu
gle and given it up. | ask the reason. at
is TOO severe in its foundations" at has
not charity enough {" 1t is too severe on
Liberty party" sit don't say as much as
i would like on religion alt is an infdel
paper" sit is opposed TO Government"
at tries to break down the churches" at
is in favor Of the Mexicans." These, with
other like reasons, all of which, true or false,
tends to raise it in my estimation. None of
these objections are raised against the papers
that speak against slavery, yet swear to sus-
tain it. Just in proportion as papers come
down 10 the low, despicable, canting spirit Of
the religion OF the times, will they be popu-
lar with those who can still adhere TO insti-
tutions and organizations that live on the plum
der Of human souls.
OF all the papers have an opportunity of
seeing, there is none which seems TO me SO
far from what a true anti-slavery paper ought
to be, as the National Era. There is a tame
ness about it, that certainly, in my esllma-
ton, is a disgrace to any paper making anti
slavery pretensions. Not only does ii speak
of The man-robber with the most delicate ten
derness, but ever and anon rolls out its thun-
ders on the heads of those who are uncom-
promising in their course. In a late rumber
of that paper, our friends Garrison, Douglass,
&c., without mention Of their names are
charged with exciting the prejudice of the
British public, by . one sided" statements of
American institutions, and they are held re-
sponsible for the deep toned Indignation Of
the Press on the other side of the Atlantic,
against our hypocrisy and guilt.
1t seems to me that a paper, deeply imbu-
ed with the love of liberty, feeling the bane-
full curse of human chattelage, would rejoice
could it see all christendom excited, the
press of all nations pouring out their anatha'
mas against a system so outrageous. l
seems to me, that every human being has no
only the right, but is bound by all the tie
of brotherhood, to speak out with words o
burning Indignation against the system tina
imbrutes, and the people that destroy thei
fellow-men under the gaIb Of religion an
democracy. Every friend of the slave an
Of human rights generally, ought to feel in
terested in the wide spread circulation of
paper that dares to speak cut fully and unt
quivocally on SO momentous a subject, Will
the mass are either dumb or subservient I
the slave drivers power.
W.