Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-11-24
From lie Worth
William Smith 0'Brien

The recent trial, conviction and sentence
Of death passed upon this most unhappy man,
for the crime Of high treason, in Ireland, has
afford ed another of those opportunities always
eagerly embraced by the American press and
people, 10 vaunt the moral superiority, larger
liberty, greater humanity and higher civili-
cation OF the United State, and to denounce,
in the most bitter and unsparing manner,
what we are pleased 10 term the savage bar
b lrity of foul and bloody Old England -
Such an opportunity as this cannot fail TO be
used very extensively. 1t will serve TO keep
up a vivid impression Of our own excellence
as a people, as well as TO increase that al
ways profitable material, so useful to politi-
cal demagogues-hatrtd of England. This
commodity would in all probability become
extinct in time, bat for the occurrence Of
such cases as those of Mitchell, McManus
and O'Brien. 1t is doubtless desirable for a
nation like ours, drunk on the blood Of three
million slaves, TO forget our own revolving
crimes in contemplating the crimes of others.
" Misery loves company" and il may not
always be proper TO deny them the poor con-
ISOLATION they derive from it. But we cannot
think ii just at this time 10 allow that part of
the American mind within our reach to rest
in the iniquitous repose which results from
the common assertion that England, with all
her boosted benevolence and philanthropy, is
more cruel than America. While the Ameri.
can mind is so alive TO injustice-so shock
ed by barbarous cruelty, and is devoutly
thanking the most high God that Christian
America is not like unto that hoary old trans-
gressor across the water, it seems in a prepa-
red and suitable state to consider properly
certain important and instructive facts con-
nected with our national history. 1t may be
far more pleasant, but it can never be more
wise, to forget our own sins by remembering
the sins of others. 1t is hardly necessary to
say, that we have no desire 10 lessen in any
mind a just and proper estimate Of the char.
acter and institutions of this country, or 10
allay the feeling of horrer with which this
dreadful sentence has thrilled all minds
Those sentiments are natural, and wher
rightly directed, must always be attended
with happy results. Our pretensions, how
ever, to freedom and humanity over England
r have about the same foundation as The su
/; p~eriority claimed in the temple by the self
righteous Pharisee over the publican. LIE
E US look at home, and see if We are in a con
dition to pull the mote out Of our brother
, eye-let US see if we are in a condition t,
first cast a stone at her.
) "Shall we scott at Europe's Kings,
While freedoms fire is dim with us,
; And round our countTy's altar clings
The damning shades of slavery's curse 7
e /, is said that this last act of British inius
8 tice, fills to the brim the cup of her abomina
T tions-that she has shocked the moral sense
> outraged the humanity, and disgraced tn
civilization of the nineteenth centuIy-that
e verdict more unjust, and a sentence moi
cruel, was never presented TO the considers
lion of mankind-lhat its execution wi
y cause indignation, mingled with intense hol
Q ror, to fash like lightning around our land
h That this will be the case, we have no doub
The patriotism, heorism and maryTdom {
Mitchell, McManus and O'Brien, will Ion
3 continue the burning theme of American ora
3 tors and authors. The salt tear Of America
sympathy must often start from It's saddene
v fountain, as the names of these brave me
n are mentioned. Deep, loud and long will b
O the curses pronounced against proud, blood
and iyrannical England. In the names {
n Mitchell, McManus and O'Brien, America
mothers will teach their children TO hat
blood thirsty England. Probabilities an
r consequences Of this character are too gray