Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-04-14
DiSCOuragementS.

Every one who has faithfully advocated
the doctrines of Disunion, who has urged up
on his friends and neighbors the duty OF cut
,inp all loose that binds them 10 the support
of slavery, can tell something Of the discour-
ements TO which his position exposes him;
and il requires strong heart and earnest zeal
to bear up against them.
First, there are the h%eartless politician and
bigotted sectarian, who are the ever constant
and bitter opponents with which he has TO
contend. Their open attacks and secret ma
chinaiions are legion. They r, sort alike 10
the meanest subter(uges and the boldest lies.
Their hatred Of reform is terrible, and they
seek to destroy it by endcavoring TO destroy
the reputation Of its defenders. They are,
however, its dvoutd opponents; their posi-
ton and character is well understood, and a
declared foe is always better than a secret
enemy.
There is another class, who, while profess
ing TO be neutral on all the great questions
that should engage the attention Of every ra-
tional being, are continually opposing the re-
formers, not by active hostility, but by inert
ness. They have not life nor soul enough
TO prompt them to combat, but lie like a pom
dcrous mass obstructing the way of all that
is good and though they may pride them
selves upon their neutrality, and indulge in
the thought that if they do not assist, neither
do they oppose reforms; they in fact present
far greater Encouragement 10 the friends of
moral progress than do such politicians or
sectarians as we have referred 10. 1t is eas:-
er to convert both of those Than galvanize the
neutral into action-than ~re-create in him the
lost spirit of manhood. Well and truly was
it said, 81 would that thou vert either hot or
cold" 1t chafes the spirit less to have to
deal with decided hostility, however bitter.
than professed neutrality.
But the u~ndisguised hostility of The avow-
ed anti-reformer, and the negative opposition
of the neutral, are notth sources from whence
arise the discouragements that cast the deep
est gloom upon the reformers' path. The
lukewarmness of those who are cih them,
but not IF them, do more 10 crush the ener-
gies and dampen the zeal Of The advocates of
unpopular righteousness than all other causes
combined. When they who profess the same
principles tie Woodworking reformer pro-
f~esses, who avow the sam faith that he de-
+. tends, who agree with him as TO the lmpor-
j lance of disseminating correct principles;
when such refuse TO labor as men whose heart
is in a work ever will labor, giving their mite
d grudgingly to the needs Of the cause, claim
S ing the name but having little, if any, of the
active spirit of reform; then has the true
hearted ample cause for encouragement, for
he is : in peril among false brethren"
1t is no marvel that moral reforms progress
so slowly and we are sometimes aslonished
that they advance at all, they have so much
10 contend with. Nine tonths of those who
' profess TO he interested in the various efforts
, that are being made for the elevation of man,
act as though the success of such measures
$ was to them "a matter Of perfect Indifference.
y Ii is left TO the few to bear the heat and bur-
den of the day-to keep up the agitation that
$ is necessary for the growth of truth. These
have to meet opposition in every form, even
= That which Is the most dlshearlenlng 10 the
q true man-the lukewarmness of p~rofessed
G friends.
The merely nominal reformer, ever has,
and ever will be a great hindrance to the
= cause in which he embarks. When a plea
SAINT breeze fills the sails, he condescends 10
= show himself on deck, but at the first appear
ance of a storm, he skulks away 10 a cabin
berth. He came on board as a gentleman
passenger, ard thinks it beneath him 10 reef
y or steer, or do the drudgery of a common
hand this would be more bearable did he
think it necessary to pay for his passage, but
e he considers the honor Of his company a suf-
+ fcient compensation. He is a worthless
piece Of lumber that every craft would be bet
= ter without.