Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-16
The Country.

The succession Of startling events which
have been passing before the gaze of the
world on the European continent, is almost
enough to make one forget the petty villanies,
were it not for their far-reaching issues, Of
our own land. 1t is a curious spectacle that
the two sides Of the Atlantic have presented.
In Europe we have seen Nations uprising
like Titans, and shaking themselves loose
from The moantain-loads of old tyrannies
which have crushed them for ages. The
crash OF thrones, the down.toppIing Of crowns,
the confusion of prircipalities and powers,
all show that the Old things are passing
away, and that all things are becoming New.
The ideas for which these things have stood
have gradually changed, and the signs will
soon be seen no more. The substance is al
tered, and the shadow which it projects must
be renewed. The Want is felt, and the Sup
ply will, Of necessity, offer itself. The
gross, ~palpable forms of European despo-
iism forced themselves upon the daily life
and hourly experience of the Nations, and
they will endure them no longer. The pow
err which controlled their destinies and regu-
lated their lives was forever by their side and
before their eyes. It's oetrusiveness made it
more hateful than even its tyranny.
In America, on the other hand, we are in
that by-gone stage Of the European mind
when the people worshipped the idols TO
which they were sacrificed. Time was when
kings and kaiscrs, princes and mobiles, were
sincerely reverenced as the sources whence
the prosperity which the people won for
themselves benefcently flowed. Whatever
hard-earned wealth, or safety for persons or
roods, they enjoyed, they gave the glory OF
all 10 their Institutions, and mott to themselves.
They are now beginning to discern that what.
ever madicum Of social or political blessings
they had, was in spite, and not because, OF
the rulers they had set up, or permitted to
rule over them. And so ''ihe Divine Right OIL
Kings to govern wrong began TO be cues
toned, and at last denied and set at defiance,
But here we are still in the mood Of bowihg
down before the image we ourselves have
set up. Our priests and rulers are trying
even TO persuade US that it was not US, buf
God himself, that ordained it. And we are
content 10 purchase such sort Of prosperity
and security as we have, by the burnt-offer.
inc of every sixth man in the country. Not
seeing that our own most precious mora
qualities and political rights are consumed as
necessary materials in this sacrifice of ouI
brethren. We have not yet, as a people, be.
gan 10 discover that it is not TO our lnsliIu-
lions, our Constitution and our Union, to
which we whatever good we have bu'
that these stand directly between the sun o.
our highest (and our lowes,) prosperity and
us. The prestige still exists for US. Tit
pervading despotic principle is more skilful
iy kept out Of view. We are allowed tn,
forms Of choice, and the name of power, an,
ale permitted to register the edicts Of on
Sovereign.
We plume ourselves, in this country, o.
the priority in point of time of our Revolt
ton, and put down all that have followed
as the effects of which ours was the cause
II may, or may not, have FASTENED thos
events; but il could not have created them
They existed and exist because God haI
made men as they are, and because the arli
fetal surroundings Of men must, of necessity
he moulded and directed by the men them
selves. And this remodelling and new di
rection is what we call Revolution. Mel
are the Body-Insiitutions are the Rainent
And Revolutions are as inevitable as growll
or as caprice. The child must needs put OF
his childish attire when he grows into a man
and the man will fain change Il fashion
of his garments az the prompting of conve
nience or Of within. The true wisdom is Il
enliphten and direct the ever-busy minds o
men 10 that which is absurd or mischievou
in their present social habits, and persuad
them when they change. to change for tn
better.
Whether our Revoldtiou was The exampl
of others or not, other Revolutions may z
least take warning by the event of ours. w
could not endure he sceptre Of King George
or the supremacy of the British Parliamen
and having shaken them off, we delivere
ourselves up, bound hand and foot, and b