Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-04

meni! Why are they under the necessity
OF r%esoiling to special appeals to arouse the
sleeping sympathies of the claim-.o-be friends
OF the cduse.-to excite a little spasmodic
feeling in their hearts, in order to produce a
corresponding feeling IN their pocketsl 1t
is astonishing and painful to witness the nig-
gardilness which one is compelled TO witness
on such an occasion. Ii is not TO
see individuals of wealthy circumstances in
life, who have shed copious tears at the
speakers remarks, demonstrate the depth oC
feeling they manifested by their tears, by con.
tributing twenty-five cents in aid of the c,pse
Tears which accompany such contributions
from such a source, are indeed crocodile
tears. We often see an audience. which has
been wrought up TO apparently an almost
dangerous pitch Of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in
tears by some melting appeal, or almost in
sane with indignation at The recital Of some
horrible outrage, or monsuous cruelty and
oPpTession,-we often see such an one .cool.
ed oil in the twinkling Of an eve, and be.
come as serene as the sky which succeeds a
thunderstorm, by the very sishi Of a cont,i.
button box! Who, that is accustomed IN
such scenes, can wonder at Parker Pillsbury's
severity, when speaking upon this point, or
dtem his language eNtravagant? No man,
perhaps, has been more severely tried by The
stlngy contributions and general DELINQUENCY
or ,,.- nroiessed friends OF Anti-Slavery and
other reforms, han he. cannot wonder that
he is cisgusted with lnc course nj those, who
make loud pretensions of friendship 10 the
cause; who. a few years since, were in he hab-
1t OF contributing forty or fifty dollars or NOR.
annually TO the support ola minister, who now
manage 10 appease their consciences bv the
payment Of five or ten dollars into the Anti.
Slavery treasury mot as much, in many ca.
ses, as they were in the habit of contributing
while saddled with the heavy burdens which
their notions Of religious duty imposed upon
them.
Again, this matter of giving should derend
upon ones oJjHty 10 give. The poor should
not be expected to contribute as much as the
tlch but here, there seems 10 he too little
discrimination In circulating a pledge for
conitihuiIans, in many cases, those in veal
thy circumstances are content 10 contribute
as much as those whose hands are their only
wealth, and give like the poor widow, from
Their penuTy.
But this is not the only point in which the
protested friends of reform are faulty. They
are amenahle TO The charge of general delin.
quency. While some are deficient ia con.
tHbutlng to the support of the cause, yet are
sufficiently Interested to make some fort &c
attend lis meetings others, who are equally
loud in their professions of friendship TO- II
and reason as slouily in defence of it, as &
theory, have so far back.slidden as to make
III matter Of perfect indifference whether they
attend lis meetings or not, and absent them.
selves for the most triling causes-causes
which would not weigh a hair, as an obstacle
in the way of their prosecuting any pecuniary
enterprise.
In conclusion, it is too evident that the re-,
lIglon OF a portion OF those no profess 10 be
the friends Cf Reform is dwiGdlirg away in.
to an empty theory. We need TO be baptized
into that Zeal which charscterizes the various
religious secis-a zeal which viii only fit US
10 carry on an efficient warfare with the pi.
ant evils which exist at present, aud through
which ony We can hope for a triumphant is.
sue. J \, MERRICK.