Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-10-06
The Bugle in a New Dress.

We have the satisfaction this week representing
The ANTG-SLAvERY BUGLE to its readers and
friends in a new and comcly typographical dress.
We designed to make this change of outward
habiliments at the commencement of the present
volume, but our intentions in this respect were
frustrated by unavoidable circumstances The
delay of a few weeks, however, though some
what trying to our patience for the time being,
seems but a small matter in the retrospect, now
that the new suit is fairly on. Like the boy
who got his new boots in season for the New
Years sleigh-ride, though he failed to obtain
them in time for the Christmas party, we are
now too good-natured to grumblc over past ILL.,
luck. Enough that the old WORKOUT garment
has given place to one which corresponds in
some good degree with our sense of ncwspapo-
rial propricty and dignity. Theodore Parker
has said, with no less beauty than truth, that
the character of a man is telographed in his
face and We fancy there is a lac of physiogno-
my applicable to newspapers as well as men, if
the latter only had the sagacity to read it
Whether this be so or not, of one thing We are
certain, viz: that a shabbily printed newspa-
per is as offensive to our taste as a shabbily
dressed woman and though VIC arc well aware,
upon reflection, that poverty docs sometimes
force a journal of high moral aims to appear be-
fore the world in an unseemly garb, while the
vicious and corrupt hcbdomadal too often dis
plays the highest skill of the topographic art,
we are nevertheless instinctively repealed or at
tracted, When we take up a public journal, ac-
cording to the ~ncatncss or the shabbiness of its
dress. This instinct may be modified by a cul-
tivatcd mechanical taste, but it has its origin in
something deeper and moro universal, and
hence We are certain that all our readers will
share the pleasure we feel in seeing The Bugle
in a more comcly garb, than that which it
has for some time past worn, and one that bet
ter BELTS the high and holy purpose to which
it is devoted.
And now will the friends of this paper par
don us, if VIC embrace the present opportunity
to speak to them, with entire frankness, in re-
gard to its peculiar position aud prospects, and
the claims it may fairly urge upon them for an
increased circulation and a more ample sup
port We can speak without embarrassment,
because our own compensation as Editor has
been secured by an arrangement wholly indie.
pendent of the receipts of the subscription-list
1t is not for our own pocket, but for the advance
mcnt of the cause, that we plead.
The Bugle is now in the fifth year of its OK
istence. 1t began its career under circumstan
ces which afforded but a desperate hope of sue.
cess, and which would have utterly discouraged
and appalled, minds less devoted and dauntlcs,
than those which called it into being and con.
secratcd / it with a holy and unwavering faith t.
the service of Freedom and Humanity. Tn,
Anti Slavery Movement at the West was bese
at that period with peculiar pcrils. Multitudes
weary of the unequal strife with the powers O
despotism, and shrinking from the odium whicl
the faithful Reformer must always encounter
had sounded a retreat, and were seeking a GOV
ert for their weakness or trcachcry in the subtl
arrangements and hollow devices of a politics
party, nominally indeed in favor of Liberty
but really pledged to Slavery by its acknow
lodged relations to a Constitution cemented wit
the blood of the bondman. 1t was at this i'm
, portant crisis that The Bugle first sent forth il
blast of warning and rebukc, and sought to RAJ
ly the friends of Freedom anew upon the hig
: platform of moral principle and moral pOuer, i
opposition to the compromising spirit and tn
} weak though noisy instrumentahtie of a poht
cal party. 1t was compelled to wage wa
! against treaeherous friends as we'll as open foe
and to oppose with frmness and decision tn
~counsels of many honest and well-meanint