Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-06-01
From the Boston Transcript.
Facts against Theory.


An incident at the la;e Anti-Slavery meet
ing in New York rresistibly reminded MS
of one of the wicked Peter Pmda's wicked
stories, which must be familiar to many
Some philosopher--wo think it was Sin
Joseph Bunks-was represented as mnin-
tanning the theory that ileas are but dimin-
ulive species of lobster lie broughta great
amount Of scientific learning and research
10 the support of this odd conceit. There
was one practical way of testing il: name
", by boiling the fleas in water, aud ii they
should turn red, a triumph awaited the phi
losophcr; his theory was verified. II boil
ing should not have the coloring eilecct up
ON them, it would be proof positive that
they did not belong to the respectable iami-
ly of Holsters. Thc experiment was no
sooner suggested than it was tried. The
fleas were boiled. With intense anxiety
Sir Joseph watches them in the pot-in-
crednlousy sees them retain their original
color-wpes the perspiration from his fore
head, and looks more closely-inhignantly
observes the perverse insects, in utter dis
| respect OF his theory, putting on no change
OF hue-untIl lie vents his chagrin and dis
gust, and, at tho same time, recants his thco-
ry, in the exclamation: F'leas are not lob
sters-d-n their soulsp
When DIR. Grant got up at the Anti-Slave-
ry meeting TO prove that the negro was b.rt
higher order of monkey, he was very cor
diaIly welcomed by many, who seemed to
be fully of his opinion. Most glibly and
learnedly did he discourse to us Of the dis
tinguisliDg marks of inieriority, which ex-
clude the negro from the genus homo, and |
render IT pliOsophcally ia!sebood for the !
white man to call him brother. He bade us |
mark the retreating forehead, the Jet black |
complexion, the protrudmg heel, the woolly
hair, uniform in its color, tie thick skull, Tie
long fingers, SO like those of the Caucasian
man. lie showed, most conclusively to
many, that the negro, by his physical iorma-
ton, was necessarily unculiivable "-(tha
was his word)- creature I" 10y the hand of
nature marked" and commissioned TO be n |
newer of wood and drawer of water and
nothing more. Tho attempt to elevate him
was an attempt to circumvent nature aud !
the laws of God. The instinct, which led |
us TO hold the black man in sublection was |
true to science aud physiological laws. And |
all persons who would patiently interrogate |
science could convince themselves OF this |
fact
Very learned was the Doctor; and very
big words did he use in explaining and urg-
ing his theory. Very sincere he appeared
also; and if half that lac said was true, thcu
the simple negroes at Chagres, who eat
are not better Than cannibals.-
Very loudly was the Doctor applauded by
the pro-slavery gentlemen present, as he
concluded. lie sat down as compacent
aud seli-assured, as Sir Joseph Banks was .
after reading his paper on ileas TO the mem
bers of the Royal Academy, before the boil !
ing ordeal had been tried
The speeches of Douglass, the colorcd
orator, made sad rent, however, in the
Doctors theory. Prompt us "A steel-iTap
when il is touched, Douglpss had a retort
eady for every interruption. For instance, ;
is he was enumeratiDg the nenal offices TO ;
which the prejudices of the whites confine {
he blacks, some one said" You would cut ;
'ur throats, if you could" 90 no, we :
would cut your hair" replied Douglass.- /,
lie surpassed every speaker present, inclu- /,
ling even the redoublable Doctor, in the elo- :
luence, pith and rhetorical grace of his ad- ;
lress.
But it was objected TO Douglass, that he
vas only half n negro. DIR. Grants theory
vas not yet wholly demolished. There was !
nil gas enough in it to keep it floating. But !
It that moment, stout bull-necked negro, !,
hlck-lipped, bow-legged, blacker than mid !,
night, with every African characteristic ex- 4
made his appearance, sudden ms n
janquo's ghost, on the stage. Captain Ryn- .
lers started back, and exclaimed with an q
'ntf-" that's the genuine article, and no i
nisiakeW Doctor Grant seemed struck with :,
lismay, and began to fear that flcas might a
lot be Holsters, Notwithstanding all his quo e
ations from Blumenbach, Agassiz, and Law 4
ence. !,
The sable apparition was the Rev. Mr. A
Ward, respectable clergyman from the in a
erior of the New York State. With per- Il
nct selfpossession and in clear, well-niod- u
lated tone of voice, he entered upon an ex- a
1mporaneous address in reply to the mon
ey theory of MIR. Grant. but MIR. Ward
imself was enough. His presence was the h
est coniutaton of the scientific absurdites ii
'hich had been uttered. Tho Intelligence, n
ne command of language, the good humor
nd good sense which he displayed were ir- pl
'sstibe. Ii was one of those instances. m
herein simple practical fact falls and II
llveriscs huge pyramid of speculation.- in
ever was the drglmlentinn ad hominem used Il
} triumphanty. Every sentence from the ca
lips seemed TO pierce the Doc tb
RS theory, until down il came fiat before ms
10 audience, like perforated balloon he
hcers and plaudits and laughter attended nj
70 collapse and in the midst of the tumult. M
ere was a still, small utterance which, be- M
g interpreted, signifed /" Negroes are not an
onkeys; d----n their souls !" Mgr, asde ey