The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-30
WASHINGTON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 80, 1852

throughout the coming four years must do great
good In many ways. Our work is of differ
ent character from that of the old parties 1t
consists in the persevering, forcibe impression
of right principles upon the minds of the com
munity, rather than in any particular rush of
holding great conventions, raising poles, and
the like. We should have a suitable number
of local papers established, and well supported
by advance pay on all subscriptions. These
publications together with the National papers,
being generally taken by our friends, should
be loaned and distributed to outsiders as much
as possible thereby giving all an opportunity
to note the doiugs of Congressman and others
in Office.
While am upon the subject Of publications,
allow me to make few suggestions in regard
to the National Era. 1t appears to me that
you can afford to put your price for single sub
Scribers at 81 So and then do quite well at the
business. zee what you have said in your
paper of the 25th ult. still your reasons do not
seem conclusive that the price should not be
lowered so cents. Your subscription list, aid
ed by cheap postage, would undoubtedly be
much increased, perhaps enough TO nearly or
quite make up for the loss on reduction of price.
Your local agents would probably, in fewer in
stances, charge the commission and even that
might be lowered. Your increased circulation
would not materially injure the local papers.
Ia regard to the matter of the Era, many of
your subscribers are Of the opinion that its ex-
tensive usefulness might be increased by omit
ing the fictitious reading, and, instead thereof
substituting more extended attention to the
moral and religious branches Of our enterprise
We think there is a sufhciency of fact and ar
gument having direct bearing upon the well.
being of mankind, for this life and that which
is to come, to fill your sheet proftably with
out resorting TO the Imagination of any ro-
mance-writer. A large proportion of your
readers are professed Christians-members Of
different religious denominations in which sla-
very is permitted many of them are sincerely
Anti-Slavery, but have not had their attention
particularly called to church action. They
scarcely seem to realize the fact that their own
Christian brethren, with whom they are in
church-fellowship are actually holding, and
claiming the right to hold, other members of the
same Christian body, as slaves. We think the
Anti-Slavery cause cannot triumph in the Gov
eminent while slaveholding is permitted in the
principal churches of the nation. If this posi-
ton is correct, it becomes necessary to carry
forward the religious branch of our enterprise,
even in case it were only to accomplish polit-
ical regeneration. Your position being neutral
as to religious denomination, gives you an OPP
portunity to labor with good effect in this d.
rection, and it is TO be hoped that duty may
appear plain.
Truly yours, for all righteous reform,
l.. +.
We are willing to hear suggestions of all
sorts from our frends-and then we must be
regulated by our own judgment.
In relation to the price of the Era, we know
what it costs to print it, and have fixed our
terms accordingly. We can make no change
Our club terms are as liberal as we can afford.
AS it respects the character of the reading
in the paper, we have had the advantage of an
experience of some seventeen years. Were we
to conduct the Era according to the notions of
our correspondent it might be a very useful
paper, but its subscription list would 90 down
below zero. Some of us like dry discussion
some are always inquiring cui bono s-more are
disposed to mingle the useful with the agree
able We do not edit paper for philosophers,
or divines, or politicians, or statesmen, alone,
but for the People-albeit there may be some
thing in it even for those respectable classes.
AS to fiction, we had thought that the pub
LEGATION of Uncle Toms Cabin would forever
silence objection on that score. That work Of
fiction, in our opinion has done more for free
dom, than all the sylIogsms on the subject
that have appeared in our paper. Man is a
being of taste and Imagination, and affections
as well as logic-and he who would gain ac-
cess to him only through one faculty, has mis-
apprehended his constitution, and the ways OF
God-Ed Era