Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-17
MORAL INFLUENCE.

UTlCCU TWWNITTTuTU nrO-aTnVOrV
strength of the North without reference to old par
ty lines, and by union with the South obtain com
trd OF the government and nation, and "crush out,
the anti-slavery spirit, both in the church and
among the people, We hope one truth may be
deeply impressed in the beginning of such a con
test upon the minds of anti-savery chrstaians-yiz,
Such movement is not to DC successfully met by
the couniermining of opposing political action.
Let political action be employed as the expression
of religious conviction, the performance Of a
religious duty, but the bold attempt will bc coun-
tcracted, if at ALL by applying the truth of God to
the hearts and conscences of men. The anti-sla
very cause is imprcgnable only, when conducted as
a religious movement to which political action Is
secondary. The anti-savery christians of the coun-
try are throwing their strength away. An anti
slavery party with merely political aims in view, is
certain of nothing but defeat. A religious ques-
tonis not to be settled in the political arena The
dissemination Of religious truth among the people,
from the pulpit, by tracts by newspapers, aud all
appliances within q christians reach, is the work
which should now be done That accomplished,
right voting will follow, of course.
The above is from the Chrisian n Press, and ex-
presses, if we permitted TO define the term
christian, just our view Of the question. We
should not ask to make this exception had not the
Press so frequently Of late defined its idea of n
christian to be who believed in evangelical or
thodoxy. The idea we wish to give in our adhe-
sion to- and our impression of its vast importance,
is, that the ant-slavery is great religious, or as
we prefer to say, moral question. That the anti
slavery cause is destined to be successful only when
conducted as such. 1t ccntcmplates not the com
pulsory emancipation of the slave--though that
might be temporary good. 1t looks beyond this,
to repentance and reform of individuals and the
nation. Political action may be necessary attend.
ant upon this reform when it shall have advanced
faras to require its aid. But it will itself lie a
result-a means under the control of moral power.
Some weeks since the Press contained an article
addressed to Christian RcfOrmers which we cut out
and intended ere this TO have published. /. con.
tained the above sentiment more ampifed, in con-
necticn with some quite Objectionable positions and
sentiments. From this we extract the following
We have expressed doubt whether the chief
strength of ant-slaycry Christians has been wisely
used. We will cndeayor to explain our meaning.
First, il should never be forgotten by Christians
that this question, in its primary and most impor-
tant aspect, is Of morals and religion and see
ond that its political character and relations arc
altogether secondary matter, and that the poiti-
cal action Of the people is inevitably determined by
their religious convictions; mean the broad
scale and as the general rule. Consequently the
strength Of the sayepowcr lies not in political par
ties, nor in the general government itself
Political parties, and the governments, state or
national are but the expression of the popular
timcnt of the day, and the popular sentiment on
this point finds its chief moulding power in the re-
lgious sentiments Of the people. mere political
struggle, contest Of party with party is from ne
cessity Of skirmishes and outposts only, and
If ON merely political grounds, by some unlocked
for combination Of political interests, an anti-sla-
very government could be installed at Washington
tomorrow the main work and chief battle would
be before us STILL
But let true Christian ant-slavery sentiment be
established in the country and reliable anti-sla-
very political action will spring from it by the very
Law OF its being
We have said that the strength tf the slave pow
er les not in political parties, in the gen
crai government. These are but the manifestations
Of that which lies back of and deeper than they,
and the effort should he to displacc them only by
removing the cause which produced and sustans
them. Tho citadel of the Shareholders is found in
the religious organizations Of the country. These
arc first the churches, and secondly the various as
socations Of the day. in connection with the reli-
gous press. These together so far control the pub
lie sentiment Of this country, that great ques-
tion Of morals can be decided in opposition to their
teachings, and their influence has thus far deci-
ded the political action Of the nation on the suec
of slavery.
This has been done, not by any direct or specific
teachings upon the subject Of political action, on
the contrary this has been mostly avoided, but by
inculcating such religious opinions did not con-
nict with the shareholders demands nor forbid a
christian to comply with them.
IL Christian anti-savcry men desire TO see the
cause triumphant, let them, as matter of policy
and of duty, give themselves little uncnsness about
political action as such and for political ends. Let
them strike DEEPER and the blow will be far more
elcctual. Let them bestow their time, effort and
money to the establishment Of the very instrumen-
talities by which the present control over public
sentiment has been obtained.
Let them strive to convert the churches. Let
Missionary Societies lie built up into power whose
influence will counterac the present wrong, and be
thrown in the right direction. Let the power of
the press be called into requsition, by sustaining
religious newspapers of the right description, and
let them be built up into strength and placed in
commanding positions. Let Tract and Book Soci-
cites and publication houses be called into yigor-
Gus action which will fill the land with right teach
ings-lct the religious sentiment be operated upon
by all means Mt command, and the desired political
results will follow almost without effort.
We confess that we have much pleasure in list
ening to such suggestions to the church members
of the land. Though do not concede what is
claimed bv the Press that the whole responsibility
of all reforms rests with the professcd saints we
should have small hope Of the worlds redemption
ii it did yet doubtless much, very much, depends
upon them more than upon any other class, be-
cause of their numbers their pretensions and their
actual influence. Hitherto this class Of persons so
many Of them as have not gone with the majority
to support slavery directly, have seemed to forget
the power of christian truth They have repuda-
ted moral power ana forgotten that man has con-
science and have resored to political organizations
and party intrigue to secure the success of q NOR
al enterprise and il the Press shall succeed in bring
ing them to trust for their in moral reform
less in numbers and more in truth, which is the
wisdom of God and the power of God for salvation
to the slave and all others of the wronged, it will
do good service for righteousness and humanity.
1t cannot be in commendable service, than Sin
striving to convert the churches" to use its own
language for they are earnal and sold to the Of