Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-08-12
THE LIBERATOR AND ANTI.sLAVERY
STANDARD.

In the defence of their own liberties, rather than
efforts to emancipate the Southern bondman, to
which by the aggressions of slavery the friends of
liberty in the United States have been driven, it is
nm inquiry worth entertaining whether, in the
West, a great error is not committed in the neglect
to circulate more extensively these invaluable jour
nails? So answering in fidelity to the great cause
as to be above suspicion, they cmbody in their
columns so much of political sagacity, of historical
accuracy, of literary excellence, and high moral
sentiment, that no individual can fail to be a loser
by emitting their regular perusal. Especially
should they be patronized by all parents, who sin
ccrely desire to supply their children with u mental
and moral aliment adapted to promote their largest
growth in a virtuous philanthropy. Their value is
not sufficiently appreciated among us, else would
their circulation be greatly extended 1t is true
we have in the Buglc an admirable paper of our
own. No subscriber to it, perhaps, appreciates its
excellence more highly than the writer. SO you
have in your grancries and your mills an invaluable
article fer the support of physical life, in your
wheat, but this does not prevent you from gather
ing for similar use a variety of articles whose
value is also inestimable. Is the body Of so much
more worth then than the mind2
! know there are objections felt, and made, by
many, to the course pursued by prominent writers
in these papers. They say hard things. This is
an old objection to them. 1t was echoed first by
the shareholders, and their avowcd aLettors, and is
re-echocd by them to this day. And when the
hard sayings are still applied to these, they are
relished very well by men and women WHO cry out
intolerance, and turn their backs in disdain upon
the utterance of any truth which impeaches the
p~ropriety of their own course, or that Of their fav-
%orites. VIM. Lloyd Garrison, or Quincy, or Pills
bury, or Foster can please these as well as their own
pet speakers or writers, when their batteries are
pointed in a direction which suits them. But let
either of these, or others, in the uncompromising
integrity of their souls, obey the dictates of con.
science and their own best judgement, in exposing
the inconsistencies in doctrine and practice of a
Giddings, a Lewis, or a Chase, and forthwith we
will hear them denounced as uncharitable, of a bad
spirit, &C., &c. And for this reason, ~professed
anti-slavery men will refuse to take into their fam
lilies the illusions of writer's who cndeayor to deaI
thus impartially, who nevertheless feel no scruplt
in subscribing for political journals, for the mora
tendency of which they would wholly refuse L
vouch. Is it not reasonable to conclude in sucl
. instances, that the uncharitableness and wrongful
y ness of spirit complained of, if clearly Analysed by
: the d.saffected, would be found to borrow its chic
point from their own sense of its fidelity to truth
e however high may be our appreciation of the ser
t vices of an individual, or of his abilities in advanc
i ing in some directions the cause of liberty, we ar
in nowise exonerated thereby from the duty of ex
posing plainly his errors of doctrine or practice
o Such talents, or such antecedents in his history
3 since they give additional influence for evil to hi
t. errors, only render more imperative the duty {
impartial criticism. And the true reformer, wher
h efforts are directed towards philan.hropic, nc
% selfish ends, will receive with far more gladne'
e rebuke for his mistakes, if taught to comprehen
Y them, than laudation for that which he has don
IS well.
Invaluable as both these papers may be esteeme
in the promotion of mental and moral growtl
there is no wish to represent them as above mi
II takes or fault. Nothing thati human is infallibl
aud of this these journals like other things aful
10 the evidence. Yet if mistake was far more fir
re quently and formidably visible than it is, surel
ID whilst their columns are always kept open for the
own correction, and when it is remembered no
Sc little motive there can be, in he nature of thing
IN for intentional error in their conductors, they see
G. entitled to challenge our respect and confidence,
H. far as human instrumentali!ies may do it. The
s. peculiar characteristics are too well known to net
n description. Tho increased number of contribute
us to the Standard, through the discontinuancc of Il
ID Pennsylvania Freeman, howcvcrquestionable it m,
C. have been as a matter orgcncral policyin promotil