Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-01-07
"THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION"

Of the South. Don't fail to read the rich southern
article under this head on our first page. II is
iull OF ridiculous absurdites but what else could
you expect The reasons assigned by the writer
for the opposition of European governments to
slavery, must have caused him even, to laugh at
their righteousness while he wrote. That sensible
mon and good writer's, should be reduced 10 such
extremities is pitiable indeed.
The Enquirer gravely tells us that the European
Governments hate slavery because it is the found
alton of our Democratic fabric Of government
Nothing can be moro false The governments Of
Europe are the friends, not the enemies of slavery.
This to great extent, is true of the very best Of
them. The government Of Great Britain is a
heartless tyranny, ready to aid our slave holders
as in common cause, whenever that aid is needed,
and whenever the vigilance of her subject people
will permit. True these governments, their kings
and lords and minions Of all sorts and grades, arc
ready to aid in promulgating any of the onormi-
ties Of slavery. Uncle Toms Cabin is god-send
Of which they will make the most possible, to our
national discredit And Frederick Douglass, VIII
liam Wells Brown, Professor Allen, or any other
American refugees, will bo looked upon with
especial favor. But this is not that they hate
American slavery, but that they love British TYR
amy. By the exposure of American enormties,
they hope to cover up British outrages This is
needful because the oppressed Of Britain and Of
Europe look to this country as a refuge-because
our boaStful declarations Of free principles and
free government have been received MS truth by
the people, rendering them dissatisfied with
their lot and their government. The true policy
therefore s, to prove that we are nation Of most
infamous hypocritcs A thing not hard to do.-
That while our broad phylacteries are written all
over with libcrty-while the ears Of all nations
have been stunned by our boastings Of equality
and democracy, our government yet sustains a
system of slavery mote horribly barbarous than
any other of which tho world has Knowledge
The backor they can paint our system, the more
thoroughly are crushed the hopes of the oppressed
millions of Europe and the world The govern.
mcnts of Europe therefore while they expose and
dcnounce our slavery, rejoice in its existence, and
dcnounce it only, as n means of maintaining and
extending their own kindred despotisms. Our
own government does the same, and for the like
purpose with regard to the despotisms Of Europe.
BY this means, fortunately the truth gets pretty
well told of all but not exactly where it is most
needed. Nevertheless some good will flow there
from. And like Paul, in this 1--WE will rejoice" !"
When these tyrants fall thus to exposing each
other, it gives some little hope for their victims
But while it is true of the governments of Europe,
that they rejoice in the prosperity and prospective
perpetuity Of slavery. it is far from being true of
their oppressed subjects. They have an unfegned
hatred of slavery; and true and earnest sympa-
thy with its victims. So that the danger to the
institution, which the Richmond Examiner fears,
does in reality exist. But it is to be feared, not
from the governments of the world, but from the
people.
We have therefore little expectation from the
Anti-Siavery Of tho aristocracy of Europe. They
may join to swell the tide of that popularity which
bears Mrs. Stowe triumphantly over Britain and
France. individuals among them may be truly
and comprehcnsvcly philanthropic But from the
necessity of their position, the weight of their
influence will be counted against freedom Their
remonstrances and addresses arc but exceptional
acts to their general influence.
The Examiner has again mistaken his friends
for his foes, when he hiirms that the "Pharisacal
relgonists are all deadly hostile to slavery" lie
has rucr friends all the world over, than these
same Pharisees, and freedom knows no such insid-
ious foes
That Uncle Toms Cabin has been circulated by
the million copies--that dramatised, its success
has eclipsed the success of Shakespeare, is evi-
dence, as this writer supposes, of real and terrible
danger, and all the more terrible because it comes
from the aroused people, and not from their oppres-
siye governments.
a paramount question" this is indeed. We
only wish tho friends of liberty every where gave
the same indications Of 50 regarding it, as do the
slave holders.