The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-05-03
From the Galesburg Ql) Free Democrat April 10.
THE AMERICAN MOvENIENT-THE DUTY OF
ANTI-SLAVERY MEN

ANTI-SLAvERY MEN.
We have watched this movement from its
infancy-our sympathies were with ir--our vote,
our pen, and our tongue, wers with it. When we
were told that it would prove q dangerous foe
to Freedom, we proudly pointed TO Massachu-
sets as a refutation of the las we then sup
posed) SANDER, aud no amount of argument
could with US outweigh the fact that General
Wilson was in the Senate, and Banks aud
Burlingame in the House of Representatives.
When the Legislature of the great State of New
York elected VIM. H. Seward to the United
States Senate, and it was known that a larger
number of Know Nothings voted for him than
the number of his majority we pointed to it as
an evidence of the Anti Slavery character of
the Order; and we did so honestly, for we did
not then know that they had so voted in viola
tion of Illustrations, nor that they had withdrawn
from the Order previous to so voting, or had
afterwards been expelled. We believed the
Order to be a valuable and a powerful auxiliary
to the cause of Freedom. We believed that
Freedom had much to hope, and nothing to
fear from the Know Nothings."
Impressed with this belief, we reioiced over
their victories, and defended them from attacks.
But facts are stubborn things, and little by
little, as they have been developed, they have
| destroyed the foundation on which we based
our hopes-given us clearer views of our duty
as the editor OF an Anti-Slavery paper-and
strengthened us In our determination to oppose
| any aud all parties which do not make the
redemption of America from the curse of
Slavery the foundation and the capstone of
their political creed. We have thus far acted
with the new Order, and now we leave it. A
decent respect for the opinions of those with
whom we have heretofore acted, demands q
reason for this course, and we will give it. We
have no bitter denunciation to bestow upon
any one; We have facts and reasons to present,
and kind and friendly counsel for Anti-Slavery
men-nothing more, nothing less.
With US, the cause of Freedom is paramount
to all other causes of political or -humanitary
character. Slavery is the greatest evil which
afiicts our country. Political Romanism, or
Jesuitism, is an evil of no small magnitude, but
1T sinks into utter insigniicance when com
pared with American Slavery. The institution
OF Slavery must be oyerthrown, or it will over
throw this Republic. The Slave Power is arm
ing for desperate struggle with Freedom, and
It's only hope OF vlctory-indeed, its only chance
ior yictory-is in the division of the friends of
Liberty Slavery can only be overthrown by
the united Efforts OF every friend of humanity
IN America. 1t cannot be oyerthrown while
one halt OF It's enemies are straining every
nerve for the overthrow of Romanismopartis-
uiarly when, to accomplish this purpose, they
form political union with shareholders.
The American Order, as all its member,
know, as a national organization, ignores the
question of Slavery. In Northern Sta,e cleo
tions it rides into power on the popular Anti.
Slavery current, while in the South its chief
object is to convince the people of its devotion
to Slavery. Whatever parties, through their
conventions and organs, may declare TO the