The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-26

which proposed no policy whatever in relation
to Slavery, they have declared their separate
party action to have been blunder from the
beginning. They have fallen back upon the
vain experiment of serving two masters, and
the vicious morality of doing evil that good
may come. They have broken the moral pow
er Of their movement, by espousing principles
glaringly inconsistent with Its fundamental
ideas.
do not wish to question the motives OF any
honest man. do not deny that many friends
of our cause may have united with Know Moth
ingism, in the hope of thus more effectually and
ing the slave. This does not cure the evil re-
sulting from a false course. We have recently
learned through the public prints of plous at
tempt to serve the interests of country Sunday
schools, by robbing widow and her helpless
children. The cause of Freedom is dishonored
by serving it on like principles. We smite 1t
to the EARTH instead of arming it with power.
This is a moral necessity, and 1t need not sur
prise us, therefore, to find the ravages OF Know
Nothingism becoming quite visible throughout
the North. That it has done much mischief to
the cause of Freedom in Ohio, l think will not
be denied. 1t has laid it PROSTATE in Indiana.
The editor of its leading organ, having deter
mined last year that America must be ruled by
Americans, and that the Slavery question was
no longer worthy of any special attention, sold
his subscription list to Wing establishment
for " a job-office," and summary discontinued
his paper. The Order having ignored the ques-
ton of Slavery, our friends who joined it were g-
nored likewise, to which they meekly submitted.
In the Anti-Nebraska campaign of last year,
swayed by an impelling desire for fusion, they
were generally willing to accept a position of
entire subordination, and even of silence, under
the captains who commanded them EST the
pro-slavery prejudices of the people should be
aroused, and their otherwise hopeful anti-slave-
nv progress hinderedl In many localities, our
cause was so complicated with county Offices
and peculiar local arrangements, that it was
not thought wise for an Anti-Slavery man to Of
fciate in its service, and consequently it was
handed over to the tender mercies of its foes.
AS part of this policy, the public Reputation
of our principles by the Anti-Nebraska party
was submitted to, and, one backward step hav-
ing prepared the way for another, the finale of
the matter is, that while the people have not
been converted to our doctrines, we ourselves
are paralyzed and dumb-many secretly sigh
ing to escape from their unfortunate environ
ment, but unable to see the way of deliverance.
And the same pernicious results, though per-
haps in less degree, will be seen in due sea-
son, wherever the Order has seduced men into
say, and prove, l doubt not, that years of ardu-
Gus and discouraging labor will be needed to
recover the strength we have lost, and the ad
vantage we have foolishly thrown away, by our
Inflated connection with movement which de-
mapded our unhesitating frowns from the be-
ginning.
And now, sir, in conclusion, what is to be
done? What is the demand and what the hope
of the hour? How shall we make the Anti
Slavery cause more thoroughly understood, and
the woes of Slavery more deeply felt, by the
people? / have already indicated my answer.
Let the true friends Of our movement find each
other out, and stand together as one man. Let
our friends who have been led in an evil hour
to affiliate with Know Nothingism Immediately
retrace their steps, and oppose it just as they
oppose Slavery itself. Let those who have re-
manned outside of the Order continue their war
fare against it. Let it be distinctly understood,
that an AptiSlavery man is of necessity the en-
envy of Caste, Bigotry, and Prescription. Let
the brotherhood of all men, without regard to
race, color, religion, or birthplace, be the plat
form on which all may gather; and let US
speedily organize our forces for genuine con-
test with our foe. Let US thus determine how
little, rs well as how much, was achieved for
the slave in the late elections; what was done
for the cause by honest and hard fighting, and
what was done against it by the arts of mere
diplomacy, in temporarily uniting opposite
and irreconclable elements in an empty and
deceptive triumph. Let US be steadfast in our
work, endeavoring to impart something of per-
manence to the organization we may adopt, as
necessary to success, and thus stunning that
that would form new party, with a
new name, for every campaign, and thus fritter
away our strength in the fckleness of our
schemes, instead of outstanding it for effective
service. Let US not be troubled about the
smallness of our numbers, but solicitons only
for the honor Of our cause, as the sure means
of its triumph, firmly trusting that, through our
fidelity, the right result will come. Let us not
strive after any personal ends or transient sue
cess, but so act, in reference to this great cause
that the calm and final judgment of future
times shall be awarded in our favor. "The
passions which influence u.s." says great wri-
ter, " the sophistries which delude US, will not
last forever. The paroxysms of faction have
their appointed season; even the madness of
fanaticism is but for day. The time is COM
ing when our conflicts will be to others what
the conflicts of our fathers are to us ; when our
priests who convulse the State, and our politi-
clans who make stalking horse of the Church,
will be no more than the Harleys and Lachev-
erells of by-gone day." Sir, if we are ANNA
ted by such spirit as this we shall not doubt
that God will smile upon our labors, and hand
us down to our graves in peace but we shall
be sustained by an assured faith, at every step
of our progress, whatever may for the time be-
tide US or our cause, that
Truth shall triumph at the last,
For round and round we run
And ever The Right uppermost
And ever is justice done.n