Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-27


we say. and be able to judge who is right. Ur
let arrangements be made for q public debate, and
lei, the debate DO fully reported. / challenge Mr..
Foster to a discussion of his charges against politi-
oal abolitionists as well as Of his charges Of false.
hood and immortality preferred against my religious
opinions. | will discuss the matters with him. Ell
thor through the Bugle or on the platform. Let
Mr.. Foster state his charges, il he is not prepared
10 retract them, and | will state my objections, and
let the debate begin as soon MS possible.
a few remarks in reply toMr.G and | have done.
And first, | cannot accept him rs an authorized
expounder Of Mr.. Fosters views, any more than
l can allow him to pass rs n correct expounder Of
my own. Mr.. Gilbert Of course, is at liberty to
do as he pleases, but | think if he we're wise, no
would allow Mr.. Foster and myself to manage our
own controversy. There is an old saying, "That
he who, passing by, meddlcth with strife belong
Ing not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by
the ears" lie both makes more noise, and runs
some risk of getting bit. If it were not that it
might seem disrespcctful to Mr.. Gilbert, / should
pass by his remarks without notice. Lest how
cverI should seem to slight him, / will answer his
appeal to me.
Mr.. Gilbert asks, edo you question that with
the cessation OF the cause, the effect would cease?"
answer, l do. A torch may kindle a fire that
may bnrn for ages after the torch has been con-
sumed. A stagnant pool may generate disease
that shall rage for years after she pool has been
dried up. A man may cause a controversies war,or
q series OF changes, that shall remain for centuries
aftor he has ceased to bo. a fit of intemperance
which endures but a day may produce effects which
shall be as lasting as life, or as durable as eternity.
1 do not allow that, either the enactment of theFu-
tive Slave Law, or the passing of the Nebraska
bill were the sole or the principle cause of the anti.
slavery agitation, or, that, if they we're the repeal
of those measures would bring the anti slavery agi.
tation to nm end.
Mr.. Gilbert says, l say a great deal in opposi.
tion to Fosters wholesale method of REFORM /
answer, say not one word against Mr.. Fosters
wholesale method of reform. Mr. Fosters method
Of reform is not more wholesale than my own.
Mr.. Gilbert says the matter at issue betwe en-
as, he thinks is this, can an evil which is an ee.
ment in any organization, be most readily re.
moved by attacking it from Withia or piGtout the
organization? Mr.. Gilbert thinks wrong. There
is no such matter at issue between us. On no
such matter have | ever given an opinion. The
matters at issue between us is, are political abu-
litipnists the greatest obstacle to the anti slavery
cause2'
Mr.. Gilbert adds, that / seem to say, let us OBJ.
tain what we can now, and anon we will ask for
more. ianswer, l seem to say nothing of the
kind.
lie asks, why not sue for tho whole demand
answer, | do.
He asks again, why not demand the entire claim
and that on the ground of right1
answer, that is exactly what / do. I 20 for the
immediate, the entire, and the eternal abolition of
slavery, in every nation on earth. And I am in
favor of the use of all moral means for the atoli
tion of slavery. But l do no, believe that those
sboli,ionists who think it right to use political
means for the abolition Of slavery, are destitute Of
all honor, honesty or conscience, are the greatest
krares and villains on earth, or are the greatest
obstacle to the anti-slavery cause. l believe many
OF them to be as truthful, rs honest, a. honorable,
MS trustworthy, as sensible, as good, ns brave, as
noble and as useful as the the best and wisest Of
those who differ from them.
have az much confidence in Theodore Parker
ss in Wendell Phillips, and / have q vast deal more
confidence in myself than l have in Stephen Fos-
ter or his partial aud uncandid advocate. And as |
did in my speech, in reply to Mr.. Fosters rawlings in
the Town Hall, so will / now, in the Bugle, recon,
mend those reformersw who think that wisdom, and
virtue, and honor, and truth, and usefulness do
all belong to themselves alone, the parable Of the
Nightingale and the G~l1w-worm:
A nightingale that all day long
Had cheered the village with his song,
Nor yet at eve his not suspended,
Mr. vet when eyentile was ended
Began to feel, as well he might,
The keen demands Of appetite,
And looking eagerly around,
lie saw, far of, upon the ground,
.4- a something shining in the dark,
s And knew the g%low-worm by his spark,
And, STOPPING down from hawthorn top,
lie thought to put him in his crop.
The worm, aware of his intent,
Harangued him thus, right eloquent.
"Did you admire my light. quoth he,
AS much Us | your minstrelsy,
You would abhor to do me wrong
As much as | to spoil your song.
For twas the selfsame power divine
Made you to sing and me to shine;
That you with music, | with light,
Might beautify and cheer the night.
Tho nightingale was so struck with the reason
ing Of the glow-Sorm, tina. he
Released him us the story tells,
And found his supper somewhere else.
And now, having like the worm, endeavored to
persuade those that would swallow up us political
abolitionisis at a gulp, that we may be really as
worthy and as use full in our way as they can be in
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