The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-06-19

]. The hard ioords arc manifold as the pas
sions and prejud;ces Of men, but they general
ly culminate i'm the imputation of "fanaticism.
In such case 1 am willing TO be called "fanat
10" or what you will; care not for aspersions
nor shall shrink from hard words either here
or elsewhere. havo learned from that great
Englishman, Oliver Cromwell, that no man
can be trusted "who is afraid of paper pol
let;' and am too familiar with history not to
know that every movement for reform in
Church or State, every endeavor for Human
Liberty and Human Rights has been thus as.
sailed do not forget with what facility and
frequency hard words have been employed
how that grandest character of many genera.
tions, the precursor of our own Washington
without whose example our Republic might
have faied-tho great William, Prince of Or
ange, the founder of the Dutch Republic, the
United States of Holland-I do not forget
how no was publicly branded as "perjuror
and pest of society,"" and not TO dwell on
general instances how tho enterprise for the
abolition of the slave trade was characterized
on the floor of Parliament by one eminent
speaker as mischevous," and by another as
visionary and delusive;' and how the exalted
characters which it had enlisted were arraigned
by still another eminent speaker-none other
than that Tarleton so conspicuous is the
commander of the British horse in tho South
ern campaigns of our Revolution, but more
conspicuous in politics at home" as junta
Of secretaries, sophists, enthusiasts and fanat.
ics;" and also were again arraigned by no loss
than a person than prince of the blood, the
duke of Clarence. afterward William w. of
England, as "either fanatical or hypocrites,"
in one of which classes he openly placed vii
liam Wilborforce. But impartial history
with immortal pen has redressed these i'm
passioned judgments, and the Same impartial
history will yet rejudge the impassioned judg-
mepts of this hour.
2. Hard words have been followed by per-
sonat dispdrdgen,ent and the sneer is often
launched that our Enterprise lacks the author
ity of names eminent in Church and State
Ii this be SO the more is the pity on their ac-
count, for our cause is needed to them more
than they are need to our cause. But alas ! il
is only according to the example Of history
that it should be so. II is not the eminent in
Church and State, the rich and powerful, the
favorites of fortune and place, who most
promptly welcome Truth when she heralds
change in the order of things. 1t is order in
poorer condition who throw open their hospi-
table hearts to the unattended stranger. Nay,
more; it is not the dwelers amid tho glare Of
the world, but the humble and lowly, who
most clearly discern new duties-as the watch
ers placed in the depths of a well may observe
the stars which are obscured to those who live
in the effnlgence of noon. Placed below the
egotism and prejudice Of self. interest or of a
the cares and temptations Of
wealth or power-in the obscurity of common
life-they discern the new signal and surren-
der themselves unreservcdly 10 its guidance.
The Savior knew this. He did not call upon
H..
him; but upon tho humble fisherman by tho
sea of Gallilee.
And now, Sir, present to you the Anti
Slavery Enterprise, vindicated in Necessity,
Praeticability and Dignity, against all objec-
tions. 1t remains that should give practi-
table conclusion to this matter, by showing,
though in glimpses only your Special Duty
as Freenien Of the North And, thar k God
at last there is a North.
Mr. President, it is not uncommon to hear
persons among us ot The North confess the
wrong of Slavery, and then folding their hands
in absolute listlessness calculate, "What can
we do about III" Such men we encounter
daily. You all know them. Among them
are men in every department of human actiyi-
", who perpetualiy buy, build and plan, who
shrink from no labor, who are daunted by no
peril of commercial adventure, by no hardihood
Of industrial enterprise. who reaching in their
undertakings across oceans and continents
would engage "to put circle about the earth
in forty seconds" and yet disheartened they
can join in no effort against Slavery. Others
there are, especially among the youthful and
who vainly sigh because they
were not born in the age of chivalry; at least
in the days of the Revolution, not thinking
that in this Enterprise there is an opportunity
of lofty endeavor such as no Paladin of chival-
ry or chief of tho Revolution o. rjoyed. 9th.
ers there are who freely bestow their means
and time upon the distant inaccessible heatben
in another hemisphere in the islands of the
sea; and yet they can do nothing to mitigate
our grander heathensm at home. While con-
Tossing that it ought to disappear from the
earth, they forego, renounce and abandon all
exerlion against it. Others there are still
such is human inconsistency y who plant tho
tree in whose fell grown shade they can never
expect to sit-who hopefully drop the acorn
in the earth trusting that the oak which it
sends upward to The skies will shelter their
children beneath its shade; but they will do
nothing to plant or nurture the great tree of
Liberty, that it may cover unborn generations
Of men.
Others still there are, particularly in the
large cities, who content themselves by occa-
sional contributions to the redemption of a
slave. To this object they give cut Of ample
riches and thus seek TO silence Tho monitions
Of conscience. Now, would not discounte-
nance any form of activity by which Human
even in single case, may bo Sc
cured. But desire to cay that such an act
too often accompanied by Pharsaical pro-
tenton in strange contrast with petty perfor-
be considered an essential aid
to the Anti-Slsvory enterprise. Not in this
way can any impression be made on an evil so
vast as Slavery--as you will clearly see by an
illustration which L shall give. Tho good
Thor. of Scandinavian anthology, whose
strength surpassed that of Hercules, was once
to drain single cup dry. He ap-
Piled ii to his lips and with superhuman eapac-
ty drank, but the water did not rocode even
from the rim and at last the god abandoned
he effort. The failure Of even his extraordi-
nary strength was explained when he learned
hat the simple cup had communicated by an
Invisible connection with the whole vast ocean
behind, out of which il perpctually supplied
ind which remained absolutely unaffected by
he effort. And just so will these occasions Of
,harity, though encountered by the largest pri
'ato means, be constantly renewed, for they
~ A ~~;,L tho .-hoIa pla al Qaa of Ga