Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-12-29
From the Liberty Dell for 1850.
THE TNFIDELITY' OF ABOLITI0NISM
By WIN. LLOYD GARRISON.

Every great refOrmatory movement, in every age,
has been subjected alike to popular violence and
to religious opprobrium. The history of one is
essentially that of every other. Its origin is ever
in obscurity; its earliest supporters are destitute Of
resources, uninfuential in position, without repu-
~tation; it is denounced rs fanatical, insane, destruc.
tive, reasonable, infdel. The tactics resorted to
for its suppression are ever the same, whether it
be inaugurated by the pr 1phets, by Jesus and his
apostles, by Wieklife, Luther, Calvin. Fox. or any
of their successors. Its opponents have s%cornful-
ly asked, as touching its pedigree, Is not this the
carpenters son 2 They have periodically pro.
nounced it a seditious attempt to play into the
hands of the Romans, to the subversion of the
State and nation. They have piously exclaimed
against it as open blasphemy. They have branded
it as incomparahly more to te feared and abhorred
than robbery and murder.
No other result has been possible. under the cir
cumstances. The wrong assaiied has grown to a
colossal size its existence rot only implies, but
demonstrates, universal corruption. 1t has be-
come organic-a part of the habits and customs of
the times. 1t is incorporated into the State, it is
nourished by the church. Its support is the test
of loyalty, patriotism, piety. 1t holds the reins OF
government with absolute MISUNDERSTANDING the
venal. stimulating the ambiti Gus, terrifying the
weak, ;nfaming thu brutal, satisfying the pharisai'
cal, ostracising the incorruptible. 1t has its tenn
pile. it's ritual, it's priesthood, its divine paternity,
in the prevailing religion, no matter what may be
the title or pretension thereof.
Now, to attack such a wrong, without fear or
compromise tt strip off the mask, and exhibit il
in all its naked deformity,-to demand its immedi.
ate suppression, at whatever cost to reputation or
worldly intercst,-must, or necessity, put the re-
former seemingly in antaconism to public quietude
and good order, and make the whole social, politi-
cal and religious structure tremhle to its fUunda-
tons. He cannot he n good citizen; for be refuses
to be law-abidinG, and treads public opinion, legis
lative enactment, and governmental edict, alike
under his feet. lie cannot be sane; for he arraigns,
tries and condemns, rs the greatest sinners and
the worst criminals, the most reputable, elevated,
reEored and powerful members of the body polite
he cannot love his COUNT V, for he declares it to bt
laden with i%niquity,' and liabie to the retributivt
judgments of Heaven. lie cannot possess humili
ty; for he pays no regard to usage, precedent, au
thority, or public sentiment, but deies them ALL
lie cannot be disinterested; for it is not supposa
BILE that he is actuated by any higher motive thar
the love of notoriety, a disposition to be factious
or the consumm ltiOn Of some Interior design
lie cannot be virtuous; for he is seen in the com
pany of publieans and sinners. and is Stunned by
the chief priests, scribes and pharisees. lie can
not be religiously soand in the faith; for he i'm
peaches whatever IS popularity accounted piety 81
but an empty observance, a lifeless tradition, {
sanctifed viilany, or u miserable delusiOn. ii,
ought not to live; FOR, it is better that one mar
should die, than that q whole nation should per
ish.'
Every nation has its peculiar institution it
vested interest, its organized despotism, its over
mastering sin. distinct from every other nation.-
The conflict of reform is ever geographical as a
issue, because the evil assaulted is never world-wi1
it may be universal in it's tende. cies, but it is locc
in its immediate results. 1t is easy to denounc
Monarchy in America, Slavery in Europe, Prote'
tantism in Italy, Democracy in Russia, Judaisl
? IN Turkey; because it is to take the popular side
in every such case. An in:quitous system, which
If vigorously assailed in one country, may excit
o bloody persecution, and cause the whole land
tremble with CONSERVATION and fury, in anothe
country may be denounced not only with impun
", but to general acceptance; for the special abon
ination thus opposed not existing therein, it is see
In its true character. Hence, what may serve
reveal the exact m)ral condition Of one peopl
may not be applicable in any other case. Kossut
found that pleading for material aid in AmeriC
was quite a different thing from eontending wit
Austrian despotism in Hungary.
The enc great, distinctive, alleonquering sin
America is its system of chattel slavery--co-exi
tent With the settlement Of the country for a col
siderable time universally diaused-at first, tolert
ted as q necessary evil subsequently, deplored Q
a calamity NOW. defended in every slave State O