Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-11-24

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FROIT j. II. PHLLLE0 .

DEl7 MiRirs! Pr5tjly noa1 know better
than yourself, how pleasant and encouraging it is
to breathe free air, after having, for some time,
been compelled to inhall tho milsma Of q cold
hearted Indifference to the wants and woes Of per
ishing humanity. This is our case at the present
time. Though the people here in the west, are,
to a less extent, under the immediate CONTROL Of
priests and lending politicians, than in the older
States, and therefore more approachable, they are
still strangers, to o great extent, to principles re
qnirins them to sacrifice much for the good of
those outside Of their own household. An,i-Sla-
very is quite popular here, 20 the extent of keep
ing slavery out of free Territory, and letting the
slave take care Of himself. 1t is well enough to
pronounce slavery a fragrant wrong, and she'd a
few tears, perhaps, over an affecting recital Of the
woas Of its victims; but efforts in his behalf, cal
culatod to interfere with our pleasure or convent
e1cc, or our money making operations, are alto
gether uncallel for. To acquire property, to honro
up money that he can never enjoy, seems to be the
chief end Of man, in this age. The highest type
Of the human brotherhood known to men in gener.
al, or even the better portion of men in general,
is to wish every body success, unless that success
is, in somo way likely to interfere with their in
%tcrcs;s, that is, their schemes and specula,ions in
money making afFp;Is.
If the slave wants sympathy in the abstract he
can have it. If he wants tears, under peculiar
circumstances, he can have them. If he wants
prayers, outside of DR.. Springs ncighborhood, no
can have them. But if twenty-five dollars, from
the pocket Of a good anti-slayery brother, worth
five thousand, is absolutely necessary to effect his
liberation, there is no hope in his case. lie must
die in his chains. Whether Goodness is gain or
not, certain It's, that gold is God to the people of
this generation. And why is it more idolatrous to
worship that god in the shape of a calf than in
the shape Of an eagle! The number of Christians
in this country is very great. | mean TIE num-
Der who desire to go to heaven, and are wiling to
do and forego o. earth, what they regard as neces-
sary, in order to get them. Now, give that pas
sage which says, 'it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle &C., a literal render
ing, and, my word for it, Christians will be al
most like angels visits, on earth. Put wood or
stone in the place Of the gold that pavcs the streets
Of the New Jerusalem, and heaven will loose n
great share of its attraction to our wealth seeking
christians. Nor are professe1 christians alone, in
this matter. The real God Of the professor and
non-profcssor, the christian and the infdel, tie re-
ligious and the unre ligious, is the same.
Now, however harsh such judgement may seem
to be, and how litlasoever this state of things
may be realized by the people, it is nevertheless
true; and no careful observer can fail to perceive
it. To all this, however, there are some glorious
exceptions. Here and there an individual sees
God as the real father of the human family, and
any member Of that family, as a real brother or
sister. And by their recognition Of that relation
ship, they are brought to remember those in bonds
as bound with them. As the mother feels the pang
that cOnvulses the frame, and EFFORTS the cry of
agony from her child, Sc do such persons realize
the hopeless wretchedness Of tie slave. And, i'm
peeled 10y such feelings, they can 10 more help
putting forth an earnest effort in his behalf, no
more help sacrificing something of their case and
comfort, for his relief, than that mother can help
sacrificing her ease and comfort over the cradle Of
her suffering little one. And they, few as they
are, are those who give to the A. S. enterprise all
of the life and soul it has But for them, the wall
Of hopeless agony that loads every southern breeze
would pass on by, unheard and unheeded.
Since the Battle Greek meeting, l have spent
the time in several communities northwest Of that
place, and in this community. Through the ef-
forts and influence Of our friend Hiram Cornell, |
had some very good meetings in the town of Brad
ford, and also in Augusta, a little village beyond.
Our meetings in Bradford were held in the school
room of the Harmonial Institute, a school estab-
lishcd, at considerable expense, by Hiram and his
father, recognizing the principles of the Harmoni-
al Philosophy. This Institution is situated in an
exceedingly pleasant and healthy locality, and has
| am toli, by the unaided but persevering efforts
OF its founders, attained to a good degree of emf.
ncnce, as to its literary and scientific character.
1t certainly possesses one great advantage over
most public institutions of learning. 1t not only
leaves the mind eff the student free and unfcttered
but encourages independence Of thought and free
dom of discussion. With q strict regard for the
established principles Of morality, it does not at
tempt to interfere with the right of opinion, or the
freedom of discussion on any subject. Consequent
ly it offers opportunities for education to those who
cannot submit to be stretched or cut of to suit the
mon bedsteads of most educational institutions of
the day.
Oar Convention at Albion, one or two sessions
excepted, was not largely attended. l have never
known so little interest manifested by professed
Abolitionists, in the cause Of the slave, as at pres
ent. Several causes are, probably, operating to
this state Of things. among which, and
most prominent, | think, is the Republican party,
Barker to the contrary, Notwithstanding
The direct and palpable tendency Of that party is
to satisfy the abolitionists with a somewhat gener-
al opposition to the aggressions of the slave pow
er on northern rights. This effort is visible every
where. By the way, is it not a little strange that
Mr.. Barker should understand Mr.. Foster as de-
nouncing Anti-Slavery politics, when he. Mr.. F.
is the only one Of our speakers who decidedly adj
vocates A. S. political action. Ard it seems equal
ly, if not more strange to me, that Mr.. Barker
should so far forget himself as to pretty fairly i'm
itate, in his assault upon Mr.. Foster, Benefits
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