Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-05-19
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
A FRIENDLY HINT.

En-. BuoLE; The following thoughts were sug.
'gesssd on reading "a true story" by l. Pierce, in
the Alliance Ledger. They were written for that
paper but whether the Editor did not express his
approval OF them or that the writer neglected to
leave ..aaem with him, is not remembered
AMOS GILBERT.
The question at issue is simply this: May we
do evil to secure goodi May wo violate a moral
rule, to attain q moral RESULT When VIC can
make Light out Of Darkness Heat out of Cold
cause bodies to recede from their gravitating cen
tre. we shall have encouragement to try the prn
ople in its relation to morals.
/. p is too observing and rejecting to be told
that no free element rises above its source; OF
that like begets its like: distractions he admits
both Stl there arc concrete cases in which Like
begets its opposite.
Lying, to protect one who is rightfully endeav
oring to regain his wrested unborn right TO him
self, is such a case. A stronger cannot be selcc
ted.
1t is believed that the Author Of the "Truo
Story" estimates the quality of actions, by their
consequences but can the consequences be fore.
seen! If all the circumstances in this case were
precisely equal, then would the result be precisely
alike, but can this be ascertained? Circumstan-
ces are necessarily contingent, and hence unknown
until it is too late to modify, obviate them. II
to tell truth be good, and we know by experience
that it produces happy consequences, it is safe to
persist in it until there is q failure when we may
chance to find that not to truth but to unsus.
pected element lurking there, the mischief is at
trbutablc.
Our friend will scarcely rank Lying with nc.
tions promotive of happy consequences, hence very
uncertain, at least as dernier resort. But
consequences are either immediate or remote,
and admitting for the argument that the immedi-
ate consequences will crafty the Philanthopst,
are not those which are remote to be regarded ?
What would be the state of things, if there were
no basis for con sdence in mems truthfulness? A
universal distrust in their veracity?
If Abolitionists lie to tho Kidnapper, they will
descrvedy fose their merited reputation of reliable
mon this loss. together with the tendency that a
first error has to lead into further error, until it
becomes the habit to us, should be guarded against
most scrupuously.
1t is truly terrible thing to aid in returang q
slave to his prison house and it is just, benevolent
and humane to aid his escape. "Why them" would
J. P. say, not tell white lie to help him off?
For the simple reason that "of two evils choose
the lesser" "The end justfes the means" "Do
evil that good may come" and kindred maxims,
are virtual denials that Truth ami Right are in
trinsic and immutable, and offer Expediency is a
safe subs itute ts the rule of human action.
Instead of lying to mislead, the abolitionist may
shoot the quadrupcd bloodhound on the track, and
say to his biped companion, Expect no aid from
me, in your nefarious avocation; but on the con-
trary be assured that shall throw every possible
impediment in your way. know that your class
ignores moral obligation. l knew that l do you
no wrong when / assist the slave to place him
self in position " here he will have the power to
exercise his inalienable right to himself; of this
power you have cruelty and wickedly deprived
him until the hour in which he escaped from
your hated service.
Though such language may rritate at the time
of its utterance, it will probably lead to reflection
and this to conviction. In every such case a man
is redeemed