Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-06
HOW TO TREAT COLOSSAL WRONG.

! We make the following extract from an admir-
able Discourse ON "Organized Wrong" by VIM
IL. Furness, of Phladelph phia-contained in the
volume of DiscOurses by Mr.. F. recently published
| -LiGerafor.
Since, then, whether we move or whether we
stand still, whether speak whether we are
SILENT we cannot help doing somewhat, the ques-
tion returns, What are we to do in regard to the
powerful wrong which has become incorporated in
the very constitution Of our social position?
Some, suppose, are ready to reply: I'VE are
to do nothing. Let it alone. But the evil, of
which | am speaking, the evil which has become
socially organic, and which reigns to the degrada-
tion Of mutitudes, and to the corruption of the
public sentiment of the world ciU not be let alone
When We are doing nothing against 1t, we are
dong nearly the very best that we can do for it.
Itneeds, in order to be strengthened and perpetu-
attd, it needs only our silent acquescence. They
who are particularly interested in its support.
and whose interest makes them wise, do not desire
us to speak in its behalf, for they know how very
little can be said on that side, and they fear the
blunders of friendly zeal they fear indeed the
best word that can be said for them, as men fear
a loud word spoken in the vicinity Of an ava
laache No, they do not desire active and looua-
ceus partnership. Their loyal friends and help
erS are the silent and the neutral. They will ex-
tho established Evil. They ask US only to wink at
it, to look as if we did not see it. If we will only
hold ouI tongues. and keep still; in word, if we
will only let alone, we shall be doing for it the
most that be done. Let us all keep quiet about
il, and say not loud word, I'VE may whisper an
ejaculation now and then in private. but not syl-
liable in public,) in condemnation of it, and we
render it the most substantial service, service 80
efficient that in a.gratcful moment it may promise
to reward it, Above all, let us make no appeal to
Heaven or to Humanity, neither preach nor pray
against it, let US not hint by single word that it
is thing abhorred Of God and of all good beings,
and then we do for it all that it wants.
Then, when We profoundly silent, protesting
to let the instituted Evil alone-then it has grand
opportunity, and keeps steadily growing and grow
ing, spreading farther, striking deeper, multiplying
in frshtfu ratio the number of its victims, blind
ing the consciences Of men more and more extin-
gushing their sensibilities, making it more and
for the interest of individuals to countenance
and uphold it, until from being accounted neces-
sary evil to be lamented it gets itself honored as
a positive good, as. in fine, the institution, most
vital to the welfare of mankind, for the preserva-
tion of which there is nothing too dear or too
cred to be sacrificed.
And then, when it has como to be so regarded,
and it always comes to be so regarded by being
let aone,-then the mischief is complete and Evil
is enthroned in the world in the place of Good.
Then the hopes of Humanity would be blasted for
ever, were it not in the infinite goodness of Heav-
en- that the sense of Right in the human bosom,
however it may bo blinded, however it may seem
at times and for time to be anni5iated, is abso-
lutely indestruetible. That sense of Right, when
wrong has realized the to which it is al
ways blindly tending is Mt last reused to resist it.
Then it ceases to let Evil alone. 1t attacks it with
out fear or compromise; and the powers of Evil,
swollen with the pride of long success, hesitate at
no means of crushing resistance. Then the work
of Reform, unavoidable at last, goes on amidst
frightiul disorder and suffering. Then prophets
and saints appear, and cast into dungeons and
into the flames, and crosses and scaAolds rear
ed, and the mountains melted with the blood of
those who have fed to them for refuge from relent
lesspersscution. Such periods Of violent Reyolu-