Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-01-10
Gribulle 4 Gtltgtapg.
KENOSHA. WIS.
THURSDAY JANUARY 10th. 1886
The Strife and It's Character.

/ in this country between the opponents and
| friends of black chattel Slavery, we apprehend
Il is but partially understood. The general idea
connected with it is, that it is struggle on the
one hand for the freedom of the ''nigger. and on
the other for his continued enslavement, and no
higher, broader, or deeper significance than that
is attached to it. Some writer has said-that
sit is astonishing with what fortitude we can
bear the sufferings of Others, and the great null
titude considering this strife in the aspect alu-
ded to, have thus far managed to bear the en-
slavement and suffering of the "niggcr," with a
most commendable degree Of patience and FORTH
tude and we fear win continue to, until the deep
cr character of the struggle shall force itself up
on their attention by this aggressive, despotic
principle graphing them personally to its
crushing embrace, when perhaps they will have
reused themselves too late. And so viewing the
struggle, we find the papers and influences in IA
vor of this despotism, inveighing against dis
turbing the harmony of the party and the peace
Of the Union, for the sake of the niggers
and again filed with arguments to prove that
the negro is adapted to slavery, and is happy in
that condition, and would be miserable in any
other, and that abolition would work them harm
instead of good &c. All their arguments keep
the negro" prominent, and no doubt III at
tempting to make others think that the strife does
begin and end with the negro they honestly think
so themselves 1t is short-sighted view of the
case and one which works harm, because it in
duces the apathy with reference to the growth
of the real danger, and leaves the nation open to
~
the effects of the progress of this danger. The
negro" is but an accident of the strife, the point
upon which the strife has culminated-around
which it rages-and he has the same relation to
it that the unfortunate Mr.. Pickurch had to the
belligerents Pott and Slurk, when he voluntari-
ly threw himself between them, and was belabor-
ed on both sides. The negro only furnishes in
his person at present the most marked and pal
pable evidence of the presence Off despotic prin
ciple in our Republican country, and in his con-
dition the workings, tendencies, and results of
that despotic principle, and hence becomes the
prominent subject for the time of strife which
did not begin with him, and will not end with his
A good government is defined to be one in
which wrong done to the meanest man of the
nation is felt TO be wrong done to ALL and JUS
tice is sleepless until the wrong is righted and
the highest exhibition of patriotism or philan-
throphy in an individual is when he feels wrong
done to another, although the meanest worm that
craws, wrong to all humanity-to himself
that demands all his energies to eradicate, as if
it had been experienced in his own person. But
no such men form majority anywhere as yet,
and consequently no such government exists
But we must learn, to see the matter measurably
in this light, or as we before remarked, the ex
periencc which awakes us to its true condition,
may come too late.
With reference to the principle involved in this
Slavery question, what can be palmer or more
palpable, than that it is labor and not the negro
especially which is sought to be chattelized; and
not only labor but intelligent human labor. Did
you ever know or hear of slave owner refusing
the lab of his slave and setting him free because
the slave was ,chite? At least one half of the
runaway slaves, for whom rewards are offered
and of whom the papers contain descriptions, are
represented as not to be distinguished by their
color from whites generally. No, it is intelligent
human labor which is sought in this institution,
and is chattelzcd and degraded by it, which is
demonstrated by a very simple process. Offer
your horse and your slave at the same mart in a
slave State, and your slave will bring eight times
the amount of your horse, although the latter
shall be stronger than twenty slaves. Is any
more argument wanted 2 The slave has his
value because he has an intelligent human soul
which guides him TO intelligent labor, and were
he as white as the marble statue of the gods, it
would not weigh him feather against legal
authority to chattelize and degrade the god like
properties which are active in his brain and
strong in his nerves. Cannot any intelligent
man see with half an eye, the character of this
strife privileged class is contendng for
greater and perpetual privileges 1t is aclass
corresponding exactly to the titled and privileged
classes of monarchial and despotie nations who
in virtue of their privileges, live upon the labor
and wealth produced BY other hands. 1t is a
class authorised to buy and sell human labor at
the prices established by itself and make this
labor in ell respects subservient to all its purpos-
es without the least regard to the interest in any
respect of those whom it buys and sells. 1t is
the very worst feature of privilegcism. All 9th.
or IrIfllegelSm III all otner CountrleS, Is 0rccJeO
only at the result. of labor; here it aims at the
laborcr himself, goes to the fountain head. to the
very depths of the grasping capacity Of ''privi
| lege" and steals not only tive jewels but also
the casket in which they are contained.
! Then this strife is not in its broadcast sense
whether there shall be few negro chattels more
or less ii. the country or whether they shall be
scattered over more or less of territory 1t is
whether this priveiaged class-these natural and
artificial despots shah have the absolute posses
sion of this government and country, so they
can strengthen and protect themselves in thcii
privileges, and iaborer shall be perpetually ant
/ irredecmably their slave Atkinson cries from
the plains of Kansas to the sehoie south for aid
for says he, it is sOur cause, no. that of Kansas
especially, ut issue. So it is. 1t is whether
Kansas under the administration of this powe
shall send despots to Washington to do thei
par; in keeping labor subservient to despotism
or whether on the other hand, it shall becom,
an aid to freedom and freemen Our northern