The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-03
BEGINNING JANUARY l, 1887.

The National Era is an incorporating
opponent of Slavery and the Slave Power; an
advocate of personal, civil, and religious Hber
", without regard to race or creed; foe 70 al
secret combinations to control the BslOt-BOx,
whether under the direction of priests or lay
men, and to all measures directly or indirectly
countenancing prescription on account of birth
place or religion friend of Temperance, the
Homestead, and all reforms calculated to secure
to Labor its Just consideration, recon psnse, and
political weight and to Trade, its Natural Free
dom, in virtue Of which every man has right
to buy and sell in whatever market he pleases.
1t believes in the right of individual Judgment
in all matters, whether of religion or politics,
and rejects the dogma Of passive obedience
and non resistance in both Church and State;
holding that no man who swesrE to support the
Constitution of the United States can delibe-
rately violate his own settled convictions of its
meaning, without mourning the guilt of perjury,
and that no citizen cen obey human enact
ment which requires him to commit injustice,
without immortality.
1t regards Slavery, and the issues involved
in it, as forming the great Political Question Of
the Day; taking the ground, that Slavery, from
its necessities, instincts, and habits, is pernetu-
ally antsgonistic to Freedom and Free Labor,
and unchangeably aggressive; that It's work
ings can be counteracted only by a permanent
system of measures; aud it therefore has sup
ported, and will continue to support, the Re-
publican Party, so long "a it shall be trle TO
Freedom, holding itself, however, perfectly IN
dependent, at liberty to approve or condemn
whatever may accord or conflict with its oft.
avowed principles.
1t presents weekly summary CT General
News and Political Intelligence, keeps a rec.
ord OF the Proceedings of Congress. and is the
repository Of large portion Of the most In
pt apaanhao d.l;yor.I IN fbst III,
Its Foreign and Domestic Correspondence Is
carefully provided for, and Its Literary Mjscsl-
lany, chiefly original, being supplied By many
of the best writers of the country, makes il EN-
phatically PAPER FOR THE FAMILY.
The Republican Party must now perfect its
organization, and proceed al once to the task
of enlightening the Public Mind. Only in this
way can it retain its power in the States which
it now controls, and acquire power in the States
which have just decided the issue against it.
Documents and speeches answer the purposes
of temporary canvass, but permanent effects
can be produced best by overcoming agencies.
A single tract, read, may be forgotten-a good
| newspaper, going into family 81 a regular
visiter, will not be forgotten 1t is the continual
dropping that wears away stone-the repeated
blow that drives the wedge home-imporiu-
nifty that prevails where spasmodic appeals
| fall The newspaper devoted to the discussion
vi iuHuainehlra pTluClpleS, IL lhe constant orc ,.
ping, the all-prevaEng importantly. No othee
agency can supply It's place.
My subscribers have stood By the Era hand.
somely. No paper can boast warmer or mors
steadfsst friends. They have not forgotten
that, whatever the claims and merits Of other
papers, the Era in the face of imminent per-
lie, was the pioneer TO Freedom Of the Press in
this slaveholding District, and has been fer ten
years the only journal at the seat Of the Fed
ersl Government representing the sentiments
of the Free States on the great Question Of the
Country, the only journal through which their
| loyal representatives. in Congress could find
voice and vindication. They have not forgot
ten, nor will they forget that while papers en-.
gagged in the same Cause elsewhere, have
strong local interests to rely upon, and the pa
pers printed here, opposed TO our Cause, thrive
through the patronage Of the Federal Govern
ment, the Era is uniformly prescribed by that
Government, and its legal right to official ad-
vertisements denied, while, so far from having
the support, it is constantly subjected to the
opposition, of strong local interests so that its
only dependence is upon those enlightened
friends of Freedom, all over the country, who
appreciate the necessity Of maintaining such
sentinel on the outpost of Freedom.