Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23
For the Anti-Slayery Bugic.
POLITICAL BACKSLIDING.

Not long since in glan@ing over the columns OF
n Republi .an paper, | noticed en- editorial Article
headed, douglas and bis friends" After rejcic'
ing in the present position of Douglas, it goes Oh
to say, "rrom some we fear a move to meet Dou-
glass anil his friends hall. way. We fear that some
one NAV attempt to lo,cer the standard Of our paTty
faith, or perhaps set out a few OF the strongest
planks from our platform 10 these
men,"
Had We met with the above sentence in q disun-
.ion paper we should have admired the keen sar'
-casm Of the writer, and mentally smiled at the
severe irony that characterizes such an idea. But
taking the sentiment from such a source, we are
bound to suppose it uttered in good faith. Though
il seems q little strange to hear them talk OF lower
ing the standard OF their party faith, when we
remember that from their birth as q party, their
whole course has been dornpard; a continued
Sacksliding from beginning to end. If we trace
their course from their first organization till the
present, and note their oft repeated compromises
with the slave power, we shall be led to inquire if
there is a still lower deep to which they can sink
without abandoning their baseless claim TO Anti.
Slavery principles. Their rallying cry of Liberty,
and their appellation of Liberty men," has been
successfully changed, till now they are anxious to
make the world understand that they are not
A.aboiiuonists," that they have no desire to med
die with slavery where it is, and meekly and hum.
by ask in selt-detence that there be 'no more
slave states" Though young in years, our heart
thrilled with a warm sympathy, as the first bugle
notes Of their rallying cry of freedom fell upon
our ears, and we earnestly hoped that the Eagle
of victory" might yet perch upon their standard
We have watched their course in sadness and sor
row, as they have departed from their "frst love-
and shown q willingness to sacrifice principle t.
purchase success. Our faith was shaken when fol
the sake of numbers they made Van Buren, theil
leader; yet still their rousing cry of freedom
seemed sincere; and though we could have rejoiceC
to see a Hale or Sumner a. their head, still We
had not then learned that lesson of distrUst thai
is born Of ripper years, and knowing the sincerity
Of our own love of freedom, we never questioned
theirs till their own official acts proved that liberty
to the sldre was not, as is not their aim or desire
And now We shall be no more surprised at any
future efforts to lower the standard of party faith;
we expect it. We know they will trim their saili
to catch the favoring gales Of public sentiment
3 and it will not be strange to see them supporting
for President in 1860, the very man whom the.
have denounced as the author of all the troubles
in Kansas. Doubtless the author Of the Nebrask,
bill has q secret hope of this, and judging from
7 the past, his hopes are not wholly unfounded.
And yet there are many noble men in tina
party whose position is almost an enigma, mel
who are leaders. and who we would fain beliey,
Il sincere. We have read their thrilling speeche
with strange interest. Their bitter and fearless
denunciations of the slave power have won GU
esteem and provoked the deadly ire of the minion
# tyranny, and they have suffered almost a mar