Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-06-26

We often hear the shuflng and the inconsistent
denounce the decided as abstractionsts. as men OF
mere IDEAS /: and with blank seicomplacency con
gratulutc themselves devoted TO the actualitics
of life, and rot its mere nutiOns-as though the
ideal was not the only human aCtualas though
the mere material wants OF men were more than
those of the swine. The ruling idea shapes all
things Before the world spraug forth from the
hand Of the CreatUr-beiore tree or animal asSun.
ed form-it first stood clearly out in His mind,
and he pronounced it good only as it realized the
IDEAL. So the artist. before he touches the chlsel,
first eabUrates and places the iolm on its pedes,
tai in his own mind and his subsequent labor is
not for his own eyes, but to enable others to see
what to him is already more clear than it can ever
I become to them. That form inspires TO virtue or
lust, to devotion or sensuality, according to the
idea that inspires and guides the arm. So with
society, whether political or religious, social or
domestic 1t is based upon an idea-yea, it is
itself an idea,and its ends are but deol-and such
society is a blessing or curse ii cviZes or bar
harizes it promotes the happiness or misery, vr-
tue or vice, holiness or sensualism, according 20
these ends.
And we hear the same class OF materiaists de.
nounce the worlds workers as "men of one idea;"
as though any man could breast the current or
stem the tie, could wake the sluggish race, give
fern to society, and soul and sentiment to man !;
or achieve those less difficult, though, to vul
gar eyes, more striking material triumphs, that
sends the steam engine along the mountain slope,
or the lightnings upon its quiet postboy errands,
! who is not controlled by leading absorbing, all.
couquering idea. resolute purpose, a steady
2eai, must burn in his soul. An unshaken con
stancy, granite principle, good ideal end. must
take possession Of him, must overpower and drive
out the seductons of Incidence or sense, must dis
possess the idols that would preoccupy or divert
him, and bear him "Onward, right onward" to his
goal and NTH steady momentum that first ex-
cites the derlsiOn, next the wcnder and finally
takes captive the will of those around him. Tell
me who has the most enduring purpose, and vi ith
anything like equality, | will tell you who will
conquer. The sure prescriptions of their enemies,
the derisons OF the bruiness, the certain trib-
ute to their power and if borne as heroes alone
can bear them, the pledge of their triumph. But
pray the scotler to point me to the achievements
of those who are not men Of one idea who have
no controlling purpose no fixed faith, but are
floats, tossed upon every wave, waits cast upon
every shore, butterflies waited upon every breeze.
Were to indulge in personal illustration, i
might point to men of my own section-men of
great opportunities, and who have become illus.
tious or an offence, according to their taith their
ixedness of purpose. i might instance our Web
sters and Van Burens, who, seeing the right, spas
medically struggled against the wrong yet, 'lov'
ing the lap of Delilah more than the rough tents
Of Israel" yielded to treacherous caresses and
became but the sport Of the common enemy
4 Those who might have carved themselves a name
lion which the hopeful would come from afar to
look, who might have given their country faith,
bowed to the superior will of their enemies, and
are laid. and are waiting to be laid, in the forgot
ten graves of the vulgar great.
! / might also point 10 our Adams--and my col.
league will pardon me for adding our Giddings-
whose fidelity, whose will, amid storms of foes,
and what so much more tries a great mans soul,
the shrinking of coward friends, boldly met,
breasted, and overwhelmed the tyranny that had
stitled this House. and restored what to lose is to
lose all, freedom of debate to this, the peoples
Hall. Ay, and more that will, that resolution
is taking captive the honest, the free of
the land and tie fresh impositions of mad tyran.
ny. instead Of cJwing and discouragng but in
| spre them to eager labor and patient waiting for
its sure overthrow.
| might also instance from the champions Of
force from those who have fought so well in
cause so bad the Of Calhoun, the John
Calvin Of the propaganda. Constant in his labor,
undiverted by personal hopes or party ties. with
only a band, scarce twelve, Of acknowledged
followers in the national councils, he has finally,
by his fidelity and by his ard their perseverance,
furnished the dOgmas and controlled the action Of
| the party of absOlutism. lie affected no consis.
tency but in the one idea lie pure in his
life yet the apostles of systemized violence and
unchecked lewdness. He was clear in his logic,
yet he ran TO the most opposite CONCLUSIONS
) ,arting out with the bodest and most outspoken
opposition to Democratic principles, he and his
followers have given laws to the Democratic party
Holding the Union to be subject TO the will, and
its measures to the veto, of any State, they have
indirectly dictated the policy that makes States
but subject provinces and their authorities the
sport of she pettiest Federal official. Constantly
talking of Constitutions and laws, they con-
stantly labor to turn back the tide of civilization
and re'enthrone the claw of the strong hand" p
Yet there was method in all these Inconsistencies
Il resolute purpose running through them, a will
that has wrenched from coward partisans the
stamp Of State, and made current guineas of
chem all.
/ have often been surprised to see men appar-
emily unconscious of .he power Of great idea.
They would erect that most sublime of creations,
IA just State, by appeals to pecuniary inter.
est, though interest alone ever worked in that
direction, ever withstood the lower instincts-as
though, untempered by the sentiments, it ever ap
pealed but to the merest nvarice. 1t needs high
passion, a noble enthusiasm an elevated princ
pie, to work the benefcent revolutions of earth
True, our highest interest is in harmony with
them, like the sympathy of the elevated spirit and
body. The body should be fed but "man lives
not by bread alone"
The honorable gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr. Thayer) himself distinguished for great,
a Teutonic, dealism-has told us of the power OF
organized emigration. | deeply sympathize with
him and his idea, and only fear that he too greatly
relies upon mere interest How long would his
Kansas emigration have stood the tloody foray
and the Federal frown, had it not been recruited
and sustanded by the sentiment, the idea, that
buried in the Northern mind There was
ganzatiCn in the West and yet without the aid
of the men and women of the West. impeled by
their ideas rather than interests the whole ma.
chnery of organized emigration would have been
impo!ent against the mad ianatcism of tho border.
| Organized emigration, based upon the idea of
justice as we'll as interest mpelled by generous
enthusiasm, a passion to plant States whose fu-
i ture will be great and stable, as embodysng and
looking to this great idea, will be, must bo sue
cessful. But devoid Of it, the quiet enthusiasm
that reSolutely plants and patiently waits for the
sure immortal growth, becomes the mad foray that
knows not TO plant but essays to build by over
throw That natural love of power and OF prop
erty, that, as tempered by justice, teaches us TO
acquire influence over men by yiDdicating their
rights, and dominion over things by the patient
d accumulations of labor. without this guard. in
Espires dennagogisn, aud ballot stuf6ngs and coup