The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-22
A SAD BUSINESS.


! We know of no sadder sight than to see
great abilities prostituted to the support OF a
wicked cause. A great man using his talents
to support system of wrong, an author bow
ing the knee TO I" the dark spirit of Slavery"
or mighty psess devoting its energies to the
defence of oppressors are all sad sights.
The London Times, for the last half dozen
years, has, off and on, endeavored' to weaken
the anti slavery spirit of England and the
English Govesnment, and to say in an insinua-
ting, eowardly style, all that it dares in favor
of or extenuation of African Slavery. 1t has
pretended, to be sure, that its policy is to over
throw, American Slavery by African free labor
in British Colonies-the said labor, however,
to be imported and compulsory. To show the
temper and style of the Times, we quote por.
ton of one of its recent editorials:
"We can afford, therefore, to look black
man steadily in the face, and to tell him that
he, like us, is creature born to live by labor.
The resemblance of q gnat painted on the spec.
taces of an elderly gentleman will look larger
in his eyes than distant elephant. The Bishop
of o oxford and Lord Brougbam goaboutthe town,
ha We black man on either glass. It'll atraditioH
to the latter, and family faith to the former, that
they should 80 see the world. Their heads are
full OF fossil facts. They are the opponents of
our national remorse for the bad deeds of our
grsndfathers, and they act up to their role when
they fall into state of exaggerated sensibility
at the apparition of black skin. We accept
them rs actors necessary to the progress of the
drama, and allow them to say things that would
be open to much criticism in the mouths of
other men.
"When the Bishop of Oxford is indignant
that we do not supply the Africans with powder
and ball, to enable them to pilage the Beers,
we do not laugh, because it is q Wilbezforce
who says this. When he tells us, as of a Mdene-
.fal thing, that something gerry nearly approach
ing to slares, in the form Of laborers,' may be
found soth colored skins, zoe check the rising
TO tell Wilbertorce that, If Slavery consists in
compulsory soork, all laborers are something
rery nearly approaching to SLAVES !; that era.
cling stomach, a sickly child, and a piaing wife,
compel men to do things to aohich no masters
voice Mould force them. When Lord Brougham
calls upon as absolutely and instantly to pro.
hibit the carrying o. colored men from one mart
oflabor to another, ace hold our peace for pe rec.
otlect that 1t is Lord Brougham rekindling that
old historic Indignation Dhich once had an ob-
ject."
When it is remembered that Lord Brougham
opposes, not the carrying of colored men from
one mart to another" but the forcible importa.
ton of slaUes from Africa to hated bondage
in professediy free countries, the inhuman
spirit of this extract will be seen. The French
trade in negroes is calculated to turn Africa
into a Pandeuonium. The victims of the trade
are sold to the agents who get them; and SO
long as France or England is anxious to get
negroes from the African coast, no mat.
ter whether they are to be freed afterwards or
cot, Just SO long will the African chiefs sell
these negroes to the agents. The testimony of
DR.. Livingstone and every other modern Afri.
can traveller 10 conclusive upon this point. The
traffic in negroes at any of the African sea.
ports causes !. vast deal of misery and cruelty
in the interiop, The chiefs make forays upon
peaceful villages, for the purpose of making
slaves of the Inhabitants, and whole tracts of
country, before quiet, are made hideous by the
slave-traders. 1t is found that negroes cannot
be had upon tbe African coast except through
agents who are paid so much per head fer
them; aud the agents get them from the chiefs,
who have stolen them. 1t ia this helish trade
which a great newspaper like the Times-a
paper professedly Christian, too-defends, and
it is upon the opponents of the trade that it
showers Its ridicule and sarcasm. In merica,
its cruel leaders are seized upon by the Pro.
Slavery journals with great avidity, and para
ded before the public as an indication that the
English people are changing their views upon
the Slavery question. Such is not the truth,
however. The Times has bad habit of taking
the wrong side of certain questions, and against
its interest often. 1t attacked and pursued
Kossuth with such pertinacity and bitterness.
that it lost ten or fifteen thousand from its daily
circulation. When the corn.law agitation
arose, the Times for years was in the interest of
the Protectionist aristocracy, and only deserted
its standard when the merchants of England
enraged at its course, agreed not to take it, and
not to advertise in its columns.
The people of England abhor the articles
which so delight class of American journals,
and which would seem to indicate at the first
fash that England is receding to barbarism.
Lord Broughan and the Earl of Oxford repre-.
sent the people upon this question, if on no
other. If any man doubts it, we beg him to
show us one English orator who will dare to
defend the slave trade-American or French
at public meeting. He who should attempt
it would be hooted from the platform.
The Times, then, speaks merely for set of
rich but dissatisfied West India planters in
this matter, and trusts to its general popularity
for success 1t thinks, and probably with
truth, that it is in many respects so admirable
q journal, that the English public will put up
with an occasional article in favor of any in.
iquity.