Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-04-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
Mr.. Editor:

consequent Upon the lecture of Henry &.
WRIGHT. have created no little stir among
the various antagonistic elements of our VII
lage, feel pleased that in your vocation as
a public Journalist, whose duty it IS to note
and comment upon all matters OF general
public interest occurring in the community,
YOU have expressed your opinion of the mer-
its and dement's of Mr.. Wright, and the
principles he has advanced. For If Wright
is right, it becomes every lover Of truth an
Justice to speak out boldly and manfully in
advocacy of the principles he has advanced.
If Wright is wrong; if he be an "inhdel, a
.blasphemer, an atheist" as charged by
many respectable and worthy citizens, then
30 much the greater is the need that the poi
son be has instilled here should be met by
the antdote. U
As ono who can heartily endorse nearly all
the conclusions to which Mr.. Wright's doc
trncs. as he advanced them here, lead, and
who would to God they might be sown broad
cast in this and every other community, l
wish t. notice few points in your article
Of last week, entitled, Unity in Diversity.
do not wish to do 50 in any captlous, IN
tolerant spirit respect every mans hon
est, earnest convictions, whether they ditier
from mine or not
You say of his position on slavery. che Is
l., t,f / "a G.
ionary, that will never accomplish his pur-
poses because he refuses to use the best wea-
pom. at hand, that he may succeed y DO
YOU believe, Mr.. Editor, in the power OF
truth-in the mighty influence OF living
Ideas? (2) If you do, can you reiteratc this
stalest and balde.t of charges, "impractca-
bility.' etc, etc. (3) As an anti slavery
man, Mr.. Wright came here to utter his
testimony against the gigantic crime OF this
nation. His blows fell like huge sledgc-
hammers upon the weak dcfences with which
timidity and spurious Christianity have heds-
cd it round about lie hesitated not to de-
nouncc its adcrs, ab.ttors and apulogists
whether in Church or State. lie urged his
hearers by all those considerations which ap-
peal to mans better and holicr nature, new
er to Continuance in the remotest manner,
any institution. party or sect, which sup
ported or apolosized for slavery. (i) lie c1-
posed as few have power to do, the horrible
dcf5rmity which the accurscd system entails
upon the mental, moral and physical condi-
ton Of the human race, and then he adjurcd
every man present, if he believed that vot-
ing would help the anti-slayery cause, in
Gods name to vote against slavery at all
times, and under all circumstances. (5)
Does this SAVIOR Of "impractieabilty - lie
constructed 10 Procrustcan bed, and then
demanded that every man, whether tall or
short, should be made to fit it, either by
stretching or clipping (t) lie implored OF
every man, no matter Of what religious creed
or political party, to use his best effort.
against it. IL did not say, "My way OF
fighting slavery is the only true way; d. as
+ | do OF b. accursel," but he left every one
10 ST ,ht On his own hook Ii that is to
be an "imir4etieabio visionary" count Inc
on.. @
When public sentiment, on this question
or any other, has been SGT right, the real
work has been accomplished. "Where
there's a will, there's way BE- it my
task to educate and enlghten the public
conscience and public miny -let me bat con-
vince the nation that slavery is an unnitisa-
ted curse to the human family. and | am
content to leave to You the question Of ways
and means (S) All pray for on this sub
jeot, is "morc light" (9) The director of
public sentiment, is the sAaper Of institu-
/ tons
Again you say that, "As teacher Of a
purer religion than that now prevalent, and
the expounder Of tho views Of new sect
which is to take the place Of all others. he
left gu, an important part Of the matter, for
while he shew admirable skill in pulling
down old systems, he reared no ncw and
beautiful edi,ce in its place"
While doubt not, Mr.. Editor, you wrote
the above paragraph in all honesty and sin
cerity, yet | can hardly conceive how you
could have more grossly misunderstood the
lecturer. coy To me tho cdifce he reared
upon the ruins of false theology, though
not new by any means, was beautiful
sublime, yea, looming up with grandeur
unspeakable Oh, is there no beauty in an
ediice founded on the brotherhood of the
human race! By the eye of faith can see
its cloud-carped towers, aspiring to reach
the very heavens, and its magnificent dome,
crowned by the exceeding brightness Of God $
glory. QD lie did, indeed undermine the foun-
dation of that religion which is full of pre-
tension, ceremony, and lip service. towards
God; yet enslaves, degrades and imbrutes
man. lie pulls down" that religion which
teaches its votaries to make prayers in the
streets and by-ways, that they may be seen
of men, and yet refuse christian brother.
because his skin is not so fair as his own. a
scat in his church. He did, indeed, survey
with all complacency, the ruins Of a creed
that learns a man to believe that his soul
can be saved by prayers, entrcatics, forms
and ceremonies, while he is deaf to the
wants and sufferings of those about him. Q9
Thank God; he had no reverence for such
aL- -.