Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-07-17
Prom the independent Eaauiner.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
SLAVERY.


Do we really live ia a progressive age Edit
ors, politicians aud ministers tCll us that we do
Specifically regarded, the assurance is uuques.
tionably true; Progress is being made, but IN
chat direction The right2 or the wrougP II
we marrow down the inquiry to the political phase
OF affairs, there need be little hesituncy IN assuni'
ing that the political progress OF the uay Is not IN
the right direction. And it is needless that We
travel far to make good this position. The ground
assumed by the Republican parry with reference
TO the subject of American Slavery Is a fruitful
theme for contemplation, and, we may add, oi
modification.
When, In 1856, this party was brought into cx-
istencc, at Philadelphia. "A large proportion OF its
adherents were little conyersaut with toe giant eIiI
(Slavery) whose purpose, ostehslliy IL was oil Tue
party to check, not to say overthrow. Hence II were
unreasonable to presume that tho party or its
members would assume high, bold and effective
Anti Slavery ground. Tho attainment OF such II
position, by the masses in the party, was only to
be hoped for by an education OF them into q thor
ough understanding of the evil aud crline OF slave
ry, and the aims and purposes OF the slave Power.
We confess, candidly, that we did not in 1886 an
ticipate any direct benefit to Freedom from the
success of the Republican party IN tho contest OF
that year. Yet, we supported the party then, IN
these columns, and on the stump and why =
Simply because we dbl look for az indirect bene'
fit to Freedom, in q direct rebuko OF the pretonsions
of the Slave 0ligarchy, nd in the conlinemen t Of
Slavery TO the soil it then occupied --satlsued, as
we then were, aud "a we still are, that Slavery
must have a new domain, from time to time or die
from its own exhausiing q"uahties-h0ping and be-
lieving, at the same time, that the Ant-Slavery
seeds then being sown during the approaching
year or two would bring forth a harvest OF full
grown. well-matured Abolitiouists not even so
much as suspecting that the Republicans Of 1886
would ever be solicited to retmOunt So Hlmsy n
structure as that erected by the Republican Com
vention at Philadelphia on the 18Th of June. 1856.
But, whatever of progress has been made BY she
Republican party during the past two years seems
TO have been, and has been, rather Of u retrogrest
sive than Of an upward and onward character.-
The great bulk Of the members Of the party instead
Of being bold resolute AboiitiUnists, are the sheer
est shriveled'up nti,extensioGist la order that the
reader may not think that we make this state.
ment too strongly, we invite his attention to an ex.
tract from the "Declaration of Principles" put
forth by the recent Republican State Convention Of
illinois, said to have been composed of fifteen
hundred Geiegates-thc extract being as follows {:
1--WE recognize the equal rights of all the States,
aud avow the readiness and Willingness to main
tain them, and discl9im all intention Of attempting,
either directly or indirectly, TO assail Or abridge the
rights of any Of the members of the Confederacy
guaranteed by the Constitution, or IN ANY MANNER
to interfere with the institution OF Slavery IN the
States where it exists"
Now, why do men oppose the institution of
Slavery" at all Because it is wrong in itself?
or because of the political Inequalities Of which it
is the generator If the latter be the sole reason.
tnen must the concentration OF opposing power OF
necessity be weak and impOtent. But, If Slave
ry be opposed because Of its intrinsic wrongful
ness-because it is at war with natural Justice and
inalienable ~right-defant alike of the claims of
Humanity and the thunderiugs OF Sinai then in
its resistance is something more, something strong
er than mere passive opposition demanded, and
the demand must be Needed. 1t is not enough
to say that the institution shall not have existence
beyond its present noxious fcothold. If it be
wrong to extend slavery, it is wrong to tolerate its
existence ~uHylchcre and it is moral cowardice of
the most reprehensible character for a party or an
individual to say thati it or he will not in any man
ner interfere with the institution where 1t exists.
Descend to this low and degraded position, and
shackle the press and button the !ips-for you
promise neither tn print or speak of that institr.
ton execrated of Heaven, and the vilest of all
vile systems beneath the sun. To the dogs with
such doctrines and such syCophancyl To the cat
ncombs of oblivion with that time,serving political
degeneracy which would thus estop q free canvass
of the workings CT a monster wroDg, and riyet
tighter the shackles upon the limbs Of the weary
and comfortless bondman! God helping us, we
shall all our days not only resist the extension Of
Slavery, but battle for its destruction here, there,
and everywhere.
Is it objected that we should not hold the Re-
publican party Of the Union responsible for the
action of the Republicans Of Illinois? We repond,
that the Republican press, far and wide, rings out
a loud Amen to the position assumed by Illinois.
The New York Tribune, in a recent article, held
tne iolIoWlhg language: we war not on tue fIghV
Of any State to es tabliSh or maintain Slavery if it
will, but on those assumptions which had converted
all the territory Of the Union into Slave Territory.
an were fast converting the Free States into vir-
tual Slave States. And Republican Conventions,
wherever held, unblushingly assume and as shame
lessly proclaim their purposes after the manner Of
the Republicans of the land of Douglass. They
are opposed to Slavery per Sc; and that is all, as
apparent upon the surface of professions and pro.
te%stations. We have no hesitation in declaring
the firm and sincere conviction of our Judgement
that a party having no higher aims than these can
not reasonably anticipate the attainment of a ma.
tional triumph and equally certain are we that
such a party does not deserve success. II the Re-
publican or any other party expects to achieve q
triumph, as an Ant Sloreyy party, it must erect it's
platform high, broad and strong enough to nourish
and sustain the interests Of the ~.bondman of Caro-.
lima as well as those of the political aspirant Of
New York or Massachusetts.