Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-11-26
s7i.-seI Fron the Minnesota State News.
THE VICTOR AND THE VANQUISHED.

In our estimate Of the wisdom and folly Of hu-
man actions, we rarely make due allowance 70,
the applause which success brings with it, and the
contempt which inevitably follows defeat. We are
ant to give men honor for tho mere acciden: o
coming out first in the race, without weig ing the
circumstances which compassed their triumph, OF
the motives which prompted it.
We are too apt to glorify victory on account o!
She dust that rises from the hoofs of the chase ard
from the insane shouts of the rabbe of thought.
less men who ever ready to hurrNh for the win
por without why or wherefore; too apt to con
denim the vanquished, because of the jeers a2d
Kisses which fellow them from every mob, rather
than to try them by the great central intention
the single purpose, which is, perhaps, the inspir
ing motives of their lives.
Gallilo was imprisoned for his celesta! though,
which enabled him to bring down creation at his
feet, and soar wings of science, beyond the
dull vision Of his time. When Fulton launched
his trial-boat upon the Hudson, wise skeptcs came
condescendingly to the river Sank, and, looking al
the frail experiment. exclaimed with fearful eyes
"Poor fooll What pity it is that he is crazy"
& Ia fact, we are not sure but the martyred in
mate of Lunatic Asylum down east was some
where near true philosophy, who. in reply to a
question to how he came there, said, "Well,
you see, my friend, insisted that tie rOrld was
crazy. and they insisted that was crazy-ani
they out-voted mel"
Reformers, pioneers, and inventors in every age
have had to pass this ordeal-to be called fools
and fanatics and ostracised by conservative wealth
and beetle-visiOned talent and Kissed and stoned
by the boys the street corners-tW they succeed;
then, to be feted, Toasted and deifed in the eata-
logue Of heroes and sages.
Now, in precisely this connection and illus
trative of just this difference between success and
defeat, we desire to ask couple of questions re-
ferring to recent startling events which have pas
sed into the history of this Republic
Suppose that "Od John Brown" as truly in
spired as was Joan Of Arc, with the strange idea
that he was specially commissioned by the Lord Of
Hosts to 60 out and redeem 100000 of his fellow
countrymen from bondage, had gone to Harper's
Ferry, as he did, with few brother patriots; sup
pose that, instead Of the fatal betrayal, the most
profound secrecy had been maintained to the end;
suppose that his Kttle nucleus had been reinforced
by sympathising fugtiye-slaves from the North,
and by energetic slaves Of the South. till il had
reached a formidable array, bent on the violent
overthrow Of the wickedest institnton that ever
darkened the earth; suppose thet the 6nal uprising
had been sueeessful, and the insurrection. spread
ing throughout all the South had so strengthened
.Old Brown that he was enabled TO march through
every Southern State. from Iarper's Ferry to Gal
weston, exterminating the accursed institution by
fire and sword. tempering his acts with all pcssi-
bic mercy and humanity, las he did, but persist
ing in the 6ght till be had driven the last sjavehol
der into the Gulf of Mexico, forced him to cease
his Internal traffic in human beings; then suppose
that the eonquering Hero of Osawatomie" had
retired to his once desolated but now restored farm
in Kansas, to enjoy in peace all the rights Of an
American citizen, and contemplate with satisfac-
ation, during the brown autumn OF his life, the
strides Of a once weak and disgraced, but now
happy prosperous and truly glorious Reppblic!-
what Yould be The rerdsct Of posterity fire hundred
years hence, upon he same "O'd John Broom, y
.spho is so defeated and sligmatized to-dayG
,,Ths right Of revolution" is one Of the first
Sprinciolcs which the platform Of Human Freedom
firms 10 the light Of this fact we desire to asl