Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-08-13
THE WORK OF THE AM. A. s. SOCIETY

Harriet Martineau, of England in letter to
the anti Slare,y Standard written soon after the
antl-siavery anniversaries of last spring. says $50
May II be permitted that your friends here
have another embarrassing question to deal with
IL was always difficult to explain to enquirers the
I point to which controversy, wrangle, alaint of
character reached among the Aboliti onists and to
reason away the plant that mutual distrust,
accusation and denunciation took place wherever
Abolitionists appeared but your friends could
honestly show, to all who would listen, that il
was your first business, your ineyitab,o duty and
doom, TO prove all persons, as well as all things,
and purge away all that could weaken as well as
dedls your body, Till this was done, you, who
we're the salt of your earth, could not keep your
saVor' 1t was the very condition Of fitness for
your work Of staying corruption. The case, at
the end of twenty .years-or cay ten or fve-is
wholly changed. You how lead public opinion,
as is shown by the hypocrisy Of worldlings in
protesting abolitionism. How is it that some tw 0
or three Of your heartes comrades cannot see that
wider duty opens with your elevation] of posi-
tion One would think you would all be glad to
remit the charge Of other folks souls, when their
condition is no longer your express and vital cons
cern yet we see the habit Of accusation and VIZ
tuperation perpe.uated when the occasion has pas
sed. 1t is for the Aboliionists now to lead, and
for others 20 look to themselves as 10 how and
when they follow. Let them take care of that !
II seems to us deplorable mistake to turn back,
or keep yorr faces reverted and charge yourselves
with the responsibilities of persons and parties
who have their own effort to make, and their own
path to cear,t get up to you. Your time and
temper are too precious now to be spent as was
necessary in fighting with your neighbors, in Or
der to obtain footing for fighting slavery The
monster is before you now. face TO face ard So
cietyis behind you, instead Of crowded between
you and it, Let those behind you be of what
quality they roay, your concern is with the mons
ter. and not with them. If they help you from
behind, or me up to your side. we'll and good
isthey cannot, SO much the worse for them; but
why lose your time and strength in scolding them,
or picking out their faults Why waste precious
hours, aud jar propitious harmony by occupy
ing yourselves With the weak parts of sthe impeI-
fest, and the hating of noyices? You will never
be found fraternizipg with hypocrites; aud if you
wait where you are til all who condemn slavery
afspfUved % be o your quaity '::.sis
be more disposed to question your quality and des-
;nation than it has been yet. You know whom
I mean and they will know it; the two or three
sincere and Jealous workers who deserve all hon,
or for former work, but who have not lately Civ
en- evidence of the enlightenment modesty, Justice
and moderation which your improved position de-
mands VIII they not either defer to the sense OF
the proved leaders, of the cause or undertake
department where they can do their own work in
their own way 1t is certain they are doing
more harm By impeacbments which the world sees
co be groundlcss than they can compensate for
by any maniles tation of virtues so misplaced as
TO look like faults of great gravity 1t is grave
responsibility to impair or disturb your force
while in full march on the open battlefield Such
is the view of your and their friends; and do not
apologize for communicating it. We desire to un-
derstand each other, in ordef to cooperate fa
In the same paper, but of recent date, Wen
dell Phillips endeavors to correct the msappre.
hension under which Miss Martineau abors and
in so doing thus presents in most clear and for
cblelight, the mission of the true and consistent
friends of the slaves cause. - .e4ajs 2 n. . /
No one appreciates more heartily than do
Mrs. Martineaus generous and most efficient SER
cice Of our cause for many years. No one re-
members more gratefully how nobly she stood by
it in it's dark huhrs No one values more highly
her judgment in case where she knows all the
facts. But, living on the other side o. the ocean
she cannot know our cause, it's difficulties and OBJ
staces and the best method of guiding our ship,
as we, on the spot, familiar with the details of
twenty years struggle, are able, or ought to be
able, to do. Her criticism of ITS general aspects,
and the light which her ample knowledge and
.ob; nf En Ha;r bas
upon our path, no one values more than do.
But her residence units her to give advice on To-
cal topics, all whose details and bearings she can
not know. = *.a* , .a
Mrs. Martineau seems (for can hardly put my
hand on any esac. words) to suppose that there
exists radical difference Of opinion among US in
regard to the Republican party and certain leading
men of like pos tiOn and she advises one side |
to defer to the of the proved leaders of the
cause. / do no. know Of any radical difference
of opinion On those points. If any such exists, /
must class myself with the small clique whom she
advises TO withdraw; for give my full and hearty
support to the resolutions offered Mr.. Pillsbnry
at New York # only should add The Tribune to
+Resolved, That while we rejoice in all the ind-
cations Of on advancing state Of public opinion
against Slavery, VIC WOu1u D6 mtuulul tnHt l.
our greatest danger is not from actual slavehold-
ers and the open. bold and blssphemous defend
els and extenders Of the institution in State or
Church. in politics pulpit, hut rather from those
who make specious and strong anti-slavery pres
tensions and professions like the Republican par
ty, the Boston American Tract Society, tine re-
Gently formed New England and New York Church
nti-Slsvery Society, the New York Independent,
with its array of clerical editors and con,ributors
thst are stih in governmental OF ecclesiastioal
union and fellowship with slavery and -slavehold
ers. -, 1
Resolved, That while these organization are
thus through their pretensions and professions,
able to absorb the awakened public sympathy. /
control the public charity. paralyze the public
conscience. and pervert even well-intended action
into channels thar flow only with compromise.
and crime il becomes our duty faith
fully to rebuke them, and to warn the people
against them, as the enemies Of that only radical
and genuine gospel through which. under God de-
liverance can COME to the ensiaved