Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-09-08
THOUGHTS FOR REFoRMERs.

The origin Of him who proposes valuable re
FORM makes up no part Of the reform, and need
not be subject of inquiry. The maxim, DO by
others as you would they should do 10y YOU is
equally authoritative, whether falling from the
lips of CONTIGUOUS, of Jesus, or of Simon Magus
It addresses itself to the reason of man, and de-
rivcs its authority, not from him who gives it, but
from its own excellence in promoting the welfare
of human society A contrary maxim, one pro.
ducing evil, and whose general adoption would in
troduce confusion. crime and misery, would be
without authority, would be unbnding upon ra
tional beings, let who would pronounce Il.
The world has long labored under mistake
The ipSe dirH of Reverend character has been
deemed sufficient evidence the truth of bis asser-
ton ; and the sanction Of great name has been
considered authority enough for principle Of
tion however detrimental it might be to the well
fare of human beings. The world has thus bowed
to precedents, and feared to think for itself 1t
has imagined state of perfection in the past and
dared not depart from what was then approved.
Why is this so2 Had men more giant intellects
in days of yore, Il an now Was nature then
more clearly perceived-were her operations mark
Ou wan hSOuSl SCuSOoi ebu piOhOuuOeu upOu "lh
sounder judgments Had our fathers any better
opportunity Of discovering moral, ply ysical truth
than we? Are not the moderns born with the
same senses as were the ancents? Is not nature
as open to our inspection ne to theirs Why then
feel this servty to those who have gone before us2
rhe ages which have passed away have left US
many good things but they the better,
nor are theyany more authoritative, because they
come from antiquity.
| One generation has no right to make laws, or
adopt institutions for another. The idea, go long
prevalent, that one generation has the power to
bind its successors, is faacious, as well as mis-
chivous. The world belongs to it's possessors, and
a. the disposal of each generation only for itself
We have right to dispose Of the world as we
will, to impose what laws, restrictions or obliga
tions, we please upon ourselves, but the generation
to come is not bound by our doings. Why then
shall we feel that one generation has the right to
control the opinions of another Why feel our
selves bound to submit to the dictd Of other times
or of other men Have not the same right to
decide, for myself that my father had for himself?
! AS have no right to dictate to my child ySlhat
opinions be shall EN- Srace right to enforce my
opinions upon him. how can it be admitted my ia
ther had any right to dictate my opinions, or to
force his opinions upon me?
/ Each individual stands on independent ground
Each endowed by the law of his being with the
same rights the other, is not subject to another
nor can be exercise authority over him. Each then
has the supreme control of his own actions, and a
right to embrace, uncensured, ard upinterrogated
She conclusions to which his own mind arrives. 1t
therefore follows, that we are not authorized to ex-
ercse any control over each other, except what
may be exerted by the simple force of truth. 1t
will also follow that no one is bound to submit to
any other authority. The inquiry should be,
! What is truth |? No matter where it is found, no
matter who discovers it, or what the character of
him who procIaims it, Truth is immutable; it va
ciaes not with the character of its defenders. 1t
is eternally the same. No adventtious crcum-
stances can alter its character wealth cannot
adOrn it, poverty tarnish its lustro. Virtue. in
its friends, cannot make il more true-vice cannot
sully its purity. We may then dismiss all inquiry
respecting the Gate of the disclosure, whether the
measures advocated are ancient or modern; all n-
quiry respecting the person who proposes reforma-
ton be he young old, native or foreign. The only
subject of investigation with us is, Are his propo-
sitions important? are they just are they prac-
ticabie ?-BOSton Investigator.