The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-04-07

other men is as MUCH VI llie as tnt lndSS VI
mea ask for, timidly grateful for this re-
fuse sustenance. Poor, timid souls, sold
into bondage worse, if possible, than the
Southern curse, and that too in the midst
of freedom Of all kinds, where a man has
only to dare to be free Such are slaves
from inclination, daring only to live on
apology from day to day. When such
men echo the sentiments born in noble
souls, and shout aloud their devotion to the
good cause, they do so with fear and trem-
bling, conscious that they dare not live up
to the principles they have avowed, receiv-
ing the principle only from another, with
out taking also courage necessary to make
it up into the web of their life
Let US trace the working of the evil, in
its practical application to every day af-
fairs. No one doubts the success Of a con-
yention, where grand speeches and sound
ing resolutions are to be made and carried.
No one doubts the success of a subscrip-
ton or a contribution solicited for the aid Of
fngitiyes. But is it the intention of Abo-
litionists to entice slaves from their mas
tiers who keep them at work, to keep them
in idlenessf Are they SO opposed to slave
labor that they would rather the slave
should live in idleness and disgrace, and
want, and crime? If not-and the SYM
pathy with the fugitive is sincere-why
not dare to give him employment? Why
do SO many boosted friends of the good
cause shrink from this trial2 Canthey Be
consistent How has it been in this city ?
Let us see. The fugitive is mechanic
brought up to his trade from his early
youth, and is a skilful workman, command
ing the admiration and commentator of
his employer. His excellent work from
day to day proves his ability to maintain
bis position either as journeyman or mas
ter workman. His employer is one of
those who adopt principles of second hand,
to be popular, and wants courage to shape
bis life by them. So he says, II am
afraid that if it is known that employ a
fugitive in my shop, my best hands will
desert me, and | shall lose my best GUS
toner's and therefore you must come and
60 at such unusual hours that no one
will suspect that you are employed by
me-"
He fears, too, that if it is known that work
has been done by fugitive in his shop, it
will be said to him, "Such one did your
work, don't call on us now, get him to re-
pair it or to do the same" Are these
imaginary evils2 We don't say they are
But do they not indicate want of princi-
pie, and courage, and consistency? These
qualities, principles and consistency make
men martyrs. But does the cause need
martyrs Is not one victim sufficient to
satiate the dragvn n1unptor7 Dvv5 any
one suppose John Brown took upon him
self all the sacrifice, pain, self-denial, and
left the path free and the yoke easy for all
future laborers in the cause of liberty !?
Not so. Every man who would do the
cause any real service must submit to the
requirements of it, be they principle to be
maintained, or privations to bear, or losses
in false friends and property, or Temporal
ry loss of good name. But if there are
no such evidences, we must conclude that
there is no faith in the cause. If there is
faith in the cause Of simple emancipation
from slave labor, are we to suppose that
nothing more is ever intended to be done
for the slave2 Is he to be regarded only
as q mere machine, fit only for the baser
kinds of work. Then why was he dis
turbed in his Southern home There he
was permitted to work in the shop and Of
fee, as well as in the house and field, and
filed his place with honor and profit. But
as soon as he appears here, in this colder
latitude, LOT freedom he is excluded from
the most valuable employments, and he
re-enacts the story of the discontinued
squirrel in the old story book, who, think
ing that happiness was to be found far
away in the regions where the clouds float
ed SO brightly over the blue mountains
left his home to seek it, and was fatigued
chilled, wet, disappointed, halfstarved
and glad to return to his home again.
So it is with many finding
SO many avenues of employment closed
against him, longs for the opportunity Of
honorable labor, even with its miserable
rewards, and rather than go about with 8
whitewash brush, or wood-saw, drive horse
or wait at table, or stand behind BARRIERS
chair, many do return, in the face Of the
awful evils that go down with horror deem
into their hearts, yet not SO deep as this
abominable prejudice Of color. Who will
Ia =, tl;z ,,ot.or2 yV;JI - -. - i 6