The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-10-01
LETTERS FOR THE HOUR.
No. 1---AboIition.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept, 1864.
From the Cincinnati Gazette

1EDIANAPoLIsI Ind, sept, 1864.
EDS. GAZETTE The word "Abolition"
has become common. 1t is used as an ep-
tibet of reproacb, and to characterize a
great party. Some men fear to accept it, as
personal. Others fling it out as taunt
and insult They who should cheerfully
accept it shrink from its acceptance. They
who use it as a weapon of assault do it for
its supposed bad odor. Both are madmen,
and show their lack of principle and their
dread of principle. Let US test it:
l. WHAT IS ABOLITION d?
tits universal freedom. 1t is general lib
erty. 1t is pervasive Christianity 1t is
the equality of man before God and man.
II is the realization of the prayers and hopes
of the fathers of this Republic 1t is the
end of slavery. It is to make America the
asylum of the oppressed, the hope of the
nations, and the beacon light for all who
seek guidance and deliverance IN the pro-
gress of man to ultimate enlightenment and
freedom. 1t is the avenue to that future
when the Gospel shall rule all nations by
/ its law of love, and the earth shall become
the kingdom of Christ the Redeemer. Il
IS intrinsically right, and is as inevitable as
that God rules and governs.
W NJ AXE lis FRIENDS
The Church of Christ is for it. The
ministry of the Gospel are for it, The ed
ucated people are for it. The languishing
nations are for it. Wherever oppression
rules, wherever the code and usages of the
middle ages prevail, the down-trodden as
pirers to better, purer life, are for it. The
people of England are for it. The people
of France, and of Germany. and of~Italy,
and of Poland, and of Hungary, are for it.
Republcanism everywhere languishes, IN
I til this fruition comes. Despotism every
where trembles at the promise of its COM
ing. Its friends are the friends of God and
liberty. It's foes are the foes of God and
liberty.
3. WHO ARE THOSE FOES
Despots and selfish politicians are its foes
Men who talk of the "glittering generalties
Of our national charter" are its foes Not
prominent and pure Christian in the great
North is against it. Not single denomi-
nation of the Christian Church at the North
is against it. Not single educational in :
stitution Of the North is against it. Until
the last few years of sordid party strife, had
a single one of these great elements OF NOR
al power, even at the South, opposed it.
Good was not called evil, nor evil called
good, until, In the frenzy of the slave ag-
erosion, abolition was stgmatized as a
term of reproach. But lust for power is
against 1T; thirst for Office is against it
oppression and subsection of the masses is
against it. The "rule or ruin principle
of the devil, when he defed High Heaven,
still impels his followers upon the earth,
and this Is against it; every arbitrary SOW
ereign Is against it every desperate foe OF
the Republic is against it; every secession
!; list IS against it every leader who would
have peace with rebellion, at the expense of
national honor and dawning success, is
against it /; every friend of an armistice,
Just as the war ripens to sure victory, is
against it; the devil is against it he would
enslaye body and soul and enslaves the soul
in proportion as he enslaves the man. Yes,
5 he is against it. If the devil in hell trem-
! bic for other cause than their own sin and
its curse, it is at the sweep of liberty and
the abolition of slavery on earth.
Sectional quarrels, timid counsels, and
unrighteous compromise, offensive to God
and degrading to man, have delayed its
coming ; but it comes, and woe to all who
in its death struggle are drawn into the
chasm which yawns to receive it. Lincoln
became the peoples representative. He
strikes as God gives him strength and the
hour, to promote Abolition and raise the
nation to its true status as a free nation
and Gods people bless him for it; bu
these aspirants for place and Office, connot
see Gods finger in the track, or read God:
Providence in the march of time, and they
deride and howl at the glory that cometl
when the people will be free.
! 4. WHY OPPOSE IT p?
i Because the curse it effaces is ancient
Is So are all crimes ancient, but their abettor
J are not the less guilty Because the Con
stitution provides for its tolerance ? Blu
slavery strikes down the Constitution, as /
AZ is forbidden to pervert it And it mus
= fall as other foes fall, in the grasp of th
Constitution itself and its inherent law o
self preservation, from foes within and foe
= without This apology is itself rebellion
and ruin. 1t has neither the sanction o
Il the Fathers nor the law of God. Becaus
short-sighted men cannot see how, In time
to come, you may reorganize society whel
slaves are free shall We suDDort 1t =? D