Owyhee semi-weekly tidal wave. [volume] (Silver City, Owyhee County, Idaho Territory) 1868-1869, 1869-01-15


itself of, all the opprobious relics of
the past, of fanaticism, absolution,
the scaffold, and divine right, keep
the most odious feature of that whole
past, slavery? say: No!
Abolition, and, moreover immedi-
ate abolition, such is the immediate
duty of Spain.
What? To be free nation and
have under her feet an enslaved and
garroted race? What? She would
be all light at home and all night
abroad? Justice at home, and ini-
guilty abroad? Here citizen, there
slave-driver She would have
made revolution with side of glo-
ry and a side of shame. What, after
royalty has been expelled, slavery
should remaing There should be
man with you who would belong to
you, a man who would be your chat
tel? You would have on your head
liberty cap for yourself, and in
your hand a chain for him? What is
the planters lash but the scepter of
the King, destitute of gliding and
varnish
A monarchy with slavery is logi-
cal. A republic with slavery is Gym
ical. What adds to the luster OF the
monarchy dishonors the republic.
Spaniards, you cannot remain
proud unless you remain free.
To hold slaves is to deserve being
slave. The slave under you justl-
fes the tyrant over you.
There is in the history of the slave
trade hideous year, 176S. In that
year the maximum of the crime was
reached Europe stole from Africa
one hundred and four thousand ne
groes. whom she sold to America.
One hundred and four thousand =
Never had been seen so horrible a
figure OF the traffic in human flesh.
1t was exactly one hundred
years ago. Well then, celebrate
this hundredth anniversary by The
abolition of slavery let an august
wear respond to that infamous year,
and show that between Spain OF l76S
and the Spain of 1868 there is more
than a century there is an abyss,
there is the impossible gulf separa-
ting the false from the true, the evil
from the good, the unjust from the
inst. baseness from glory, the mon
archy from the republic, servitude
from liberty. A precipice is always
yawning behind progress he who
reeedes falls into it. A nation Is
augmented by all the men whom 1t
emancipates. The yoke of slavery,
perhaps, is heavier on the master
than on the slave. Which OF the two
owns the other? A grave question.
II is a mistake to believe that one is
the owner of the man whom one buys
or sells one is his prisoner.
This negro you think belongs to
YOU: f.: it is you who belong to him.
| You have taken his body from him
he takes from you your intelligence
| and your honor. A mysterious level
arises between you and him. his
| vices are yOui ciine', 49, i.
will become your catastrophes. a
slave in a house is a wild soul with
YOU and in you. 1t penetrates and
benights you-a lugubrious poison
ing ! Ali one does not commit Win
impunity that great crime, slavery.
If YOU are great and iliustrlous
people. slavery, tolerated as an ln'
stitution, makes you abominable:-
The crown on the despot's brow, the
iron collar around the slaves nee
are the same ring, and your soul as 8
people is inclosed in it. All our gio
rions traditions have this stain, the
negro. Slavery imposes its horrible
gloom on you. You do not commu
nicate civilization to it; 1t conmu
nicates barbarism TO you. by ths
slaves Europe inoculates herself VIII
Africa. an. :.
o noble, Spanish people J ms Il
the second deliverence for yop! fol
have freed yourself from the despot
now free yourself from the slave;
VICTOR HUGO.
HanteviIle Honse. Nov. 22, 1865.