Middletown transcript., 1897-06-26

backbone which willlresist the temptation tt
self indulgence, dishonesty, greed and cove
tousness. "Show thyself a man. Man
hood means self-denial faith. love, mercy
justice. A true man believes God and rever
His works. A true man elieves that al
honest labor is noble. '.s u q ''Sl+' -s
SLAVERY IN PENNSYLVANIA. n
EFFORTS OF THE oUAKERs AGAINST SLAVERY
The Quakers first began their crusad
against slavery in Barbados. Fox and hi
coadiutors recognized in the Christian prin
ciples which they promulgated the univer
sal brotherhood. of man, and his equal right
to liberty, regardless of nation or color. Ir
Barbados George Fox found an opportu
nifty for putting his teac hfngs into practice
He went there in 1871, where he witnessed
the working of negro slavery for the frs
time. He told his brethren there that they
must treat their slaves kindly and teach
them the gospel. II desired also" he says
"that they would cause their overseers to
deal mildly and gently with their negroes
and not use cruelty towards them, as the
manner Of some hath been and is; and thai
after certain years of seryitnde, they should
make them Free" "A sa
In 1858, six years after Penn had planted
his colony, the Germantown Friends, who
had left their homes on the Upper Rhine
and immigrated to Philadelphia in 1858
made their famous protest against slavery
These simple minded Germa ms gave theil
reasons why they were against the traffic
in man body" little thinking, perhaps,
that they were affixing their names a
what may be justly called the Declaration
of Freedom to enslaved man. This docu-
ment should be as dear to the colored pee
pie Of the United States, as the Declaration
of Independence is to every American citi
zen. For over an hundred and fifty year!
this valuable paper lay undiscovered to th'
world, but its influence continued to grow
and widen. 1t was leaven hid in the meal
the love OF all humanity implanted in the
human heart. This famous protest--the
| first ever made on this continent against
the holding of sIaves-is as TO-,
lows; e
This is to We Monthly Meeting held a
Rigert Worrells. f., ~
These are the reasons why we are against
the trafick of mens--body as followeth
Is there any that would be done or handled
at this manner? viz. to be sold or made Q
slave for all the time of his life? How fear
full and faint hearted are many on sea wher
they see strange vassel being afraid i
should be Furck, and they should bs
tacken and sold for Slaves in Turnkey
Now what is this better done as Turcks doe
yea rather is it worse for them, web SO!
| they are Christians for we hear, that "
most part Of such Meyers are brought hith
er against their will and consent, and tina
| many of them are STOLEN. Now tho they
are black, we cannot conceive there !,
more liberty to have them slaves, as it is tc
have other white ones. There is saying
that we shall do toe all men, licke as vii
be done ourselves, making no difference o
what generation, decent. or Colour they
are. And those who steal or robb men, and
those who buy or purchase them. are the.
not all alicke? Here is liberty of Consci
ence, wch is right aud reasonable, her,
ought TO be ickewise liberty of We body
except of evildoers, wch is an other case
But to bring men hither, or to robb ant
sell them against their will, we stand again
st. In Europe there are many oppressed fol
Conscience sacke; and here there are those
oppressed wch are of a black Colour. Ant
we, who know that men must not commit
adultery, some doe commit adultery in
others. separating wives from their hus
bands, and giving them to others ant
some sell the children of those poor Great
ures to other men. Oh! doe consider vel
this things, you who doe 1t, if you woul'
be done at this manner2 and If it is dom
according Christianity? you surpass Hol
land and Germany in this thing. Thi
mackes an i'll report in all those countrie
of Europe, where they hear off, that "
Quakers doe here handel men, Licke the.
handel there ye Cottle; and for that reasol
some have no mind or inclinations to com
hither. And also shall maintaine this youl
cause or plaid for il? Truely we cannot d.
so except you shall inform us better her
of, viz. that Christians have liberty +
practice this things. Pray What thing il
the world can be done worse toWarts u
then if men should robb or steal as away
and sell us for slaves to strange counresit
separating husband from their wife an
children. Being now this is not done q
that manner we will be done at, therefor,
we contradict and are against this trafficl
Of men body. And we who profes that it j
not lawful to steal, must likewise avoi'
to purchase such things as are. stolen, bu
rather help to stop this robbing and steal
ing if possibel and such men ought to
delivered out of ye hands of ye Robber
and set free as well as in Europe.
Then in Pennsylvania to have good re
port, instead it hath now a bad one 70
this sacke IN other Countries. E. peciall,
whereas We Europeans are desirous to knoy
in what manner ye Quackers doe rule il
this Province and most of them do loocI
upon US with an envious eye. But if this il
done well, what shall we say, is don
evil?
If cnce:these slaves lwch they say are .
wicked and stubborn men) should join
themselves, fight for their freedom ant
handel their masters and mistresses, q
they did handel them before; will thes
masters and mistresses tackethe sword q
hand and war; against these poor slaves
y lieke We are able to beliese. some viii no