Year: 1875

lbNHcHCeS WnlCn Will AFousc At-AAch~


tion of New Epgland Influence to tho


Anti.Siavery Sentiment Throughout


the Notwithstanding of this on the Con-


test in 1876.


BosToN, November G. 1875.


1t is only as you strike the social and po-
litical atmosphere Of the New England
States that you become conscious of the
fact that the anti-slavery sentiment of the
nation is still alive. though slumberipg, and
that it lies in reserve as the controlling
force which is TO decide not only the presi-
dental election of 1876, hut will determine
the principles which are to form the plat
form of the Republican party in that con-
test 1t will do more. 1t Will nominate"
the standard bearer of the party in that
contest. 1t will also So modify Democratic
action as to leave nothing of the party of
white mans government by which that
nondescript can be identified hereafter. In
short "ant-savery," after the sleep it has
taken for the last four years, will suddenly
awaken, like a giant refreshed with wine,
to play its part in the great politica, draua
of next year. No one should be surprised at
this In the fret place the American people
are given 20 ispses and revivals on almost
all subjects. Things have, to use familiar
expression, their regular turn" in the
United States, both in arousing and attract
ing public interest. 1t is about time that
''anti slavery" should have its turn and
once more occupy public attention. Then
thnrn .t;pua x.hinh will hal, ia,
produce this result. The centennial year
means something at the North quite differ
ent from what it sig gniies at the South. At
the South it is associated with pro-slavery
constitution and the formation OF a white
man 8 government. AT the North it is assc-
ci2ted with the imlnoI Al declaration OF in
dependence, and the formation of a govern
ment of the people. by the people. for the
people


Then, again, the recent elections have set
people to thinking about some matters
which they would rather not think about it
is true-very disagreeable matters, but get
th.nss which must be thought Of disagree
able as they are, and which must be acted
upon, unpleasant az the conse euuences may
be flowing from such action. These un-
pleasant things relate to the necessity of
keeping watch over the national treasury
as we'll as over the territorial integrity of
the nation; 10 the necessity of breaking in
side of the Union that olitical alliance be-
tween the Southern Coniederates and .he
Northern Democracy, which, outside of
the Union. came so near breaking the
Union and establishing rival nation
ON its ruins, the cornerstone of which
was to have been negro slavery; to
the necessity OF seeing to it that the defeat
of this Confederate Democratic coalition
on the field of battle is not turned finally
into victory within the arena of national
politics. New England is also antislaverv
by tradition and from conviction, and Mas
sachusetts stands for tho cause of hu-
manitr. as represented by the American
negro or she stands for nothing; and Bos
ton, as the brain of New England, cou-
prehends this negro question in all its rela.
tiore, or Boston brain has become SO dark
and oiden by disuse as not to be able TO
comprehend anything but the dollar, how
to make 1t, and how to save it. and how TO
enjoy it. But We need have no fears on
this head. IL will be long while before
Massachusetts becomes another France and
Boston another Paris Ii is true that the
love of gain is evermore producing that
class of men who bend the pregnant
hinges of the knee that thrift may follow
f,n Int Il
trade. They desire that their represents.
tives in Southern cites should move in
good society" But these men are few in
Plumbers and weak in influence. They ex.
ert no power whatever over those forces
which creste and direct public opinion.
When the storm of fierce political conflict
arises these kind of people 'stay at home"
and "mInd their own business" For the
present, the reiore, earnest men aud earnest
women and earnest convictions sway Now
England, and all the earnest "lorce" ia on
the side OF the cause of humanity What
enervating and enslaving wealth may do in
the next generation is of no practical con-
sequence 70 Republicans now.


Let not the reader underestimate there.
fore, the importance OF this New England
anti-.lavery sentiment rs power in Ame.-
lean politics an this crisis. Especially let
no Southern negro underestimate its i'm
port anee AS il relates to himself. New Eag-
land is r power on this continent, in more
ways than ms. She is power hnauci ,lly,
aad if ever She lays her strong steady hand,
II a


for the emsr cipated people of the South, an
industrial revolution will be the result, q
revolution as great as that achieved by
emancipation itself. New England is a
power on the side of education, and she is
likely to increase rather than diminish her
contributions TO the grand educational work
which her teachers are now carrying for
ward at the South. New England is also a
political force. and il l mis- take not, the con.
centrated power of her influence in the next
presidential election will be devoted to
arousing and developing the anti-slavery
sentiment of the North. This fact is very
important because this anti-slavery infu
enoe constitutes the animating principle as
well as the cohesive sentiment of the Re-
publican party. As stated in former letters
in this correspondence, the success of the
Republican presidential ticket in 1876, de-
pspds On retaining this anti-slavery vote of
the North. The relation of New England to
this auti-slavery sentiment and through it