UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
from all complicity
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN. 253
with the sin of
slavery.
and prejudices
and from the unchristian customs
which have resulted from it.
The second means to he used for the abolition
us or not.
Every Christian ought seriously to
examine
the extent to which our national
government is pledgedand used for the
support of slavery Ḥe
forth unto those which are before"? Let
not the believers of immediate abolition
callthose who
believe in gradualemancipation
time-serversand traitors ; and let not
of slavery "Knowledge."
Every Christian oughtthoroughly, carefully
the upholders of gradualemancipation call
the advocates of immediate abolitionfanatics
and prayerfully, to examine this system and incendiaries.Surelysome more brotherly
of slavery Ḥe should regardit as one
upon way of convincing good men can be
which he is bound to have rightviews and found,than by standingafar off on some
rightopinions, and to exert a right
informing
influence Ebal and Gerizim,and cursingeach other.
and concentrating a powerful public The truth spokenin love will alwaysgo
sentiment, of allothers the most efficacious further then the truth spokenin wrath ; and,
remedy. Many people are deterred from after all.the greatobject is to persuade our
examiningthe statistics on this subject, becauseSouthern
brethren to admit the idea of any
theydo not like the men who have emancipation at all. When we have, succeeded
collectedthem. They say theydo not like in persuading them that anything
abolitionists, and thereforetheywill not attend
is necessary to be done,then will be the
to those facts and figures theytime for bringing up the question whether
have accumulated. This,certainly,
not the object shall be accomplished by an
wise or reasonable. In all other subjects
or a gradual process. Meanwhile,
which deeply affectour interests, we think it let our motto be, " Whereto we have already
best to take informationwhere we can get it, attained, let us walk by the same rule,let
whether we likethe persons who giveit to us mind the same things
man be
Let us not reject the good there
should thoroughly is in any, because of some remaining defects.
look into the statistics of slavery in the District
We come now to the considerationof a
of Columbia, and,above all"intothe statistics
power without which all others must fail,
of that awful system of "
legalized the Holy Ghost."
piracy and oppression by which hundreds The solemn creed of
every Christian
and thousands are yearlytorn from home church,whether Roman, Greek, Episcopal
and friends, and all that heart holds dear, or Protestant, says, " I believe in the Holy
and carried to be sold like beasts in the Ghost." But how often do Christians,
markets of the South. The smoke from this in all these denominations, live and act.
bottomless abyss of injustice puts out the and even conduct theirreligious affairs, as if
light of our Sabbath suns in the eyes of all they had " never so much as heard whether
nations. Its awful groans and wailings there be any HolyGhost." If we trust to
drown the voice of our psalmsand religious our own reasonings, our own misguided passions,
melodies. All nationsknow thesethingsof and our own blind self-will, to effect
us, and shall we not know them of ourselves? the reform of abuses,we shall utterly fail.
Shall we not have courage, shall we not There is a power, silent, convincing, irresistible,
have patience, to investigate thoroughly our
which moves over the dark and
own bad case, and gain perfectknowledge
a troubled heart of man, as of old it moved
of the lengthand breadth of the evil we seek over the dark and troubled waters of Chaos,
to remedy'?
bringing light out
The third means for the abolitionof slavery
of confusion.
is "Long-suffering."
Is it not evident
Of thisquality
to there has every been some lack enlarged views of human society
in the attemptsthat have hithertobeen made. but
The friends of the cause have not had
immediate
; and if any
otherwiseminded,God shall reveal even this
unto him." "Let us receive even him that
is weak in the faith, but not
to doubtful disputations
of darkness, and order out
one who takes
that a
gentle
irresistibleinfluence is pervadingthe
human race, promptingroaningsand longings
patience with each other,and have not been and dim aspirations for some coming
able to treat each other'sopinions
era
with forbearance.
of good? Worldlymen read the signs of the
There have been many painful times,and call this power the Spiritof the
things the past history of this subject ;
but should not the church acknowledge
Age,"
but is itnot time when all the friendsof the it as the spirit of God ?
slaveshould adoptthe motto, " forgetting Let it not be forgotten, howeverțhat the
the thingsthat are behind,and reaching giftof his most powerfulregenerating influ-