Julia Griffiths to Frederick Douglass, May 20, 1858

OUR CORRESPONDENCE.

LETTERS FROM THE OLD WORLD.

NUMBER LV.

[For Frederick Douglass' Paper.]

IBSTOCK GRANGE, Leicestershire, May 20:

MY DEAR FRIEND:—It is not necessary for me to enter into any details as to why no "Old World" scriptures have recently appeared in the columns of your paper, since you, and many others of my friends, have already been informed that a severe illness came upon my suddenly, early in April, and so entirely protracted me, as to render me, for many weeks, quite unequal to the requirements of my continually increasing correspondence, and to set aside all my plans for the "merry month of May." Truly, "l'homme propose, mais Dieu dispose."

My last letter date from Huddersfield, 11th March. Whether I speak of the West Riding from a social or anti-slavery point of view, warm, sympathizing hearts, and generous hospitality abound; very pleasant were my Yorkshire visits, and very cheering is the progress of the new Anti-Slavery Association there. In some quarters I was most agreeably surprised at the amount of zeal evinced in our good cause.—I shall not particularize, nor say in which towns the ladies rallied in greatest numbers. There are energetic spirits in each of the Associations; and though death has entered some circles, and valued friends have, consequently, withdrawn from all public matters, while others have, during the past year, felt the almost universal financial pressure, yet I find cause for encouragement everywhere, and practical proofs are not wanting of the great interest felt by the women of England in the American slave, and the struggling free colored people of the United States. For myself, I was well nigh overwhelmed with the welcome that met me along the Yorkshire

friends on all sides. It makes me feel very humble to know how little I have really been able to do towards the promotion of our truly Christian cause, when I find kind friends surveying that little through their magnifying glasses, and pronouncing it a great deal! I have seen with my own eyes the dire effects of Slavery. I have heard the sad story of many a poor fugitive slave, and witnessed, for myself, the cruel oppressions and wrongs of the (falsely called) "free" colored people;—so, after all, I work "by sight," while my dear British sisters, for the most part, work by "faith." To them, therefore, is the praise due, and to them shall I ever feel grateful for the warm sympathy they have evinced, and the active co-operation they are continually rendering me in the labor of love I am endeavoring to advance.

Our friends at Rochester will be glad to know that their last Report has given great satisfaction to their co-workers in this country. My good friend, Mr. Loguen's letters have so much interested the Committees to which they were sent, that orders were given for them to be printed, with a view to extending their circulation, and thereby enlisting a larger amount of co-operation for the anti-slavery cause.

The decision of the Rochester Society, in regard to the Bazaar, is a wise one. By all means continue the Bazaar annually. There are many reasons that render this important—for though there will doubtless be several small anti-slavery Bazaars held, annually, in this country, yet many young ladies, who cannot give money contributions, can give time and take an especial interest in meeting together to work for the slave. There is nothing like giving our friends something to do; and to our young friends, especially, the Bazaar is a most pleasant incentive to action.

You know we are a busy people, as well as a practical and conservative people; we like to feel that we are individually, really doing something (be it ever so little) towards freeing the slave from his chains. All mere theorizing is to us but as "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." I am inclined to think that the Apostolic injunction, " Now therefore perform the doing of it," meets a hearty response in every

British breast. Then we are conservative, and don't believe in changes, until we are quite convinced they will work beneficially; and as some of us have, for ten years past, sent contributions to the Rochester Bazaar, and others among us have solicited aid for it, from year to year, and have been warmly responded to, we are glad to find that no change is contemplated. There will (D. V.) be Bazaars held by our friends in Halifax and Dublin this autumn; but I do not doubt there will be ample contributions for each of them, nor that, in addition, the Rochester supply will be as liberal as usual. The Rochester Society has spoken nobly for itself. The interesting facts given in the Report, and the appeal by which they are followed, will be fittingly responded to in due time.

The two American subjects of conversation, everywhere, now are, "Kansas" and the "Revival." I am asked, in letters from all quarters, what I think of the latter? It is a painful question, for I feel small hope in regard to it.—Before I can muster any faith in the (so-called) American religion, I must have some practical proof of its sincerity. If in "Christ Jesus," there be neither "Jew nor Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, Bond nor Free," let us see the new converts striving to live out this doctrine, by treating every man as a brother.

"Now, it's all very well for you to talk about Slavery," and an American lady to me, one Sunday evening, after she had been to church all day; "but you don't believe we shall have to meet THEM colored people in heaven? Do you?" Speechless with astonishment for a moment, I looked at her; but she, evidently, did not understand my look—so I added, "'Except the same mind' "be in you and in me, that we in Christ Jesus, we shall never reach heaven to meet the colored people."

They are the worst hypocrites, who deceive themselves. With the popular professors of American religion I feel as little sympathy as with that class of men who hurl the Bible overboard, and make the spirits and revelations of Andrew Jackson Davis their oracles instead. When the pure and undefiled people of

Christianity are carried out by those who profess to be Christians, and the golden rule is observed of "doing to all men as we would they should do unto us," every fetter will be unloosed, and the "oppressed will go free."

But I have wandered far away from my Yorkshire friends, and find myself mentally out on a stormy sea, steering midway between Scylla and Charybdis. Dangers lie on both sides; the strait is a narrow one; on this side stands the rock, against which, without the greatest care of the pilot, the vessel must strike—there howls the dizzy whirlpool, ready to engulph it. To which of these shall we liken the hypocritical profession of religion, and which resembles the equally unhappy and dangerous state of these who "have no fear of God before their eyes"—and who

"Pleased at heart became on holy ground

Sometimes a canting hypocrite is found,

Reproach a people with his single fall,

And cast his filthy raiment at them all?"

Those vessels that are hurled against the rock, and crash to pieces there, will derive no comfort from the fact, that they have kept clear of the giddy whirlpool; and their luckless fellow voyagers, who steered as far from them as possible, will, when engulphed in the fatal whirlpool, find no consolation in the thought that they did not strike the rock.

* * * * * *

I need scarcely say that we are watching Kansas affairs with intense interest. The contents of your paper of the 7th are somewhat startling. I did not expect the Bill to pass the House; but while an Administration rules that is bent on working iniquity, traitors will always be found ready to receive bribes, and to do its bidding. The battle is not yet over. I feel (with our noble friend Gov. Seward) but little disappointment at this triumph of the South; it will be but temporary, and the noble Senator says truly, "it will little matter practically whether this is the last defeat, or the first victory."

I cannot but rejoice at the moral courage the Little Giant has recently envinced in braving the Administation and the South. I should have

liked to have been in the Senate Chamber that day. I wish to give him credit for good motives; but the question, is he sincere? will arise.—Senator Douglas wields immense power, for good or for evil. While watching him during the exciting debate on the first Kansas Bill, I was continually reminded of the vast intellect of Mirabeau, and of what was said of him, viz.: that had he lived, he had power sufficient to stay the oncoming French Revolution. It may be that I have overrated the influence of Senator Douglass, but watching him often and closely, as I did with his brilliant intellect, his indomitable energy, his restless activity, his lynx-eyed watchfulness that let nothing escape him, his chivalry, his imperious and invincible will—and seeing also, as I did, the dispositions then manifested by at least two-thirds of the Senators to follow his lead, and to do his bidding, it seemed to me (humanly speaking) that when he should say to the incoming black tide of Slavery, "Come no farther," it would stop and roll backwards.

Senator Douglass must be tried by the friends of Freedom, before he is trusted; and who can say that he may not, by and bye, prove worthy of filling a high place in the long-hoped-for Reformatory Administration of a repentant nation that has ceased "to do evil," and learned "to do well?" Would that the Republican party stood on the high ground occupied by those noble men of our own country, who, while fighting the battle for freedom of their sable brother, boldly denied the right of man to hold property in man, and that the watchword of the noble man from Peterboro' was echoed thro' the Republican ranks, "SLAVERY CAN BE LEGALIZED NO WHERE!"

We are bound to honor our Republican friends for what they have done, and what they are striving to do in the cause of Freedom; but we cannot hope for the final triumph of Liberty until the banner they carry bears on its front the inscription, "Slavery is Piracy."

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May 28th

Many weeks have elapsed since I last wrote. Meantime one season of the year ("Spring, beautiful Spring!") has visited us in more than ordinary loveliness, and is now gradually passing away into Summer. Its visit has been to