REMARKS by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 10, 1859

REMARKS.

By Editor

If our brother is able to discover a change in the spirit and testimony of the REVIEW, from what it used to be, touching the subject of slavery, he is blessed with powers of perception which we do not possess. We are not aware of any such change. If he refers to the sentiments which some of our brethren had occasion to utter during the late campaign, against participation in political matters, we have only to say that such has always been the position of the REVIEW; there is no change in this respect.

Our feelings in regard to slavery could hardly be mistaken by any who are acquainted with our position on the law of God, the foundation of all reform, the radical stand point against every evil. Slavery as a sin we have never ceased to abhor; its ravages we have never ceased to deprecate; with the victims locked in its foul embrace, we have not ceased to sympathize. But what is to be done? The tyranny of oppression secludes them from our reach. We cannot administer to them, though "sick and in prison," however gladly we would. But taking our stand on the ten commandments, and endeavoring to enforce their principles upon our fellow-men, we find subjects of reform around our own doors, and that too, in a section of the country where our voice can be heard, and our efforts may be instrumental in saving some. Such being the case, what course would a spirit of true philanthropy dictate? Would it be that we commence the reform at home, and expend our efforts in a field where they may tell in the salvation of some, and that we press this spirit of reform as far as possible in every direction? Or would it be that, to the neglect of this field of labor, we exhaust our energies and means in behalf of a people, whom there is but little prospect of benefiting either as individuals, or as a body. If we understand the matter arijight, a practicable philanthropy presents to us objects to which under the present condition of things, especially in relation to the position of this government and the declarations of prophecy, that of slavery emancipation is at most but secondary.

In saying this, we do not tell the slave that he can afford to be content in slavery, nor that he should not escape from it whenever he can, nor that all good men should not aid him to the extent of their power, nor that this great evil should not be resisted by any and all means which afford any hope of success. All this should be done. And we rejoice when we hear of one of that suffering race escaping beyond the jurisdiction of this dragon-hearted power. But we would not hold out to him a false ground of expectation. We would point him to the coming of the Messiah as his true hope. We would proclaim to him the near approach of the great Jubilee, and bid him not despair under his accumulated woes.

But this gigantic evil will still exist. Men and things will continue to grow worse and worse; and the end draweth nigh. What better then can we do than to endeavor, as the primary object of our efforts, to emancipate our fellow-men, from that worst of all bondage, the service of sin, the wages of which is death, and lead them to a preparation for the coming Kingdom.

Our brother's remittance pays up, however, to Vol. XVI, at which time we hope the slave will not be far from emancipation, complete and eternal.