It is with the thoughts of William Lloyd Garrison in mind that I write a new modern letter to the public. In the past we have seen our country torn to pieces by political brinkmanship that nearly destroyed the nation we all know and love today. Our democracy is now once again in a similar and dangerous position. This time however, it is not the issue of slavery that causes us unrest, but the issue that all men once again are truly created equal, and that the powers to be have decided to no longer include us in their master plans to buy up every aspect of our political system. The systematic purchase of all of our representatives, from the national level all the way down to local governments is an alarming take over of our personal rights to be represented fairly by our government. No longer can we count on our politicians to cast a vote in favor of our best interest, but by the actions of Citizens United; a outright purchase of votes and unlimited free speech in the form of money. This cannot be where our democracy stands today, but it is the situation that we find ourselves in.From The Liberator
January 1, 1831
To the Public
In the month of August, I issued proposals for publishing "THE LIBERATOR" in Washington city; but the enterprise, though hailed in different sections of the country, was palsied by public indifference. Since that time, the removal of the Genius of Universal Emancipation [Benjamin Lundy's anti-slavery newspaper] to the Seat of Government has rendered less imperious the establishment of a similar periodical in that quarter.
During my recent tour for the purpose of exciting the minds of the people by a series of discourses on the subject of slavery, every place that I visited gave fresh evidence of the fact, that a greater revolution in public sentiment was to be effected in the free states -- and particularly in New-England -- than at the south. I found contempt more bitter, opposition more active, detraction more relentless, prejudice more stubborn, and apathy more frozen, than among slave owners themselves. Of course, there were individual exceptions to the contrary. This state of things afflicted, but did not dishearten me. I determined, at every hazard, to lift up the standard of emancipation in the eyes of the nation, within sight of Bunker Hill and in the birth place of liberty. That standard is now unfurled; and long may it float, unhurt by the spoliations of time or the missiles of a desperate foe -- yea, till every chain be broken, and every bondman set free! Let southern oppressors tremble -- let their secret abettors tremble -- let their northern apologists tremble -- let all the enemies of the persecuted blacks tremble.
I deem the publication of my original Prospectus unnecessary, as it has obtained a wide circulation. The principles therein inculcated will be steadily pursued in this paper, excepting that I shall not array myself as the political partisan of any man. In defending the great cause of human rights, I wish to derive the assistance of all religions and of all parties.
Assenting to the "self-evident truth" maintained in the American Declaration of Independence, "that all men are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights -- among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," I shall strenuously contend for the immediate enfranchisement of our slave population. In Park-street Church, on the Fourth of July, 1829, in an address on slavery, I unreflectingly assented to the popluar but pernicious doctrine of gradual abolition. I seize this opportunity to make a full and unequivocal recantation, and thus publicly to ask pardon of my God, of my country, and of my brethren the poor slaves, for having uttered a sentiment so full of timidity, injustice and absurdity. A similar recantation, from my pen, was published in the Genius of Universal Emancipation at Baltimore, in September, 1829. My consicence in now satisfied.
I am aware, that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD. The apathy of the people is enough to make every statue leap from its pedestal, and to hasten the resurrection of the dead.
It is pretended, that I am retarding the cause of emancipation by the coarseness of my invective, and the precipitancy of my measures. The charge is not true. On this question my influence, -- humble as it is, -- is felt at this moment to a considerable extent, and shall be felt in coming years -- not perniciously, but beneficially -- not as a curse, but as a blessing; and posterity will bear testimony that I was right. I desire to thank God, that he enables me to disregard "the fear of man which bringeth a snare," and to speak his truth in its simplicity and power. And here I close with this fresh dedication:
Oppression! I have seen thee, face to face,
And met thy cruel eye and cloudy brow;
But thy soul-withering glance I fear not now --
For dread to prouder feelings doth give place
Of deep abhorrence! Scorning the disgrace
Of slavish knees that at thy footstool bow,
I also kneel -- but with far other vow
Do hail thee and thy hord of hirelings base: --
I swear, while life-blood warms my throbbing veins,
Still to oppose and thwart, with heart and hand,
Thy brutalising sway -- till Afric's chains
Are burst, and Freedom rules the rescued land, --
Trampling Oppression and his iron rod:
Such is the vow I take -- SO HELP ME GOD!
William Lloyd Garrison
It it with great despair that I must commit these words to paper. However I find that no other choice has been afforded to us. As William Lloyd Garrison stated in his letter to the public "I am aware, that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity?".
The time has come to state that as Americans we can no longer tolerate the influx of money into our political system. That the once proud democracy that we held true to our heart, the land that many of us fought, bled and died for is now in danger of becoming a true oligarchy. We cannot allow the wealth of others to dictate the future of the United States of America and its people. Our founding fathers created a constitution that specifically states that all men are created equal, and that we will have equal representation in our government so that we can maintain a true democracy in our wonderful nation.
I urge all Americans to heed my warning, no matter your race, political stance, gender, religious beliefs or sexual orientation, this is the time to rise up against the powers that seek to divide this great nation. We are all Americans no matter what you are or what you choose to believe in. With that in mind, the powers that be seek to divide us, and if we are divided we can no longer dictate the changes that make sense for the American people.
In the words of Bernie Sanders, "We need nothing less than a Political Revolution" in order to fix the issues facing our time. We need everyone to go out an participate in our democracy, even if you you agree with my thoughts or even if you intend to cancel out my vote. I urge you to get involved and to pick your leaders not only on the National level but locally as well. Choose the people that will strongly represent the interests you have. The powers to be have seeded themselves deep into our political system and only by coming together can we finally oust the establishment that wishes to hand over the control of our government to the Americans that have been deemed able to afford such a privilege. This cannot come to pass.
Sincerely,
Arthur J. Fudge II
