The Liberator

Party Spirit of Abolitionists,

Dear Friend W. L. Garrison—I have observed, during the last season, the party spirit which abolitionists are indulging, and it grieves me to see it kept up. The Anti-Slavery Standard has published so much respecting the embezzlement of the Emancipator, etc. that I have not valued it as I did when L. M. C. edited it; for then it was what she said she designed it to be—a good family newspaper; and I believe I know of many that would read it with admiration, that would not read the Liberator approvingly, because that paper is too far in advance for them—and thereby people are involuntarily led to embrace the most ultra advocacy of the principles of liberty. I regret it has retrograded, but hope its present editor, for whom I entertain a high regard, will realize the truth, that the spirit of retaliation, when placed in juxtaposition with our sublime starting point, of overcoming evil with good, throws us quite into the shade; and we cannot expect success while indulging in it. And I have been very sorry to see the high-souled editor of the Liberator so far descend from his elevated position, I mean that of meting out good for evil, which I believe is his motto, and which he generally appears practically to adhere to,) as to devote his otherwise edifying columns occasionally to these party feuds. I consider these things lead abolitionists from their grand object of liberating the slave, and germinate the seeds of discord, which otherwise would die and be forgotten. Our conventions, at least those at Rochester, have been very much injured, or their good effects counteracted, by accusing our Liberty party brethren of things which, if they are guilty, it does no good to reiterate. It only irritates, and keeps alive the enmity that ought to be suppressed and buried in oblivion; and things, too, are frequently brought up for contention that transpired years ago. I have been astonished when I have witnessed these things. If we go on faithfully performing that which we believe called for at our hands, is it of any importance to us, as Christians, what this one says of us, or what that one says? And our reputation we must not regard; for have not our reformers, ere this, experienced the truth of that scripture, 'He that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey?' What is from God cannot be overthrown, and it needs not that we contend with our persecutors to shew to the world that we are on the side of truth. Our principles are of too high and holy a nature to be strengthened by any thing from beneath; and these contentions are certainly not from above. I have no doubt but there are many devoted, self-sacrificing, true-hearted friends to the slave in the ranks of the Liberty party: and it is my desire that we may co-operate with them as far as our holiest feelings will admit, and in the dignity and sublimity of our first principles; those holy principles as issued Anti-Slavery Convention in 1833. May we leave all these hindering things behind, and press onward ONWARD, embracing all that will come up to this work as helpers, though they do not adopt the same measures we have adopted; only that we may be careful to set our light up, knowing, if we set it up, it will be seen and have its effect; and notwithstanding all the powers of darkness assail us, it will as certainly carry us through, as it did Wm. Lloyd Garrison when he was hunted like a beast of prey through the streets of Boston—and as it has reformers in all past ages, where they have closely followed the light of divine truth. I speak of these things in love, believing as I do they very much mar our work, and cause the 'gold to become dim.'

Thy friend and co-worker,
SARAH D. FISH.

Rochester, 11th of 1st mo. 1844.