Page:The collected works of Theodore Parker volume 7.djvu/23

Rh quite contrary to nature. But our politicians cannot say too little for men, nor too much for money. Take the politicians most famous and honoured at this day, and what have they done? They have laboured for a tariff, or for free-trade; but what have they done for man?—nay, what have they attempted?—to restore natural rights to men notoriously deprived of them; progressively to elevate their material, moral, social condition? I think no one pretends it. Even in proclamations for thanksgiving and ays of prayer, it is not the most needy wo are bid remember. Public sins are not pointed out to be repented of. Slave-holding States shut up in their gaols our coloured seamen soon as they arrive in a Southern port. A few years ago, at a time of considerable excitement here on the Slavery question, a petition was sent from this place by some merchants and others, to one of our senators, praying Congress to abate that evil. For a long time that senator could find no opportunity to present the petition. You know how much was said and what was done! Had the South demanded every tenth or twentieth bale of "domestics" coming from the North; had a petition relative to that grievance been sent to Congress, and a senator unreasonably delayed to present it, how much more would have been said and done; when he came back he would have been hustled out of Boston! When South Carolina and Louisiana sent home our messengers—driving them off with reproach, insult, and danger of their lives—little is paid and nothing done. But if the barbarous natives of Sumatra interfere with our commerce, why, we send a ship and lay their towns in ruins, and murder the men and women! We all know that for some years Congress refused to receive petitions relative to Slavery; and we know how tamely that was borne by the class who commonly control political affairs! What if Congress had refused to receive petitions relative to a tariff, or free-trade, to the shipping interest, or the manufacturing interest? When the rights of men were concerned, three million men, only the "fanatics" complained. The political newspapers said, "Hush!"

The merchant-manufacturers want a protective tariff; the merchant-importers, free-trade; and so the national politics hinge upon that question. When Massachusetts.