"Neither do you believe," said I, "that where Christianity has exerted
the same influence on the hearts of men and women as on yours, and all
the humanizing and elevating influences of society prevail, that letter
is a rare product."
"I cannot believe," said he, "that one can own a fellow-creature, hold
God's image as property, and be a true Christian. This lady is an
exception which does not destroy the general rule."
"My dear sir," said I, "you are an abstractionist. You make the best
possible condition under the sun your standard, to which you would make
all men and things conform, instead of allowing for the vast
inequalities, the necessities, the mutual dependence, the long
historical conditions of men, as individuals and races. A race or class
of human beings may be in such a condition, that being 'owned' by a
superior race will be, in their circumstances, a real mercy and a great
blessing."
"O my dear sir," said he, "I weep over the degradation of your moral
sense. 'Owning a fellow-creature!' I would not hold property in a human
being 'for all the wealth that sinews bought and sold have ever
earned.'"
"Thousands of men and women," I replied, "as good in the sight of God as
you or I, think otherwise.
Pages:
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170