There was risk, and
even peril, in making the suggestion, but, withal, some moral courage.
Still a lady may sometimes venture where it might not be safe for a
gentleman to go.
"But the question between us is not, 'Freedom or slavery,' in the
abstract, nor, Whether it is right, in any case, to reduce a people to
slavery; but, What is best for our slaves? All your proofs that freedom
is better than slavery in the abstract, are nothing to the point."
"It is the foulest blot on our nation in the eyes of the world," said
Mr. North, "that we have four millions of human beings in bondage."
"Have you read 'Uncle Tom's Cabin?'" I inquired.
"Ask me," said he, pleasantly, "if I know how to read. Every lover of
liberty and hater of oppression has read 'Uncle Tom.'"
"That is very far from being true," said I; "but still, you like Uncle
Tom as a character, do you?"
"You astonish me," said he, "by making a question about it. He is the
most perfect specimen of Christianity that I ever heard of."
"Among the martyrs," said I, "have you ever found his superior?"
"No, Sir!" was his energetic answer.
"Now," said I, "what made Uncle Tom the paragon of perfection?"
"What made him?" said he.
Pages:
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190