New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-17
The Satanic Press.


The satanic Press.
The age we live in is remarkable for its multi
plication and enlargement OF all the agencies alike
Of good and evil. Life is more intense, more act
i've, more eventful with us than it was with our
grandfathers; and he who lives to see sixty years
has really lived longer than the man who lived 70
eighty a century ago Steamships, Railroads,
Electric Telegraphs, Power-Presses, render com
munication 50 rapid that ideas circulate from mind
70 mind like the lightning and are received IN all
the vivid energy OF their fresh conception Thus
each ay has its event each year is campaign
life has no barren intervals OF repose or mere trans
ition. The moral world shares the new momen-
tum Of the intellectual and the physical, and trans
cendent virtues and revolving crimes are alike less
rare than formerly. Philanthropy, Charity, Rei-
gion impel their votsries to unwonted exertion
SO do Lechery Selfshness and Impiety. And
foremost among the instrumentallhes oil these last
stands The SATANIC Press.
Although this apostolate Of perdition had It's
foreshadowings among the darkest days Of athe-
istic butchery and terror in Revolutionary France
yet it is essentially more modern crestion-the
perverted product OF diseased Civilization here
in debauched and prurient appetites 8loat upon
the unripe and poisonous fruit OF the Tree OF
Knowledge. Marat's journal and La Pere Du-
chesne had doubtless some Satanic qualities, but
these were mingled with and relieved by nobler
impulses--s hatred OF entslled oppression and an
honest though misguided sympathy for the suffer
ing, starving Millions. But the Satanic Press of
our day has no such generous promptings. IL has
one sole aspiration-to achieve notoriety and coin
gold for it's director by panderng to whatever is
vile and bestial in a corrupted and sensual poPu-
lace--to render itself indispensable TO all who
openly or secretly seek enjoyment through trans
sression of the moral law. To this end il talks OF
Reform aud Progress, but never tails to evinoe ats
utter disbelief in them, save as sounding words
best employed in the beguiement OF fools. Its
real creed is that the world never be any bet
tar than it now s-that vice aud misery must ever
be all but universal-and that the true philosophy
teaches each to grasp all of wealth, distinction
and enjoyment he can reach, and let others take
care of themselves. Every man for himself and
the evil one take the hindmost is its actual though
unavowed maxim.
The Satanic Press sedulously amplihes and
gloats over whatever is calculated to blacken and
degrade human nature. 1t rakes the cutters far
and wide for accounts Of revolving and abhorrent
crimes-for narratives of murder, rape, incest,
pauicde, &C. &c.
For conjugal perfidy and sexual crimes gener-
ally, bat especially il committed by apostate cler-
gymen or others who have been supposed devout
or accounted eminent. 1t has special zes'sorving
10 the most revolving details with smack of the
lips which ioretels aud invites the delighted relish
of the sreat body of it's patrons. But merely 20
display such crimes would not subserve its whole
purpose so it generally contrves to edge IN a
well understood nsinuation that al clergylncn
and sanctimonious persons are of the same sort,
only slyer or lucker-thet what passes for virtue
is only vice not yet detected. Its moral is. Fill
your pockets. indulge your vicious appetites, but
do both adroity--it is a crime TO be found out.
OF course, wars, national robberies, street
brawls and ist-ights find An sdmirng chrouicer
and lwhere it may be attempted without loss a
wholesale vindicstor in the Satanic Press An
Invasion. partition, or subjugaton OF a weak ma
tion by a strong one is IN It's eyes gratifying eH-
dence Of National Progress and Greatness and
having justified aggressive War, IL uses that as
basis for iustifying domestic brutality, aud blood
shed, urging that, since nations settle their differ
ences by carnage, it is hard TO see why individuals
may not. Sure enough-why not y Sometimes
il will cant in dainty terms Of the naughty ienocly
of tist-hght while devotng halt It's columns to
an enormous exasgeration of all the details Of that
fight, and tagging thereto everything that can
serve to whet the vulgar sppetlte for such exhioi
tions- Thus pandering to every vice and reaPins
q harvest from every crime, even when aifecnne
to rebuke them. il is the natural oracle ol the bro
thel, the gaming-h the 'spsring room and
every den wherein criminal indulge nee hides i'seH
from public scrutiny. And 1t knows how to adapi
its language TO the tastes OF these profitable Gus
toners, even while affecting 70 reprove them
Forgery, il says is bad business but the issuing
OF Bank paper is only more delicate operation
of the same sort Swindins is not jasti6able ,
bat what else n all Wall street about from one
wear 10 another Seduction is not according TO
Moses; but how many marriages are really adni
ferrous though solemnixed BY Bishops and Dds
&c. so. By thus using one evil to Justify and per
petuate another, is maintains It's favor with the
vile even while affecting to reprehend their prs
t,ces and fila los pockets from a division OF plum
der with every abortionist, upper-erust gambler
procuress, and circumspect villain IN the land
Religion is a standing topic with the Satanic
Press. and il 10 handled in the same manner and
with the same objects as everything else. Let
Misunderstanding or schism arse IN any denomi-
nation. and it Jumps into the middle thereof
intent on frat aggravating the difficulty as maee
a. possible, and then making il reflect the a'mos'
dshonor on Religion generally. Its mimiery OF
Faith il far more revolving and pernieioas than
would be mere open display Of its utter lnhdeiity'
1t assumes pa,ronizing tone toward the Chrs'
tisn Ministry even while accusing them OF stupid
ity and folly, intims,ing that with course OF ga
tanic tuition they might become credit to Their
cloth and even as il is they are not beneath pity
II lsbors hard to excite them to Jealousy and envy