The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-16


would, of my achievements; for exultingy
feel that amongst your Jealous loyal subjects,
| may claim pre- eminence, 10y reason OF my
success
Truly hast thou spoken, most worthy CO.
adjutor OF such as thou | may indeed be
proud. Myriads of souls are hourly hurried
to these realms, stamped with thy whitening
seal,
"The next who rose to render his account
and report progress was the fend of War,
whose tumultuous countenance visibly ex-
pressed the direst rage, cruelty and bloody
horror Convulsed with inward fury, unwont-
edly pent up, the grisly spectre stood, glowing
with shame and confusion.
"'Would that | could tell the accustomed
tale of my exploits. Gladly would | regale
your royal ears with scenes of carnage, havoc,
and destruction, bloody massacre, wholesale
slaughter and the rich incense Of my butcher
ed hosts Oh were my power commensurate
with my will, | would people He'll with one fell
sweep, leaving yon fair Earth filthy mass of
blood and gore, a mighty charnel. house, to-
mark our glory
I'VE are aware graciously nterposed he
of the Internal crown aud sceptre, that of
late there has been falling off in the amount
Of your supplies. But then we hope for better
things in future There is good time coming.
Who is "a worthier, more efficient denizen of
our vast realms than you? Who more zeal
Gus, more successful
"' Alas. | must confess my power of late
has little shown itself and must appear dimin-
ished. The creatures too, presumng yainly
think to fetter first, and then extermnate my
spirit. There is indeed strange and unnatural
talk amongst them of Peace Con uentionS, and
the like. Also impOtent attempts are made
to show that mans whole nature is being
changed, by gospel light and civilization, to
the extinction of his prmeval attributes. But
the seeds of so called evil are sown too deeply
in his nature to be eradicated whilst we do till
and cultivate the ground. Until new race
be formed, have matter enough to work upon,
and brief shall be the space ere will redeem
my honor, gloat my own soul and vindcate the
glory of the Internal one
" This speech ended, there arose din and
tumult Of applause and bacchanalian revelry
to which all earthly carousing is but poor faint
mimicry. Blasphemous oaths and ribald jest
ing, with foul mirth, vain Boosting, and i'm
pious resolves, profanity in full and petrifying
magnitude filled up the measure of the hellish
orgies, differing but in degree from those of
Earth
Amongst the congregated fends were repre-
sentatives OF every crime and vice and evil pas.
sion to which our fallen state of natural de.
pravity inclines us, or of which humanity loon
senting to SIM is capable of preparation.
Jealousy, revenge, envy hate, lust and IL
centiousness, each and all had a patron fend
ever at hand to seize a chance of kindling to
a consuming flame, each little spark of human
wickedness.
"Well had they done their appointed tasks,
as might appear by their exulting frantic
mrth Nor did their statements lack due con-
frmation for their attendant horrors were at
hand, to boast their trumphs, in the shape of
those dread punishments of sin on earth--foul
executiOners pain, woe, remorse, despair, and
suicidal death!
High waged the war amongst these wicked
zealots, disputng who was most efficient in the
service, the end ard aim of which is the de-
struction OF mankind-to turn them from the'
abode of bliss eternal, JOY unspeakable-to
plunge them into the everlasting fortunes of the
damned, their own irrevocable fate
Lncifcr, at length, in thunder tones, COM
mandcd silence and anxiously inquired where
his trusty spirit was who had the charge of
alcohol, that famous devil, the genius of intoxi-
cation
Keeling, forth the drunken demon came,
and, answering, said
"'Lo! here am ], the best, the mightiest of
YOU all! Say, what were hell without me
Boldly will | maintain, before my Judge, that
have done more than any here, for the cher
ished object of us all--the damnatOn of man.
kind! | seek not to decry the meritorious
efforts of my brethren but too will have my
turn at Boosting, and will show to whom, of
all of us, is due the largest share of Hell's es-
teem'
Say o. quoth Beelzebub.
"'Yes, here, staggering, stand, to hurl def
ance at all who would gansay what advance
am the most potent auxiliary that Satan ever
had, or can have.
"'Here, in our bonds, forced by laws immu-
table, we cannot lie one to another--like those
miserable sons of men who are false even to
themselves ! address you, fellow-de
without fear of contradiction, dealing as |
shall, only with facts and figures.
First, then, draw your notice the worthy
Mammon who such havoc makes amongst the
hated ranks Pause, then, and estimate my
share to be deducted from his list of victims
"'The soul by Mammon swayed to hearken
to our dark suggestions were but for me- far
from securely won The trembling sinners
conscience pains him. step in--he drinks
the fatal draught, that gives him present ease
and colors all his future fate
"Step by step-as glass by glass he quaffs-
he presses forward on his way, cautiously and
calous. Dead is he to injury and wrong i'm
pervious to remorse. He plumbers the widow
and fatherless he robs the church, plays the
hypocrite, and stimulated by my secret fires
projects gigantic schemes Of fraud and oppres-
sion for the sake of filthy lucre" Yet, with
out my endly aid, he had remained in utter
insignlficAnce.
behold him now, a man of wealth rolling
in riches wrung from the poor and needy, who
through his means have become vile and des-
perate cut.throat villains outcasts, drunkards,
devils This man, although (mayhap penuri-
ous) he revel not in riot and drunkenness, as
mine. True, he may not fill drunkard's
grave; but when he enters here, in Mammon's
name, remember We, to me is due the credit of
his fall as also that of the accompanying train
his wcll-spurred avarce has ruined
"'Of the countless numbers entering these
dread portals in my proper name, az victims of
,ntemperance, ] speak not, though the amount
is as VIGOROUSLY great as it is welcome to you
all. Justice TO myself and truth impel me TO
make known how great the power wicld.
How much to me is due for agency in every
crime involving murder? Might | not almost
say, directly or indirectly in every crime of
any magnitude worthy our present notice
"'The mighty War King himself without nv
aid, could scarce find aught to do He might
hang his diminished head, yanquished by das
tard peace and meek submission Tame il
the breath Of the war spirit when uninflamcd
by me. Tismy arousng influence that prompts
to "Lt loose the dogs Of war "-mine the infnri
ate rage that fires the savage soldier, and
nerves him to lay waste, slaughter, and destroy
with ruthless hand
"'Wbat scene more rich, more love>v in your
eyes than the warriors triumph. when the
mandate sounds to sack the cityf Then is the
horror of war excmplliied in beauteous earnest
ness! The widows wall, the virgins shrek,
the dying infants feeble groan, the flowing