The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1854-11-24
VOL. XIII, NO. l5.

poses.
But there are evils resulting from such asso-
Citations which ought not to be overlooked. In
a republican government the basis of our
curity is puJlic confidence. Whatever strikes
at public confidence, strikes at trepubiicanismsr
When the whig party beats the democratic paf-
ty upon an issue made public, the deiested par
" gives up the contest as hoBorably settled
In turn he openly gains for his own party an
equal triumph, and the opposition as qnletly ac-
quIesce in their overthrow. 1t was done open
ly: they saw how il was done, and are satisfied.
But in the success of secret political societies
public confidence is undermined; il gives way:
reign of terror commences; another SECRET
organization, know-somethiugs, are organized;
and they, too, may triumph, and the disruayed
know-nothings may not so tamely submit
They, in revenge, apply the munitions of Sc
cret warfare. Long before the charter was
granted 10 any of these organizations, midnight
was deemed an auspiciors time for secret de-
predations, and no more powerful means than
the spark of fire. or the simple modern inven-
ton appropriately called lucifer matches, would
be needed TO assist in secret resistance 10 the su-
perior trick Of The victorious party.
No less sacred a citadel than The temple of
worship and family altar will be lighted up and
ilumine the earth with their fires. Aye, sir,
already has this Internal work begun under the
auspices OF this modern institution OF reform
already have Catholic churches been burned 10
the ground or battered down by the hands OF
the lawless, irresponsible mob, patronized by
those graceless demagogues who would reform
the world and maintain the super-excellent
character OF Christian gentlemen, willis. they
use for most enormous crimes mlnlons heated
bv mad Ianaticisul, the worst and basest OF the
whole family. of man.
Where is the church-bnrning to end under
the auspices of such an extended, and powerful,
and sly, and heartess hand All of your
churches may lie in ruins upon the earth.
Then may your monasteIleS and nnnnerles share
the same fate. BY hhis tines schurch-hGrning
may become fashionable, and the hand long
trained to incendiarisrn may with the same ia
cility try his experiment upon the Methodist
churches, which, like Catholic churches, may
be deyoursd by flames Ret the dwellings of
priests and the houses of Methodist preachers,
may endure similar fate, as they become sub
lect tosthe overruiing mandates of King Mob.
Indeed. the iorebodlRgs TO one accustomed TO
melancholy feeling are truly lrightfui. To the
sober-minded the fearful results of such se4ganf-
cations promise no less than the overthrow Of
free government II was their secret political
reformation which preceded the French revo-
luton, and contributed TO the trophies OF Marat
and RobeSpierre. The results are plain and
natural, and il requires far more of fortltnde than
wisdom to foresp+ a nation Of Christian rppnb-
icans giving way TO vandalism until she is
overcome with pure barbarism, and seeks pro-
lection and pleads for quarters beneath the hos
pitable throne of an absolute despotsm. Ii
surely requires no vast stretch of imagination
TO travel back 10 the reign of our Catholic and
Protestant English Kings and QUEENS, who have
left nothing TO posrrity but loathsome memo
ry of their prosecutions inflicted upon conscien-
tious men for no other crime than the volunta-
ry worship of the living God. Indeed. sir, the
memory Of the illustrous Calvin has been sollrd
by the reflection of prosecutions inflicted upon
his dissenting contemporary, Servetus. New
England, both the cradle and the grave OF true
liberty, DESTROYED the portrait of her Plymouth
landing BY interposing the fright spectacle ct
hanging Quakers and Baptists for their opin-
ions: and who that has had absolute power has
not thus appropriated il? aud With generous
iorgettunesS these Our mutual wrongs and uu-
tnal sufitringS are cons igned to oblivion.
What hign-mindrd, intelligent Catholic or
Protestant would see these scenes re-enacted
upon the continent of America, though they
were regulated by law Who, in the name Of
liberty, would seek their introduction by mob
violence, under the sacred earb Of religion,
wearing the sacerdotal robes OF the temple OF
God There NAV be wrongs in every eccIesl-
astcal organization. Ifthey conflict with the
rights of citizens, the law under our coRstito-
ton is abundantIy able to correct the evil: If
they do not conflict with these rights, it remains
question with man and his Maker without an
intervening power.
There may be wrong in our laws which is
not sufficiently scrutinizing and severe in the
prohibition OF the emigration Of iofien pauperS
and foreign criminals if that be so, let those
laws BE- amended, and every honorable foreign
er will rejoice in the distinction which is made
between virtue and vice. That would be
levelling blow, indeed, which at one fell stroke
struck down thr good with the evil, the wise
with the foolish, indiscrmnatPly. But such is
know-nothingsm in lis inception. God only
knows the end, and may He in mercy iorefend
Us the worst
/ am your sincere friend and ffllow-cl'izen,
bonnd by the fiaiernal feelings of liberal and
holy Christianity.
HENRY CLAY DEAN.
A. P. Gregoire, Esq.
The famous Brigham Young, the Governor
of Utah. and Grand High Priest of the Nor