The Opelousas courier., 1855-09-22
NO. ~.
RELIGIOUS PRESCRIPTION.

Ii there be in Know -Nothingism one feature
more abhorrent to manly, independent American
feeling than another, it is the Jesuitism which
characteristics it. the trckery to which it resorts
and by which it hopes to attain power. Men
considered respectable, Of veracity and spirit, do
not hesitate when they are admitted to member
ship, to deny the fact with oath, and the most
solemn asseveratlen; Others when pointing to that
article Of teer creed which declares that the office
must seek the man, not the man the office are no.
torlousy engaged in ntrigues for nominations and
the same individual not infrequently is found ad-
vancIng sentiments in one place to repudiate them
IN IN another, and still further, to modify them in
fo 70 SUIT the taste, or asSlmilate to the preiu-
| dlceS OF new auditory
The organs of the party here, while proclaiming
with suspicious frequency their adherence to the
principles of religious toleration and their dissent
from and opposition to what is known as the eighth
article of the Philadelphia Platform are found sus-
tanning the most violent bigots, who direct the Or
der elsewhere, quoting evidences of their party
purity from the columns of journals which OPENLY
proclaim crusade against citizens on account Of
their religious opinions, and rejoicing over party
successes, which, if general, would not only des-
troy the institutions of the South. but introduce a
religious war among the people, which could not
fal IN time to overturn the republic. These
monstrous inconsistencies may it is true be recon-
clled by supposing that the new order is the work
OF designing demagogues and dangerous fanatics,
engaged in wild hunt after office. for upon any
utterly unaccountable.
In Louisiana, these indications Of want of prin.
clple we have enumerated are beginning to dis
gust pretty much all the rejecting and orderly ci-
tlZens, who were led to join the Know Nothings
under the belief that by some such organization
was reform ingeng political system to be brought
about; but, exp nee of the office hunting char
acter OF most OF the members and detestation of
the religious test have satisfied persons of this
description that the purity they hoped for must be
sought elsewhere, as the last place to look for self
denying patriotism is in the wig-wams of the
The composition of the State
and parish tickets as well as the Congressional.
con cIuslvely exhibits the character of the organ-
zatlon, its proscrptve nature and its subserviency
10 the old cliques who have, under so great va
rlety of names and various phases of fortune 30
long Feld office in this place. Putting poor, feeble
Ola MI Debigny upon the State ticket, in order to
De able to boast that at least they had one Catholic
70 snow they were not absolutely ntolerant to the
extent OF the National Convention, they excluded
persons OF that religious denomination from every
other State Office, and from nomination for Con.
gress in every district.
The historian of Louisiana, the educated, aes
:ompshed, learned, and experienced Charles
Iayarre was thrust aside to make vvav for George
Enstis Jr., who, by laughing in his sleeve at the
oke OF office seeking the man, u set to work to |
push aside Mr. Gayarre who, in the simplicity of /
lis heart and good faith to his obligations, inno-
'enty supposed that no member of the order would
eek. or intrigue, or bargain for his own or others
'dvancement.-Irwe Della.