The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-01-26
For ias Union and Eastern Journal.
Haye We an Inquisition Among Uai

can inquisition!" cries some ono
(" What! real Catholic inquisitiOn what
has becomeof tho Know Nothings'" But
hold, friend. reader, perhaps We do not re-
fer at oil to the Catholics, when We mako
the above query ; in fact, TO be plain. We do
not. But still we will not say that what
we do refer to is no concern Of the X. Ms.
An inquisition may exist outside Of any To-
igisus. order or denomination. Its not nee.
essary to have black pile Of stone and NOR
tor, with secret cells and dungeons. and
halls Of torture, in and beneath its roof and
walls. 1t may exist in secret, however
directly in your midst, and the inqdisitors
may walk with you in your streets, and
then Try you and sentence you, and you
may feel the thumb screws upon your hands,
and the red hot pincers on your arms, and
endure the rack and torture, and all the
while DO unconscious from what source they
all proceed.
"Well," says one, "pray. sir, what do
you mean {" In answer, we ask, are you
a tra1erl are you seeking TO gain stand
ing in The business world, and to better your
condition BY standing behind the counter,
and selling goods, no matter at all Of what
kind' Is it necessary for you to purchase
your goods in largo cities on credit are you
just starting in business, and perhaps with.
ont much capital, or with no capital but
your honesty and intelligence When you
enter the wholesale store in this city or
that, do you know why you are asked your
name and place Of business first, and why
the proprietor leaves you in the hands Of
his clerks and suddenly disappears for a
while? Did you never wonder when he
again makes his appearance, why he either
looks so very smiling, or again so coldly
courteous Have you never been denied
six months credit for hundred dollars
worth Of goods.
Well, here is long list Of queries, and
you need not answer them oil at once
But, fperchance you have an affirmative
answer, what do you think has been the
reason Of the manGvers you have witness.
ed, and the rebufs you have experienced ?
We will tell you. 1t is because you have
an inquisition among you. You have men
almost at your very frcsides, men who shake
hands with you cordially in the streets, men
who talk pleasantly with you in your stores,
men-(men! do they deserve the name Of
men or are they providing wolves, vampires
who suck your blood in tho dark, we'll, then,
vampires, if tina, suits you better, who
watch you all day from the darkD holes Of
their base hearts, and, when night comes,
quietly fasten upon the veins. and arteries Of
your character, and suck out its very life
blood.
But, to leave metaphor, all tho wholesale
dealers in our large cities, have their agents,
VIC have given them The name of inquisitors,
let them keepit-in every trading town.
These inquisitors make it their business to
give their employers Information in regard
to the character, business habits, and homes
ty Of all those in trade in the towns where
they have inflicted themselves upon the PEG.
pie. Now, we do not mean to assert that
there are no rogues or dishonest men,
Unfortunately, an assertion of.that kind
could not be sustained. IF the most high.
minded men in any town could be induced
to give creditor tho true andwell understood
character of his debtor, we cannot conceive
Of an objection TO it. It is altogether prop
OR, that wholesale dealer, who trusts q
large amount of goods 10 a person living
hundreds Of miles away, and often in DIFF
ferent State. should have some information
with regard to the character and means of
the purchaser. That is all very proper, and
none can objec, 10 it, But suppose that
this inquisitor be apersonal enemy, a.politi-
cal enemy, wha, then' Have you anything
to hope from him think you he would hes.
ita,e to ruin you in your business if he
could! a high soulcd man, in the first
place, would shrink from holding any such
agency as that which would make 1t ne.
c. ssi,y for him to watch other men, like
spider in his hole.
Again, suppose the iuquisitor, or inquisi-
tors, for, like wolves, they generally hunt in
pairs, to be neither your friends nor your
enemys, and that you are IN entirely hon.
est man. BY events beyond your control,
you cannot avoid failurc-your bills or
notes become due. The inauisitor knows
all abou, The informs your creditor that he
must look out for you-an officer is sent
your goods are attached-Mr. Inquisi,or is
very likely peltiiogger, and he stands
ready to "help YOU" as ho says; he will
undertake to settle your business for u con.
sid.e.ra.tion. Well, you knew he is n
pettifogger, but, perhaps, are ignorant OF his
other office Of inquisitor. He takes the
matter in hand, pays your creditor fifty
cents on the dollar, and you bind yourself 10
pay him one hundred cents, or something
very nearly equivalent to that, well, what
tten! Perhaps, perhaps he is a very pious
man. You are forbidden to doubt his hon.
or, perhaps he is a vile, base soul, reckless
nf notion and facling-n mnn who would