The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-10
MOB FORCE AND POPULAR INDIFFERENCE.

II we'll for the American people and the American
Union for the peace and happiness of citizens and for
the progress and perpetuity of institutions that
should give ear the voice of history Human in
stnctivey the past for precedent by which to
Judge of the present and the future but where in the vast
and almost inermnable variety of political annals is
there to be found parallel the present state Of affairs
The past many records backened by deeds of oppes
sion and crime aud many of the outburstng of
popular fury and ndignaton but the spectacle of
meeting midnight and banding themselves together for
the purpose of robbing their eow-czens of their rghts,
Of despong their houses of violating law and order and
of sacrificing life ITSELF is it is unnatural
To the rees EARTH however are reserved
the bitter shame and of this disgrace But how
have such things pass The hearts Of the whole
American people have grown corrupt; they have
lost all regard the sacred institutions Of their foeah
ers! Mol They they always have BEEN and
always will be- true patriots and faithful citizens The
causes of the roous proceedings which have lately dis
graced country the expedents by which the spirit of
anatcism kept alive exactly resemble the scenes pow
eruly and clearly explained by Lord Brougham speak
ing OF the societies of the French revolution so that
could almost believe that the know-nothing leaders in
this country had sat for the picture
we the or tne accomplished Brough-
am alone for its deneation of great popu
lar evil but because it points the danger of disregard
ing the of and oathbound clubs and the
necessity Of promptly resisting and destroying these
of public discomfort and of national degrade
ton:
Speaking of the lessons which the French revelation
teaches, Lord Brougham says
" In the first place. they chow the danger Of negectng due
precautions against the arts and the violent paans
working upon the public mind and of permitting them OBJ
tain the ascendant by despsng their power trusting
their being overwhelmed and lost in the greater Of
the peaceabe and the good The numbers the inen-
toned be uncomfortable yet the tendency such
extreme opinions when zeaousy propagated because
cay entertained, is always spread direction is
forward and the disposition of the respectable peace
able classes Is ever to be inactive, sluggish Indifferent u
maely submissive
But, secondly, it merely the activity of agtaors
that them with force overpower bulk of the
pie; their acts Of intimidation far more cectual
any assduity and any address.
rabble of ten twelve thousand persons occupying
the capital overawed half million of robust, per-
haps brave, themselves but rabble we're inu-
rated and they had nothing to lose The Partisan bughers
were calm and had shops and wives and children and they
we're an to be STILL in order that outrage should be
mitted on their property their persons"
" And assuredy warning, AS we'll az condemnation,
proceeds from the view OF the nothing be
shortsighed than the policy inactive
who suffer hemsely for the sake Of present ease
and safety to be deferred FROM performing their dat the
community"