The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-05-05
Prom the dsmnshte papiut
STEPHEN HoLDFAsT TO HIS BROTHER ICHAB0D
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE


BosToS, March Is, 1888.
DEAR BRorHrs: write to you The subject o.
politics with satisfaction because know yoa win
look upon what say with candor especially the
lion Is over.
heard two or three times b. hearsay that you had
joined the knownothugs but didn't believe word Of il
Until such strong intmatons Of the fact from your
own pen You may guess surprised. ! tell you
was mortified that you from the pures motives strong
democrat should join procrpdve party and secret one
a. That hed me with establishment lchabod you not
only reading bat thinking man. Fortunately, you
have time 70 look At books and to reflect believe there
IS IN the whole Granite State who understands
what constitutes republican democracy better than your
honorable self You know what Il has been, and you
know is fruits You and every nam Of intelligence can
see them scattered all along with rich profasioD from the
days q the revelation this hour II acquired Tvs growth
10 spite Of tyrauts and their fawning aaerers When
weak ad subject prescription end ridioule men from
every cline and o~etrry religion to Us They
left royalty wallowing in its pomp and crime and
hilher to give American liberty t TO turn round "a
the days " its success and spqrn account Of their
birthplace their private religious belief turning de-
moeracy into aEstocraeJ blo;'ug s fairest features
Why have not in this country always reoieed every
Of liberty wherever and Whenever Il has occurred
Did not throw up hats when the South American
colonies threw off the Spanish yoke Did not cry out
with joy when the British Parliament emaneipated the
OF iFtfthu BAs ~ not nuctl, been TIE chAf
aceristic sentiment Of Che democracy sympahize with
every effort and rejoice every triumph Of religious and
political liberty throughout the world Then how utterly
monsrous is IL for pretend 20 be democrat and
the time that intolerance which IL al
with every principle Of onr constitution Ne go
ing back we (and not very far back either TO the
time when bigos defended the English laws which direct
cd that Irish meetinghonses should be burned And
are to stand side by side with those shorsghted selfish
men, are we? When Burke and Fox and Ersknc poured
forth their fervent eoquence in behalf Of humanity and Of
right you know the tories always raised the alarm cry
No popery Are the battles which those patriots won
for the freedom of conscience again be fought
Alas ifit SOL We ought not 10 revive that spirit which
led the Jews cry out against Saviour "Crueiy him
Cruelty him TO come nearer our door that spirit
which induced people throw stones ynyersalis min
listers while preaching the Gospels thing which has hap
pened in native New Hampshire ia day.
Besides the opposition which this later-ay "ism
has all enlightened principles Of liberty saw in Il
other objection and il this It magic ladder hy
which demagogues elevate themselves to high places
in the land The traitor and spy the disappointed and
the plotting whom their associates had lost confidence
and of--such be exalted BY this hollow cry
and this tin-pated patriotism that ii srheac
purely FER ne 5eaH Of politicians And II this Ich
bod, that surprised aetha you could see men who
in sentiment south Of Cape Horn uniting all at
with the ahoIitionist. Strange il didn't you that
something rotten in Denmark
Now, cannot believe that You look with satisfaction
the avowed objects Of this secret order in your heart
pleased with its success. The only way account
for your conduct is this When know-nohingsm first en-
tered New Hampshire il thought much more nno-
aiair than il is The animal had been stirred
up during the late campagnnever in its life II hadn't
shown ITS long ushes before It's mystery made il OBJ
ec Of curiosity, and believe many leading democrats
inclined Mt first to give il welcome IL was these
few that gave il the power afterwards 10 make
such havoc Honest democrats pledged il their support
with oath before they knew lis real character Some
OF them-a goody number, indeedwere shrewd enough
leave it they had heard lis growl Others feet
ing their conscicnces bound by that untimcy oath stood
where they have mind TO believe that you arp
among that number and that it is the oqh alone that pre-
vents your withdrawal II such Is the case, land be-
seech you state in your next letter whether 1t be
nol tell you In all sincerity that your conscience win
suffer greater wound hereafter by longer continuance
with this order than by abrupt and speedy withdrawal
from it. To be thus bound you cannot he independent
and BEL good citizen rho Independent his
political acts and thoughts.
know you will not ask apology for speaking thus
plainly.
Believe me, as ever, your brother,
STEPHEN HoLDFAsT