The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-07-13

and destructive 10 the genius oil American in
siitutions. 1t is arrayed in warfare against
The whole machinery OF republican govern
ment.
1t has eniicpd thp people from their homes
in the still hours Of darkness, and at IFS nume-
rous places of meeting bound them TO It's foul
aud fearful purposes by administering The most
horrid oathS, with one hand resting on the Bible,
and ;he other raised toward Heaven, 10 yield
themselves unreservedly TO the control of this
secret power, and even to deny TO their families
and the world that they hold connexion with
the order. No person is permitted to hold an
opinion which has not the sanction OF the self
constituted mouth-plrces Of the party. Within
this trmplr OF superstition SIR Oracle rrgns
supreme. The drvoter who worships al its
shrine is completely unnamed. He no longer
feels nor acts his former self in secret he
steals away like a consprator to the place where
the most Inveterate hatred is engendered against
the descendants and cnuntrymen Of thoSr brave
nen whose heroic vaIor assisted in achieving
the liberties which we enjoy. In the same
manner. and often at the hour Of midnight, he
groprs his way back to his family again TO
peat the hundred times-tod lie of no conntXion
with this order. So much ialssh0od IN the
family circle, where the utmost confidence,
truthfuIneSS, and harmony should exist, has
direct tendency to produce suspicion and mis-
trust on the part Of wives and mothers towards
their husbands aud sonS hence we End IN every
town where a council exists the female portion
Of the community are speaking out boldly their
moral Indignation against an order whose in
uence is 50 maniesiy banriul upon all who
ara connected with it, whether nearly or re-
notrly
He who does not here behold the Snre wor
kings Of decentralization and ruin must indeed be
poor moraliS.
But all these are evils OF small magnitude and
consideration when compared with Somr other
gigantic wrongs with which il Iabors TO curse
our land. The scattering Of a lew pieces of
red pupcc of a peculiar shape obliges every
'.brolher" to arm himself with bowie knife and
revolver or other deadly weapons, and follow
the beck of their leader even TO the shedding Of
blood. The Cincinnati, Louisville, st. Lonis,
aud other lrarIu! and bloody kuow-nohing riots,
are but the legitimate workings ofthe order,
and bat the beginning of such scenes as were
enacted on the soii al France nuder red repub-
lcan rule.
Those who control and manage the affairs Of
this corrupt concern are in ii for the spol!S ol
left nntrled 10 compass this end.
The order is engaged in a crusade against
religion, it revivrs The old spirit Of persecution
for opinions sake, and Of course rallies around
its standard thousands who are always found
more willing to fight against Catholicism than
10 practice their own profession. Odous reIi-
gions tests which have been successfully reason
ed down and removed from The statute of our
State are speedily dragged from their loahsome
tomb and quickened into lile No Catholic is
10 be tolerated, no matter how sincerely he
inay revere his Maker he is to hold no office
in the gift OF toe people, have no part in the
government nor interest in any Of lis concerns.
while the atheist, dcis!. debauchee, luid-l, Nor
mon, or buddhist is recognised good and
worthy brother.
They have fearful apprrbenSons that the
Catholic church will soon overrun and possess
the country, to the ruin alike Of rrpublicaniSn
and relison-and all this, too, when that church
is in the most rapid decline in the old country,
and while ii is only continuing in IFS fold
moietv of those who rpach Our shores strong in
their attachment 10 its cause These appre-
hrnsions, then, are entirely unfounded in fact
and opposed To common sense. 1t IS only a
trick Of crufty political managers 10 bring TO
their aid the religious element OF their county,
while il is generating disSensionS, sectarIan an
mosties, and the rankest intolerance.
History and experience alike teach that no
people were ever prosecuted for opinions sake
without coming out in the end vastly increased
in numerical strength aud public favor. II IS
a saying, both old and true in all ages, 'Hhe
blood Of the martyr is the seed OF the church"
No form of religion has been put down by per-
secution Of It's professors.
This order sweaFs lis members never TO vote
for foreign born citizen to fill any office IN the
gif of the people. Thus, birthplace, rather
than virtue and intelligence, is made quallf-
cation for places of trust and responsibility
What an absurdity IS here The know-noth-
ing principles and practice would elevate a
Benedict Arnold ia the presidency, and at the
same time prescribe such men as Lafayette,
Hamilton, Montgomery, Gates, Steuben, De-
kalb, Moutrie, ST. Clair, Morris, and host OF
noble and gallant men who freely spent their
treasure and shed their blood in our glorious
struggle for liberty. And are the people OF
Connecticut prepared 10 adopt such principles
as these-prncipes which are at war with the
machinery of the American government? We
have too much confidence in their intelligence
and honor to believe they will long submit 10
this great wrong. We feel confident that there
are at this time thousands in ihe order Who are
similarly situated 10 ourselves, and who already
see that its influence is for evil and only evil,
npon every interest OF our country. We know
Of many in other parts of the State who feel
with us in tlas matter, and who resolved 10
come out and wash their hands of this foul and
disgracelul business.
The foregoing is riefstatement OF facts; no
argument is needed to add to It's force or develop