The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1855-05-26
CLINTON, Ia. SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 26, 1856.
THE SECRET WAR AMONG THE
,Dsgs@s SECRET PARTY. s4 a@aa.

t.. - ! =
THE SECRET WAR AMONG THE
.5Nn SECRET PARTY. s6 tesll
The factions which have been gathered
like 50 many poisonous reptiles, into the ca.
pacious bosom Of the miscalled American
party, have finally begun to assail each 9th.
er with venomous ferocity. As yet the
warts conducted in secret; but daily events
indicate that it will presently be utterly i'm.
possible to restrain these embittercd differ.
ences, and that the disclosure when it comes
will present strange contrast between the
outside varnish that hides, with deceptive
polish, the fostering internal corruption
These factions are like Milton's hell.hounds:
They bark and howl soithin, snseen."--
When they break forth with their "hideous
peal" then shall we see more clearly the
danger of this conspiracy against nations
peace. Every sign of the times, however,
points to its rapidly approaching decay
Its sudden successes will shortly be equal.
led by its sudden overthrow. The torrent
of fanaticism swollen SO rapidly aud unex.
pectedly, and at one time threatened to
sweep down before it every safeguard Of
society, and every element of religion and
morals, has already partially subsidized, and
will soon 60 back to the foul source from
whence it came. The onset of bigotry is
about to be avenged in speedy and disas.
trous reaction; and those who are even now
rejoicing at the prospect of receiving re-
wards for their vile deeds will instead, be
forced to gather the harvest OF the wrongs
they have inflicted upon happy people,
/" They have sown the storm, and they must
reap the whirlwind." The evidences Of
their fast-coming overthrow multiply with
every day. Let us take note of such as are
mostprominent and apparent.
A large class Of the know nothings are
clamorous for public action. They have,
like Mr.. Patton of Virginia, grown asham.
ed Of their own secret plottings. They are
disgusted with the mandate which compels
them to crawl, like Italian bravos, with
muffled faces, along dark and dirty alleys
They are sick Of the task of threading un
lighted stairs and of stunning the passers
by, as if guilt and crime absorbed their
souls. They feel the reproach at their
hearts, that this seeking after concealment
this hiding from the day, is not an Ameri
can practice, but is copied from those dark
times when the dagger of the assassin was
whetted in the dens of the depraved, and
when the affront of the morning was ayen
ged by the hidden blow of the night
Like Ajax, they cry, Give us but light, and
we will ask no MORE" Thus far, however
they have appealed in vain against the spi
rt of darkness. Every new effort only
adds new torturcs to their condition; bu,
still they clamor that the cloud shall be
lifted off, and that they may 90 out among
their fellows with the brand of humiliation
upon their brows. .f.oN t7fA
Another class are restive under the hid
cous oaths they have taken. These are the
men who have boasted of their love of God
Of their affection for their fellow.creatures
of their veneration for morals. They have
grown tired of deceit, and sore under tho
yoke that oppresses them. They realize
that the bonds they have assumed are at
variance with high and holy duties; and
that it is in vain to protest exclusive piet,
and patriotism when their secret VOW com
pels them to strike their brother for hi
faith, and to wound their own country be
cause of its constitution. They recoi
from being any longer forced to vote fol
every demagogue or know nothing who car
manage to corrupt majority of the ordcl
and they long to be released from obliga
ton which crush out their manhood, ane
fill them with agony.
Still another and a larger body of thos1
who have been entrapped into this con
spiracy have become weary and repentan
of the crusade to which they arc commit
ted upon all who do not worship God aftel
a particular fashion. They did not con
tract to break down every Catholic, and
instead OF, such citizen, to take to theil
confidence and their affection the atheist
the deist and the mormon.
The peculiar hatcrsof Catholicity, more
over, are alarmed at the idea that they ar
bound to persccute their tcllow-Protestant
born in another land; and they find at las
but too late, that the fanaticism to whicl
they are bound can haunt the follower O
Luther with quite as much bitterness a
the followers of the Pope-,both bein,
equally guilty in the eyes Of the know no
thing leaders, SO far as the one is an adopt
ed citizen, and the other a Catholic-Pro