Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-09-21
The ssWIde Awakes., ,,

Perhaps some o. our friends will hardly be
willing to tolerate a serious notice of this
seeming silly and puerile association, but
American patriots cannot feel too Jealous OF
the first insidious encroachments of organized
factions. We will not stop to enquire whether
such an association, with its studious and la
borious efforts TO manufacture excitement
and exhibit artificial enthusiasm, should enjoy
civil respect Of earnest, logical thinking men
or if it be worthy instrument of party,
whose influence should be exerted upon the
sovereign will of the people, through the un-
derstanding enlightened and convinced But
we would enquire Of every lover Of his coun-
try, if there be no cause for solicitude when
in every town in the North, almost simulta-
neously, society is organized in one party
bearing one name, receiving the same rules
and bylaws from headquarters wearing one
and the same uniform-more- suggestive of
the camp and field, and not less distinguish
ing than the Jacobin bonnet of revolving
memories-an association which sometimes
with, but not unfrequently without the emblem
of incendisrism is drilled, at dead of night, in
military positions, steps, evolutions, {"
marches, and counter-marches, " by men
who have long enjoyed their ease either
with or withoat dignity, under the titles
of General, Captain, Colonel, &c,-when this
is done, not in one town alone, but in almost
every town in the North, and by companies
that already combine with the ease of the U.
8. Militia
Citizens Of free and happy America, in all
honesty and sincerity Of heart, we ask you;
to what do these these things look2 We ask
you, seriously, do the developments of the last
few months threw any light on those dark
M IN L..
the constitution, of meeting political issues
'peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must.
And those vague limitations Of some 'impen-
ding crisis," some 'irrepressible conflict"
which come, ever and anon, Kissing from the
lips of mad leaders OF faction and fanaticism,
which honest men have not appreciated and
perhaps Tot sufficiently needed? We do not
ask, are all those who have innocently, per-
haps, enthusiastically joined this association
forewarned Of any unpleasant tasks, perhaps
ultimately to be assumed by themselves From
the nature of the case, we consider this most
improbable. But we do ask, was such an in
strument, so well suited to the use Of disap-
pointed minority, impatient Of restraint mere
ly discovered by chance TO be used at random2
Influenced by the contingencies Of certain
courts, leading Republicans have declared
they will "let the Union slide" and should
these leaders be brought into unpleasant an
tagonism with the Federal authority, isit prob
able they would make no use of the army they
had enlisted beforehand, and, fred with pol
itico-relgious enthusiasm oaly akin to that OF
the Crusades under Peter, the Hermit?
A secret political association is Justly fear
ed under every form Of government To be
provincial or geographical in organization
furnishes another element Of distrust But
when TO this is added military principles, prac-
tees or predictions, we can conceive Of no
organization more potent for evil, less capa-
bic of good-of no organizationin free coun-
try more to be deprecated by every lover OF
tree institutions