Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-06
MORNING LEADER.
MONDAY MoRNING, APRIL 8, Is6s.


nals teemed with dark and mysterious
hints Of terrible secret leagues Of the AbO.
itiOnists, whose secrets were more hOr-
rible than ell the dark-lantern revelations
which any anti-Mason, anti-Odd Fellow,
anti-sOn Of Malta ever imsgined or gave
to an afrighted world. According to these
veraciOus sheets, oaths, dsggers, cOmpacts
Of blood and murderous plottings were but
trifes to these terrible leagues. Every
Democrat was to be put to death, the lead
ers to be drawn and quartered, and the
followers roasted on spits, toasted on forks,
broiled on gridirons and fed on molten
lead. The Government was to adopt these
Leagues as the instruments Of its wrath
against all copperheads, and the whole
land vas to be but a wild carnival Of blood
The Plain Dealer has been in agony over
its ghost Of secret Leagues in Cleveland,
and Guy Fawkes plot was hardly a cir
eumstsnce TO the diabOlism Of this AbOli-
tion band Of eonspirators.
At length the Plain Dealer has deliv-
cry. The Ritual" Of the order has acome
legitimstely into its possession and it
publishes The fearful document in full,
with startling head lines and flaming eapi-
tails, and pronounces il q" most dangerous
red ReDubIiean -n-saAIzaiioa.z- tEopp, iet=
rs see what this fearful a3itusl j." is which
comes thus heralded. viii our readers be-
isTe US when We tell them that whether
1t is genuine or not, there is not word in
it containing aught that can offend any
man who is not an enemy Of his country.
In every oath and counsel and prayer and
sentence 1t breathes deUotion to he Union
this, and nothing more And this the Plain
Dealer calls a dangerous red Republican
organization" God pardon the wretch
who thus stigmstized such sentiments as
are here inculcated. To show the truth
: Of our statement we quote from the Plain
Dealers own report Of the questions pro-
pounded to the candidates for admission:
?. Are you sincerely opposed to seees-
sion and disunion? Answer al an"
3. Do you cheerfully subscribe to the
principles set forth in the Declaration Of
lndependence-"T That all men are created
equal; that they are endowed by their Gre !
ator with certain inallenable rights; that
among these are life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness ?' Answer, al do"
4. Do you declare upon your honor as a
man and patriot, that Union and liberty |
should De maintained and defended, even
unto the sacrifice Of life? Answer, AZ
do"
g. Do you acknowledge that your first
and highest allegiance under God is due
to the Government Of the United States of
America2 Answer, +" 1 do"
8. Are you willing to take such an oath
Of allegiance to the United States Of Amer
ica2 Answer a. an"
Z. Are you willing to pledge yourself to
resist to the utmost extent Of your power,
all attempts to subvert or overthrow the
Constitution and Government Of the Unit
ed States2 Answer, " am"
s. Do you pledge your honor that you
viii obey all the laws and orders OF the U.
L. which shall not conflict with your law
ful rights and privileges as a citizen, and
keep inyiolste all secrets and ceremonies
Of the L. when communicated to you as
such. Answer, 1 do"
V. P.-Gentlemen, your answers have
been satisfactory. The fact will be report
ed to our President, who, doubt not will
direct your further admission to the plans
and secrets Of the Order.
OH this dangerous red Republican
OrganizatiOnp We make one mora quo
tatiOn, and beg our readers to see what
sort Of language it is that the Plain Dealer
pronounees dangerous" The following
is the ezhOrtatiOn to the candidates:
"P.-GentIemen, (Or sir:)-It is said,
Sin Union there is strength In view of
this truth, we rejoice that you have come
forward to associate with u.s.
"Rising above every sOrdid eonsidera-
ton, the sole purpose Of cur organization
is the defense and preservation of the lib
critics and institutions won and established
by the blood, wisdom and prayers Of our
fathers.
Strange and sad is the necessity which
requires American citizens thus TO associ-
ate
"But that necessity exists. The Gov
ernment under which we live is threatened
with destruction; the Union which has
ever conferred upon us prosperity and
happiness is fercely assailed. tits, there
fore, our solemn duty to defend the one
that We may preserve the other, contain
ing, as it does, the hsllOwed memories Of
the past and unfolding all our hopes Of
the future. This duty is one which, it is
expected, you will remember and perform
at all times, under all circumstances, and
in ell places. Neither domestic traitors
nor foreign foes must be permitted to de-
stroy the nation.
Desiring to maintain the purity Of our
organization, and to render it as efficient
IS possible, we ask none 70 unite with us
who have not the noble sentiments Of pa
triotism deeply implanted in their hearts;
for such only are capable Of discarding
from their minds the low aims and selfish
spirits Of mere partizans, and Of claiming
and defending the boon Of freedom for its
intrinsic value. That your effsrts may be
Iuliy joined Win ours IN the aCCompIIsn-
ment Of our purpose, you are now request
ed to take solemn obligation, which,
assure you, does not in any way conflict
with those sacred duties you owe to your
God your country, your family, or your
self With this assurance, are you willing
to take such obligation ~
The candidate will answer, 4 am. -
p The c. will invoke the blessing /
Of Almighty God on our undertaking"
= Our National Debt.
By dispatches this morning it viii be
seen that the total national debt at this
time is S929,OOO,OOO Immense as this
sum is, it is by no means unbearable. It
is hardly burdensOme. We have pOpu-
latiOn Of over thirty millions of people,
agricultural resources that are boundless,