The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-04-21
The Prayer of Il Traitor.

Ey DENNIS A. MAHoNy, the Saint and
martyr Of Iowa Copperheadism, has sent
to the Dubuque Herald a form Of prayer,
which he anxiously desires the people to
use upon the coming fast day appointed
by the President. He very considerate-
ly suggests, however, that instead Of go
ing to their churches to do this, ii be done
in the secret iecesses Of their own hou
ses. He says:
AS the clergy, 10Th scarcely an erception,
have prostituted their sacred calling. and sac
rili geously converted the places of Divine wor
ship into political meeting.houses, | surgest
that instead of going to the churches on tile day
recommended by the President in his proclaim
alton. the people retire into the most secret re-
cesses Of their homes, and implore God TO have
mercy on us MS nation, and to forgive the
people OF The United States for having, in their
finaical phrenzy, placed the government in
the hands ofthe wicked men by whom it has
been subverted to the basest uses, and prosti
tuted TO the most infamous purposes"
1t never strikes tins egotistical and
money making traitorous martyr. that
there is possibility that with himself
on one side, and the clergy. with
scarcely an exception on the other,
that the wrong may be with him. Oh.
no! He is so immaculate that he can
turn upon the whole body Of clerg ymen,
and rebuhe them TO their faces with sac
rllpge and a prostitution Of their calling
And all the ignorant, drunken loafers in
the Copperhesd ranks, re-echo the charge
The clergy certainly ought to feel bad.
But lie then goes on with The prayer,
after the manner of the Episcopal worship
The outrageous thing occupies nearly
two columns Of The Herald, and we can
only give few extracts. Here is one oil
the first lies worked up in this prayer:
For having in the midst OF the prosperity
which Thou dil'st bestow upon us with Law.
ish hand, become enyious of the like pros PERI
ty in our ncighbors, and provoked them into n
war with Us.
Have mercy on Us Q, Lord.
Here is another
For having in the periotl OF two brief years
become, from nation of ireemen, nation OF
subjects to n dFspotism more oiio,ls more dis
gusting more iutolegable than any other which
Expresses mankind under the name, form, sem
bltnce or excuse of government
rs Have mercy on Us 0, Lord.
Again he pitches into the clergy:
For having conntenaneed and supported
preachers Of the Gospel in the Infamous prac
tice which they have almost universally and
habitually become addicted to- of exciting tie
evil propensitics Of the people Of the United
States to such an extent az to have aided in /
producing rebellion and devastating war and
for listening to the counsels, aud being infu- /
enced by the averce Of these ministers Of Sa
tan, instead Of being influenced by Thy teach
ings, rs we find 1t i. the Gospel Of Christ, Thy !
Son,
Have mercy on Va, O, Lord.
And now hear villa, the Infamous
wretch has to say Of our soldiers:
For having been the cause Of sending forth
Thousands OF Infamous ETetches 10 commit upon ger
sons and property lie crimes Of RAPE, Ltrgtary, ar.
son, Lrce0y, and other crimes, which can oaLy be
named By demons,
Have mercy on US, O, Lord.
What do the friends Of the soldiers
think Of This The soldiers who have
given up home and it's interests and al
fractions, and braved the dangers of the
camp and The field, al the call OF patriot
ism, are here. as in former illusions,
branded By Il IS villainous traitor with
every vile epihet his pen can indite Is
1t nota wonder tlat the wretch is allow.
,
I'd TO walk The earth ? is il not great
er wonder that men in our midst can be
found to endorse and TO honor him +?
Think Of the in'amy Of putting that jun
BILE OF lies into the form, aud giving il }
the sacred character, Of prayer. We
doubt il in al! tie Pluioni;.n hosts, tlere
could be founl u wretch capable Of such
hypocrisy suoh villainy. WHAT = glor {