Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-03-18
Wednesday Morning, Mar. 18th, 1883,
UNION LEAGUES
C|LEARFlELD, PA


Know notEingism secured its strength
by practicing the most wicked deception.
treachery and falsehood- drawing the
thoughtless into its embrace, whose self.
pride forbid their remuneration of its wick
ed and metropolitan dogmas until after
the harm was done. 1t came upon the
country stealthily, like thiefin the night,
and thousands Of young men were ensna,
red by its wiles without q moment's
thought They had no raraing-and thin
was :helr only excuse.
We now tell them that another Orde
has been instituted and is spreading thro',
out the country under the specious name
OF Union Leagues, of vastly more dangerous
purposes than were ever contemplated by
knownothingism, Under the name oil
"LaiOn"-which is used as q cloak-they
hope 10 entrap the unwary. But let no
man permit himself to be deceived. Let
no man hereafter say that he was entrap.
Irl-that he was not Varnedi in time.
There is but one way that o loyal and
patriotic citizen can support his country =
can be a Union man-and that is, by yield.
ing a cordial and undivided support TO the
Constitution and all laws made in pursu-
"ance thereof, at all times and under all
circumstances. To enable him to do this
neither secret signs, badges, passwords or
places Of meeting, nor extra>judicial oaths
or pledges are required, Those who desire
to do what is right, and that only, do not
desire to hide their works from the pub
lie eye they are willing that the whole
world should know what they are doing.
1t is only those whose aims are evil tina!
fear the public scrutiny.
The man, therefore, who wants TO be n
friend Of the Union, who wants TO serve
his country now in the midst Of her sore
trial, has only 10 unite himself with
the Democratic ~Party-that good old Ma.
tional party of Jefferson and jackson, and
which has always maintained the honor
and glory Of orr national banner buckle
on the armor Of the Constitution Az our
fathers made il, and proclaim ii from tie
housetops that, though SANDER may .u''
low his footsteps, though tnLAi sore and
perplexing may have 10 be encountered
though prosecutions, and tortures, FIRE
and fagot, and even death itself, with al
the devilish appliances that fanaticism car
invent, may be his portion, yet he vii,
defend that Constitution, and that LrBER,
~ which it guarantees,
The objects to be accomplished by these
Leagues are perhaps two. fold. If any
thing like as successful in gaining prose,
lytes as knownothingism was, it will be q
valuable adjunct to the Abolition party
next fall. But aside from this, II is to
have a military character, its members to
be provided With arms, and ready at n mo.
ment's call to light the torch Of civil wal
in every part Of the country. That We
do not m~isrepresent its object is proven
ny lHt dNuNSelON VI NIS tIaGI lSOuIB Ice
graph, one Of It's chief organs, when i
says "the Union Leagues are to take The
place of the armed patrols, and the provost
guard, In ENFORCING The Grgtt."
Is not this plain ~encugh' Can any one
be deceived now as to the real purpose o
this new order? No-no-they cannot.
Therefore, let Democrats take warnin,
in time. Let us have no secret, or steal
thy movements, Our aim is 10 sustain
the Constitution and vindicate the laws
and whatever we do let US do openly anC
above board. If in defending our righti
it becomes necessary to defend our lives
be it 70 the order of our enemies to thei,
adferentS Il arm" will be notice TO al
loyal men Of the country to 90 and do Ike
giss.