The Portland daily press., 1864-07-15
FOR GOVERNOR.
Origin of the Oopperhead.

posed to be modern production. IL Is hard
10 believe that anything so utterly vile and
contemplate can derive its origin from the
natural traits of our own deprayed character.
We think this is a mistake, and that these
wretches, who now disgrace the name of
Americans, will after the lapse Of the short
period which will consigu them TO eternal ih-
fanny, have the consolation of knowing that
they derive their descent through long line
of the children of Belial, whose names histo-
ry has preserved to the loathing of every
Christian people.
The Jews who so ardently desired the res
toraiion OF the ancient spiendor of the He
brew race, but who chung to their despotic
hierarchy desecraied the temple of the Most
High by greedy traffic; observed the sublime
truths taught in the law by special pleading
sophistries, false interpretations, aud even
: entire forgeries, these were Of the copperhead
genus. So degraded had they become, that
when the hour and the Man came they knew
him not; but rallied and prosecuted him, spat
in his face and finally tortured him 10 death
on the fiimsiest OF pretexts, after having gain
ed possession of his person by fraud and a
lie. What luck have they had with the idol
they still worship as the Messiah that was to
come? Has he ever come? viii he ever
come? Where is now that naughty and defiant
faction that cruciaed the Saviour OF the world ?
What power less than Omnipotence could find
their descendants, albeit, marked by hook
ed nose, glittering eye and uncouth jabbei,
fhax, fnfau afe nf tho hal
table globe?
Another prototype Of the copperhead may
be found in the Roman populace who when
Rlenzi freed them from the uncomfortable tyr
annies OF the Italian mobiles, knew not their
hour nor their man. He promised them their
liberties, their national greatness and tenfold
their ancient fame and splendor, at the price
of their blood and their gold. Because be
would notify one magic word or by some TEN
PORTING compromise, break down this terrible
nobility that had for centuries crushed them to
the earth, but would insist on fighting battles
and gaining bloody victories and levying tax
es, they became faint hearted and cowardy
and murdered him. Their reward has beer
to degenerate into the imbecile, cruel, pusil
luminous race now inhabitating the seven
hills, their descendants have, for centuries,
been supported by the charities and the sur
plus funds Of vigorous, manly and prosperous
nations, whose glorious destines have been
reached through seas of blood and enormous
burdens of debt. What is the luxury of sloih-
full, timid ease, when purchased at the price Of
national obteration?
The English Jacobins of the 18th and 18th
centuries were prototypes Of our American
copperhead. They reyered the past aud clam
ored for the ancient glory of England. They
wanted the old constitution with their inter.
pretation-the divine right of Kings, absolute
unrestrained and unquestioued; all of which
meant the spiritual supremacy of the Pope of |
Rome. enormous forced levies, religious wars,
a court Of vain courtesans. heartless Ill err
tines, senseless twaddIers and bigoted, brutal
churchmen, who would, while debasing relig-
ion, the morals and the credit of the nation,
ride Il to the devil over the backs of an en-
shaved people. They loved England and sup
ported the constituted authorities, but while
fed by Williams bounty, exalted by his favor,
ear to the promises OF the exile james, carried
hts patents Of nobility in their pockets. and
held an eager palm for the magic gold of lie
Grand Monarque. What has been their fate !?
Despised and scarcely tolerated by the most
tolerant and magnanimous government of the
time, and excluded for generations from OIL
ees Of trust and dignity, they were only al
lowed to rise from their knees when their
sting had been extracted. Contrast the posi-
tion of England now with that nation whose
timld glory eliminated In the reign of Louis
xiv and with whose destinies the Jacobins
pie The terrible retribution of the French
Revolution and the still more terrible infic-
ton OF the insatiate Napoleon have failed to
rescue the French people from the deplorable
vices and errors which the English Jaoo-
bins of 1855 found in the British Consttu-
ton.
We need pursue the parallel no further.
Wherever reatprineiples of truth are coniron-
ted with those OF error, where virtue combats
with vice, where liberty struggles with despot-
ism, there will bad men be found at work. Eth
err openly or coyertly they surround us. We
feel their blows and are sensible of their bale
full though secret influence. By hypocrisy. |
by sophistry, by all manner of DISCUSSES,
they deceive, while yet they horrify us. But
like the bats and owls and reptiles which ter
ri6ed Pilgrim as he passed through the valley
ofthe shadow of death, tapped their great
wings in his face, tripped up his feet with
their Shiny coils, and deceived him with
gloomy and uncertain noises, tthey vanish
where once we emerge into the pure light OF
the sun and feel the glow of true patriotism
warm our breasts. Therefore the atmosphere
wherein dwell copperheads is unhealthy, sti-
fling and noisome. 1t is only in gloom and
darkness that they can work. 1t is only after
8 rebel victory that the CHASTITY smile illumines
their faces, and their pestiferous chatter jars
discordant on our ears.
How do our copperhead friends like the
picture, and how far is the fate of their lineal
ancestors TO their taste?