The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-04-16
THE EMPIRE APPROACHES.

sent day have for the last three or four
years expressed their belief that the
leaders, in their efforts for
of power, were gradual
ly paving the way for Transforming this
Republic into an Empire; that while
to base their action upon the |
will of the people, they are, under that |
cover, directing all their efforts towards |
a revolution which will enable them to |
insure the ruin of our Republic and its
aud establish IN It's place
an Empire, with its crowned Empe ror,
titles of nobility and aristocratic rule.
Few imagined that there would be any
SO bold as to publicly announces this as
their intention, and proclaim this doc
trine at SO early stage in the move
ment, 1t is, however. fortunate that the
mask is about to be removed, the real
objects made known, that the people
may be able to realize the danger which
threatens them.
Hardly had Gen. Grant been sworn
in AS President before there were ru-
mors in political circles that paper
was soon to be started in Philadelphia
advocating the establishments OF an Eni-
pire in this country and in favor OF pro
claiming 6 rant Emperor. rms was at
first looked upon as mere runor, Dtt
it is now proving to be something more.
A gentleman purport.ng to represent
those engaged in the movement recent
ly visited this city and Albany to see
how far the Republican, leaders would
lend sympathy. This person stated
that leading members of the U nion
League of Philadelphia were enlisted
in this programme, and had iIrhlshed
~. netnhlicta n no M n aHVn-
cate it, also to establish secret societies
for the PRONUNCIATION of that doctrine.
Further, that paper would soon be
published in that city to be called the
| Empire, the motto of which would be, in
the words of n apoleon and Grant, ''rhe
| Empire is peace" and "Let us have
peace,n while its columns would be de-
voted to arguments and proofs showing
that this Republic had proved failure,
urging the necessity of establishing an
Empire, and advocating Grant as the
man for Emperor. This sheet, we un-
derstand, is ready to appear, and only
waiting the moment To arrive when
those engaged in the work Of organic
| ing societies announce that the time
has come TO remove the mask.
1t now appears that they have found
sympathy here. and that one week from
to-day a paper is to be issued in tins
city to be called the Imperialst, the
prospectus OF which has already beer
issued, in which it is announced thai
"this long -expected Journal" as though
the matter had been in secret contem.
plation even during the last Presiden
tial campaign, Will appear IN April
Still further along we are ted that ssthe
creed of the Imperialist is revolutionary
it's mission is to prepare the minds o
the American people for the revolution
that has already oegun throughout thu
county"-those announcing that thu
work has been progressing for lons
time, and that 1t has finally reached ;
, stage when the objects and aims can b.
openly proclaimed, Another para
graph in this prospectus indicates tina
either the bondholders are in the move
ment, or else their sympathy and all
are sought, and that it is also the inten
/, tion to make this class the nobility; TO
it states that 1--WE believe that the ma
: sional faith, if left in the keeping OF tn
populaee, will be suilied by sure repu
datlon of the national debt, and tina
aa imperial government can alone pro
T tect the rights OF national. Creditors" p
. Then, again i: is stated that the ere
public means lawlessness, corruption
Insecurity to person and property, rob
+, berry of the public creditors and civil
war; that the empire means law. order
security, public faith and peace" TIL
e journal is likewise to advocate maxim
: Grant an Emperor. These facts prov
n that the movement is no. mere ephe
neral affair, but an earnest and deter
mined one: that it has already mad
great Roadway in this city and Phila
: 1elpha, and If The whole secret wa
t known, it might also appear that pa
a pers are to simultaneously appear
/ Boston, Chicago and other cities advc
3 eating the same programme. On
i thing appears quite certain, it is no
G confined to few individuals, as a ser
a sation; sufficient has transpired to sho'
: that it is bona fed movement, and tia
it is backed by a powerful secret OF
: ganization, bearing the mysterious tit
G OF II, |, O, This is the maine which hs
= been adopted by the societies which al
|, now being started In different parts
c the country.
n Our inform alton comes from gentle
man who was invited to join enc
these societies. gentleman who VIZ
an applicant for an office under Gran
DE was told that becoming a membt
G would assist hiia in obtaining the Office
q also, that its recommendation was IL
S best card he could have with the Pres
: dent. 1t was also claimed that Gener;
y Grant was in full, sy mpathy and accoi
II with the movement. As an illus tratlo
d of this fact, was cited the circumstant
S of his appointing his relatives and int
e mate personal friends to office, in ort!'