Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-02-12
The KeyhOIe Society.

They have Society lin New York
city, for the Prevention of Crime. 1t
is in great measure composed of cler-
gymen, and its chief purpose appears to
be that of prying into the affairs of ev-
cry person of prominence and standing
in the city. If man or woman visit "a
place of other than the most reputable
character, the spies Of the Society en-
ter his or her name in "black book"
kept for that purpose and the fact thus
obtained is held over the head of the de-
linquent for all time to come. The Of
fender is notified that the Society has
this evidence against him or her, and
that it may be used at any time under
its worst possible construction. We
copy with pleasure the few and forci-
BILE remarks of the Sun upon this mis-
cradle, dirt-seeking, mud-throwing as
sociation:
There is nothing more derogatory to
the character of the human race; there
is nothing more painful and humiliat-
ing to contemplate, there is no darker
page in history than the prosecutions,
the imprisonments, the cruelties, the
tortures, the murders, which have been
inflicted in the hallowed name of Re-
ligiOn.
ooh Christ, all suffering and merciful
One,
What damning deeds have in thy
name been dOne!"
In the pages of history such deeds of
the greatest atrocity are recorded; but
there are few which in downright
meanness, in detestableness of ch arac-
ter, excel the system of espionage re-
Gently set on foot in the name of the
Society for the Prevention of Crime, by
Mr.. d. J. Whitney, the Chairman of
the Committee of the society for the
Enforcement ofLaw.
Spies are employed by the society to
make what are called black lists of cit
liens who violate no law, but who fire.
Quent certain houses and saloons.
Armed with the reports of these exc
cradle wretches. MIR. Whitney every
now and then calls upon some gentle
man whose name is down on one OF his
black lists and by threats of exposure
attempts to control his conduct, to drive
him hitber and thither, to compel him
to do this thing or that-in effect and
virtually to make him his slave.
This is done in the name of Religion
and Reform!
Nothing could be baser. Nothing
could be more repugnant to every man.
ly and generous instinct. The plan is
disgusting and loathsome, and all con-
cerned in it deserve lasting eXecration.
If the learned clergy are going to try
this inetfable meanness, they ought, it
seems to us, at all events to limit the
Sr,c,tn ,nrir To Of ft,ni
own profession. Judging from recent
developments, thorough espion-
age would rapidly reduce the ranks
of the clergy. Mr.. Whitney makes
to-do over having discovered
prominent church member emerging
from house with an unfragrant repu-
tation. But another vile spy might not
impossibly have discovered the pastor
some renowned refOrmer-at the
same time in the mans house giving
his wife lessons in the new science of
Histology" The greater thing should
not be neglected for the lesser. A
thorough and complete espionage of
the clergy would occupy all the miser-
bic and degraded wretches the Key
hole Society can muster in it's ranks.
Mr.. Whitney's conduct, as explained
by himself, partakes of the nature of
that he, in person, EFFORTS money from
his victims;but what guarantee is there
that his imps will abstain from this
most odious of offences?
Mr.. Whitney and his colleagues will
find sooner or later-and the sooner the
better-that they have made griev-
Gus mistake. Their motives may be
as pure and exalted a those Of the Po-
casset murderer or the Rev. Mr.. Cow
ley; but their conduct is bad. The
Americans are proud-spirited, indie
pendent, liberty-loving people. They
will tolerate no such superintendent,
no such espionage. They will not have
even the hottest religion crammed
down their threats against their will.
They will be free. "They worship on
~ God, nor even Him except in their
own way"
Spies may be necessity of war; but
in time of peace all men Will unite to
make war upon spies.