Year: 1869

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The following article from the NeW
York Citizen of March 9th, is calculs-
ted to fill the minds of the American
people with the most serious apprehen-
sions. We published in the SPIRIT Of
last week two articles setting forth the
object and aims of the Radical Imper-
ialists in power. The people should
make preparation to crush this offspring
of the rotten Monarchies of Europe by
battle, bayohets, bullets, and halters.-
But here is the article, which every low.
er of the Republic should read carefully:


Many of the ab,est men of the pres
ent day have for the last three or four
years expressed their belief that the Re-
publican leaders, in their efforts for cen
tralization of power, were gradually
paving the way for transforming this
Republic into an Empire; that, while
pretending to base their action upon the
will Of the people, they are, under the
cover, directing all their efforts toward
a revolution which will enable them to
insure the ruin of our Republic and its
institutions, and establish i'll its place an
Empire, with its crowned Emperor, titles
OF nobility and aristocratic rule Few
imagine that there would be any so bold
as to publicly announce this as their in
tention, and proclaim this doctrine at SO
early stage in the movement. 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 threat
ems them.


Hardly had Gen. Grant been sworn in
as President before there were rumors in
political circles that paper was soon to
be started in Philadelphia, advocating
the establishment of an Empire in this
country, and in favor of proclaiming
Grant Emperor This was at first look
ed upon as mere rumor, but is now
proving to be something more, A gen.
tleman purpolting TO represent those en-
gagged in the movement recently visited
this city and Albany, to see low far the
Republican leaders would lend their
sympathy. This person stated that lead
ing members of the Union League of
Philadelphia were enlisted in this pro-
gramme, and had furnished the means
to establish paper to advocate it; also
to establish secret societies for the pro-
mitigation 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 Napoleon and Grant, ''the Empire is
peace" and "Let US have peace while
its columns would be devoted to argu
ments and proofs showing that this Re-
public had proved failure, urging the
necessity of establishing an Empire
This sheet, we understand, IS ready to
appear, and only waiting the moment to
arrive when those engaged in the work
of organizing societies announce that the
time has come to lemove the mask.


1t now appears that they have found
sympathy here, and that one week from
to-day paper is to be issued in this
city to be called the Imperialist, the
prospectus of which has already been
Issued, in which it is announced that
this long expected journal" as though
the matter had been in secret contempla-
ton even during the last Presidential
campaign, win appear in April. Still
further along we are told that "thc creed
of the Imperialist, is revolutionary; its
mission is to prepare the minds of the
American people for the revolution that
has already begun throughout the coun-
Itry'-thus announcing that the work
has been progressing for long time,
and that it has finally reached stage
where the objects and aims can be open
lily proclaimed. Another paragraph in
this prospectus indicates that either the
bondholders are in the movement, or
else their sympathy and aid are sought,
and that it is also the intention to make
this class the nobility for it states that
''we believe that the national faith, if left
in the keeping of the populace, will be
sullied by sure reputation of the ma
tional debt, and that an Imperial Gov
ernment can alone protect the rights of
national creditors" Then, again, it is
stated that ''the Republic means lawless-
ness, corruption, insecurity to person
and property, robbery of the public
creditors and civil war; that the Empire
means law, order security, public faith
and peace" This journal is likewise to
advocate making Grant an Emperor
These facts prove that the movement is
not mere ephemeral affair, but an ear
nest and determined one; that it has al
ready made great headway in this city
and Philadelphia, and if the whole secret
was known, it might also appear that
papers are to simultaneously appear in
Boston, Chicago and other cities advo-
eating the same programme. One thing
appears quite certain, it is not confined
to few individuals, as sensation suf
ficient has transpired to show that it is
a bona fide movement, and that it is
backed by powerful secret organiza-
ton, bearing the mysterious title Of I;
IL O. This is the name which has been
adopted by the societies which are now
being started III different parts Of the
country.


Our information comes from gentle
man who was invited to join one OF
these societies--a gentleman who was
an applicant for Office under Grant He
was told that becoming a member woald
: assist him in obtaining the Office; also
that its recommendation was the bes,
card ne could have with the President
1t was also claimed that Gen. Grant was
in full sympathy and accord with the
movement. As an illustration of this
fact, was cited the circumstance of his
appointing his relatives and intimate per-
sonal friends to office,in order that, when
1.-The time came for the coup de etat he