Washington sentinel., 1854-06-24

great party to whose hands this policy is COM
mitted must have fixed and permanent princi-
ples-and that those principles must be in ac-
cordance with the Constitution.
The Indiana democratic convention mani
tested, in the adoption of the above resolution,
correct and true appreciation Of the mission
the duties, and the objects of the democratic
party, and it very properly condemned any
secret political organization. We hope that
the same condemnation will be pronounced on
them by democratic conventions in every State.
Quacks in politics are like quacks in medi-
cine, they make one principle universal as q
remedy. They regard it as a king,cure-all.
The regular statesman, like the regular ply.
sician, wisely refuses to conform himself to
any one principle. His mind is more compre-
hensive. He makes use of all in their season.
Nor does he, like the quack, make secret and
a mystery of his prescriptions. He is neither
afraid nor ashamed to proclaim them to the
world.
The creed of the democratic party has been
the work of years. The principles embodied in
it have been subjected to the scrutinizing ex-
animation of the wisest and most patriotic men
Of the nation, and have received their unquali-
fed sanction. That creed was not made for
one day or for one year--it was not made for
one purpose or another purpose-it was made
for all time, and for all the great purposes of
government.
1t is in vain, then, for any secret organization
to raise its puny arm against it. We say against
it-for no secret political society would or could
aid the democratic party. All such societies
must from their nature be hostile to it. They
are secret, it is open; they look to one idea, it
looks to all the ends Of government; they
spring from an ephemeral caprice, it rests upon
the Constitutions they look to sections, or classes,
it looks to the whole country; they spring
from heresies and schisms, it from the pure
doctrines taught by the fathers of the republic;
they are illigiimate, it is legitimate; they are
moved by every wind Of doctrine, it pursues the
even tenor of its way, unaffected by passion,
prejudice, caprice, or change.
1t would be just as sensible and just as pro-
per to have secret, unpublished, unknoacn Con-
stitution, as to haze secret, unpublished, an
knoaen political creed. A political organization
is worthless, and must be corrupt unless based
on the Constitution. If such be its basis, those
who belong to it need not, and will not be
ashamed to proclaim the principles that cons
stitute its creed.
Secrecy always suggests suspicion, and mys
terry always excites distrust Then it is fit and
rightthat the democratic party should denounce
all secret political societies. The truth is, that
they have but one object, and that is by under
hand means, to break down that party. They
are the old enemy, that after each defeat, comes
in new disguise. They are quite rs venom
Gus, but not so honest, as the rattle snake.
They do not shake their rattle, to give warning
of their presence-but the very instincts Of de.
mocracy detect that presence, as some of those
valuable stones that we read of, detect poisons
True democracy abhors secrecy, just as ma
ture abhors a vacuum, as candor abhors decep-
ton, as virtue abhors vice. The pathway of
democracy is clear. The open light of honest
day shines upon it. The pathway Of these Sc
cret organizations is dark and unighted. 1t is
full of pitfalls and of snares. Men know not
where they will tread. They merit and should
receive condemnation.