Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-07-20

'iS.t bLSV~ toi lldL cause anu ICr tltS DcD-
Pi~! Have uOt tAl laJGrs and tolls Of the a
dopted citizens, who have poured into this
country in 4 steady and constant stream. made
much of our previously uncultiyated lands
bloom and blossom as the rose? Have they
not felled the forest, subdued the rude
and unbroken SOIL constructed cur railroads
and canals, and largely extended our internal
commerce and the bounds Of culture and civ
ilization? Are there not TO be found among
them as well as among native born citizens
men of exalted worth, brilliant talents, tow
ering genius, who have given US their valua-
bic services, in all the useful and ennobling
pursuits and professions Of life, and from a.
mono whom the reE.l..s
men have been adorned Is it wise. that all
these and such as these, shall be disfranchised,
prescribed on account of their foreign birth,
and persocutei for their religious opinions?
Have we nothing to lose by such policy?
But how Is this policy TO be administered?
how is this new test 10 be applied? and by
whom? Secretly and without warming by Sc
cret, midnight political associations, bound
together by extra judicial oaths, to do that
which can be nothing else in effect, morally,
than constructive treason tg the government.
They thus attempt to DO, under the clouds Of
the night, and by secret political combinations
what they would be ashamed 20 propose N the
light of day and before the world.
Secret political societies. fellow citizens,
however commendabie in design at the out
start, mus: soon degenerate into engines of
tyrlrny and outrage. The Jacobin clubs If
the French Revolution, headed by Danton,
Marat an1 Robssp.ere, made the nlt'ol
tTeInblc for Its existence, while France be-
came drunken with h0rriA crimes, assassina-
mass Of paaceable citizens have against their
secret councils and insiduous attacks? Con-
spirac;es and secret combinations against the
body polite, or the political rights OF large
classes of citizens, are as Oiious IN the eye Of
the maraliSt, as conspiracies against the pri-
yate rights Of the citizen are oaious in the
eye of the law. One offence IS political and
the other penal, but there is little if any diff
ference in the grade of criminality. Both are
founded in sclfshEczs and disregard of the
rights of others.
We have heard much in days gone by in
Pennsylvania. from large boiies of our people
in OPP s'tiJn to secret societies of a purely
.haritabla AMI benevolent character, having
no political policy or plrpose in view. How
much more shoQlI tn 1t opp st o. extend to
secret associations forle for pfl-tlcal pupo-
SOS alone, and for political pa P SIS h5y.ng
for thci- object the disfrancEisemcnt on ac-
count of their religious views Ola portion Of
our citizens
Secret societies formed for political pu-po-
ses. the great and g1oI Washington warned
Us against it in his farewell address to his
contrymcn. How well he portrays their G.
Wis in the following paragraph:
However combinations or associations OF
the above description may now and then an
swer popular ends, they are Likely, IN the
course OF time and things, to become potent
mines " which cunning, amsitlCus and M
pr.nciplad men VIII be enabled TO suOya.t Ia
p7we. q tie peoFis, and 70 usuTp t.r Ia III
selves the reIcus Of goyeTns eg5. d st'cy,ng
afterwards tha very engines W4ich lied II IA
70 uriust dominion"
The sacr.t pol.ti-a, societies Of Washl G
toms day were formed 10 promote IDsry, uJ,
20 abridge and destroy II; ami ylt even thee
ne r-pr0iat,d and csndCIausd How mu-h
more would he dread these OF recent orga-i-
ziation. which seem 1T nded to deat-oythc
rights OF large pJt:i3n Of our citizens, and
to establish an arbitrary, partil and unjust
rule Of political anl governmental ac-ion:
How totally must associations OF this con-
.rseted and IiIibcral character fail Of accom-
p!ishng any OF the desirable o.Jects OF gov
ernmeut The policy Of the nation must be
abandoned 10 its fate, 10 carry out a nGotld
and politic5-rc!ig.oUs frenzy. forgetting All
the great issues involved EcceS sarIly ia the
alton Of the affairs OF this VI lely eS-
tended country, with diversified interests and
wants IN matters Of revenue, finance, trade,
commerce. peace and war, external or foreign
relations and internal policy, they are en-
deavoring to bring the exalted science OF po-
litical economy down TO an unnecessary and
unavoidable scramble about creeds in religion
with which this government has and can have
nothing whatever to do. except TO let them
alone and protect each one In Its constitu-
t;onal rights. and to see that minorlues as
well as najorities have the free and full eA-
excise OF their religious opinions. 1t is an at
tempt 10 introduce test in political affairs
which must be as uncertain as 1t Is unsatls-
factory 10 all sensible and enlightened men,
no matter to which of the two great political
parties they may belong. 1t is an effort TO
stultify the country, and make it forget the
history of the past, and render 1t unmlndtul OF
It's glorious destiny in the future,
With such allies as these secret associations
afford our Whig friends, many of that party
will be unwilling to cooperate, and they viii
turn their faces towards the just, equitable
and uniform principles ofthe Democratic creed
as laid down by the wise and philosoPhic JEFF
f.rson. The principles of the Democratic
party are benignant, and meets the wants o.
man in all the diversified interests of life
They teach mans equality with his fellow
man. and at the same time they give hin
humber views of himself, they dignity, enno
bic exalt, him. They apply fitly TO him as
rational, intelligent creature, who should b
the object and care of all government, and no
made to be governed or created for the gov
ernment. All just government is Intends
! Cor his nnnA not to nnnress him but TO trea