Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-11-15
SECRET POLITICAL SOCIETIES.


Secret political societies are commendable only
when they become necessity for the preservation of
liberty In tyranincal governments, where despotism
ramples beneath its iron feet the rights of the peo
pe-where liberty OF speech anu tito freedom OF the
press arc dened-where patriotism DARE not utter
its sentiments-there, and there only, should secret
societies, to affect affairs of State, be formed Their
tendency is revolutionary, and only where revolu-
ton is desirable are they proper.
Ina Republican government such as ours where
the widest latitude is allowed to the tongue and the
lress-whcre the freedom of both is guaranteed by
OR Observation-Disclosures every man is sovereign,
and where the pride and boast of principles are
their openness their independence and their purity,
It's but natural that lover of his country should
gard with dstrust any secret organization intended
to affect our popular elections. If the deeds, or in
entons of such organization be not evil if it's
members are not conscious that their principles will
not bear the light of publicity, why shroud them
IN darkness and mystery? why hide them from the
public eye? If their princi Piles be commendable;
they are calculated to promote the happiness of
our people and the glory of the Republic; if they
arc right and proper, and just, why not lay them
bare before every eye and trust to the good sense
and sound Judgment Of an enlightened people for
their adoption?
Inc above is the view We have at this time chosen
tOtake of a modern ism, known as "Know-N Nothing
Sn with as many aliases as have been found ne
ceSsary to prevent detection and escape condcmna-
uon' Sons of the Sires of '7G" "Order of the Star
'Pansied Banner" &C., &C., are among its appea-
uors But no matter what i,s name, it's aims and
"geclS are the same everywhere; and if crcdence
may oe given to the revelations which have been
ia'c concerning it, its designs are subversiye of
p0nuca and religious liberty, and it seeks to per-
sr' justice by impairing the sanctity of judicial
,"'ns' What other aims it may have we know not,
au' we may confidently assert upon it's own author
n.y. 'na' one OF its objects is to prevent the natura-
"'on OF foreigners and debar them from the rights
0fcitizenship.
-lue IS that many worthless foreigners are an
""'iy thrown, upon our shores; and it is equally
"' ulat many worthless native born citizens are
annually admitted to the elective franchise. When
"e i0feign influence becomes dangerous or threat.
s"'s then We should oppose it, or if it has alrea.
" 'ecome so, We should seek to put it down-not
" 'ii'oi'Sut COHCiaFeS DOunO Dy OOll-
s''ons into which We bindly enter; but openly,
u'e lace OF day and before the light and intelli-
eS"'s ol our patriotic people. But has that influ.
ivy assumed any threatening shape? If So we
""0" 1t not Many of our best citizens are of for
o"0"tn' We are nation of foreigners-a ma.
"O" made up of people from every cline, with
n"elo Saxon race predominant, and giving its
4Ds!les and characteristics to ALL If, as we have
rOualy thought, our Republic has been selected by
Almighty as the abiding place of liberty, as tn.
,oN' oi the world, and as the asylum for the op
p'eSSeo OF all nations they who seek to impair it il
~ ."' respect impair it in ali and while we remov,
a' a'pr0tectlng egis from over the head of fellow
a: ''' no matter from what country he may come, W,
s''' 'ne light of our own liberties and weaken tn,
E "er OF our example for good; and instead of tn,
,.s,' snss now poured forth upon US by the down
'aueh sufferers Of tyranny, their curses will b.
11 'peo upon us, and God will not prosper us, TO
!" not unmindful of the oppressed.
Dut there is one fact at which our Southern peo
1 .' should attentively look-Know Nothingism ha,
"'s'n In that hot-bed of all the isns except pat
~ 'Sl'' the abolition city of New York. We hav
t,s en remarked the great number of isms and nev
As'ed schemes and notions of the North, and hay
'ea that the South was comparatively free fron
LOIS one has travelled the country over, AM