Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-11-11
SECRET POLITICAL SOCIETIES.

Secret political societies commendable only
when they become necessity for the preservation of
liberty In tyranincal governments, where despotism
tramples beneath its iron feet the rights of the peo
pe-where liberty of speech and the freedom of the
press are denied-where patriotism DARE not utter
its sentimentsthere and there only, should secret
societies. to affect affairs of State, be formed Their
tendency is revolutionary, and only where revolu-
ton is desirable they proper.
Ina Republican government such as ours, where
the widest latitude is allowed to the tongue and the
press-where the freedom of both is guaranteed by
our Constitutions-where every man is sovereign
and where the pride and boast of our principles are
their openness, their independence and their purity
it is but natural that lover of his country should re-
gard with dstrust any secret organization intended
to affect popular elections. If the Deeds or in
tentons of such organization be not evil if its
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 pri nciples be commendable :;
if they calculated to promote the happiness of
our people and the glory of the Republic; if they
are 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?
to take of modern ism, known "Know- Nothing
isn,' with many aliases as have been found ne
cessary to prevent detection and escape condemna-
ton. "Sons of the Sires of TO-" "Order of the Star
Spangled Banner" &C., &C., among its appella-
tons But no matter what It's name, its aims and
objects are the same everywhere; and if credence
may be given to the revelations which have been
made concerning if, its designs subversve of
political and religious liberty, and it seeks to per-
vert justice by impairing the sanctty of judicial
oaths. What other aims it may have we know not
but we may confidently assert, upon its own author
y that of its objects is to prevent the naturai-
cation of foreigners and debar them from the rights
of citizenship.
True it is that many worthless foreigners are an
nually thrown upon Shores and it is equally
true that many worthless native born citizens are
annually admitted to the elective franchise When
the foreign influence becomes dangerous or threat
ening, then should oppose it; or if it has alrea-
dy become so, we should seek to put it down-not
secretly, not in midnight conclaves bound by obi
cations into which blindy enter; but openly,
in the face of day and before the light and intelli-
gence of patriotic people. But has that influ-
assumed any threatening shape? If so, we
know it not Many of our best citizens of for
eignbirth. We a nation of foreigners
ton made up of people from every clime with
the Anglo Saxon race predominant and giving its
qualities and characteristics to all. If we have
proudly thought, our Republic has been selected by
the Almighty the abiding place of liberty, the
light of the world, and the asylum for the op-
pressed of all nations they who seek to impair it in
one respect, impair it in all and while we remove
the protecting egis from over the head of fellow
man, no matter from what country he may come,
.-II
power of our example for good; and instead of the
blessings now poured forth upon us by the down.
trodden sufferers of tyranny, their curses will be
heaped upon us, and God will not prosper us, for
He is not unmindful of the oppressed.
But there is fact at which our Southern peo-
pie should attentively looE-Know Nothingism had
its origin in that hotbed of all the iss except pat
rotism, the abolition city of New York. We have
often remarked the great number of isms and
tangled schemes and notions of the North, and have
reioced that the South was comparatively free from
them This one has travelled the country over, and
with astonishing rapidit0has spread through the
South as well as through the North. If the inten-
ton is to found new party, have no objections
to it. provided its principles its aims and objects be
made known IF they are such as approve,
shall say so if not we shall against them. But
we never expect to leave the Democratic party for
any other It is sufficient for u.s. and its principles
carried into operation sufficient for the prospect
ty and honor of our country. The Wing party is
rent asunder and dead and its leaders and political
aspirants know it. and they only seeking to bind
its corpse to the electric body of Know Nothingism
to gavanize it into momentary life. hoping to ride
into Office upon the current. For fifteen years the
Wing party lorded it over the Democratic party in
North Carolina; and that the latter has got
into power, will Democrats suffer themselves to be
seduced into cooperation with those against whom
they have warred long, and at last successfully?
Can they doit?
~ DUNCAN K. McRAE, Esq, United States