New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-09
SECRET POLITICAL SOCIETIES.

Is, ma not shelter ourselves behind the secrecy of
a party organization, bound either by oaths or
pledges for The sake of avering nsnly issue; lhe
support OF the American system too Just and honor
able a motive of political or party action to require,
or consist with, any covert measures OF any KIND.
All ought TO be open rs the day under tnst oahner'
The exercise Of the elective franchise tue discnarye
OF a citizens proud duty is a solemn and responsible
trust Ii needs no veil OF initiation any honest meas
ure. "1here is that d0eh any thing IN secret,
"wben be himself seekeih TO be known openly.
party IN politics whose members aresecrety Unlisted
and held TO principles not openly avo~ed 10 theu
neiehbors, must sooner or later excite an alarm
greater than that which called it into existence III
our own plans and projects which are intended To
have their effect upon public matters are exposed 20
the rsieht of those who may differ with u.s. 1t is not
fair for secrecy TO cover one party, whe frank pro-
fessois and purposes Disclose all the work OF another
party. We wish 10 know each othsr, aud TO kno"
each others business. We certainly have risnt 70
know each others plans AND aims as TO Interests
which us all alike. We are suspicious OF All
orders ana piottDgs that work Their way IN the dark
or are rfo aed only by crevices, into which sPy
nav Deer leaving bis report TO uncertain ramon. we
Are suspicious OF all msneuvers 10 our political all AIRS
III az open on us by surprise and show plan a.
ready completed before II b sd even been snnooncsd
Inder the fret flush Of excitement, Ttlc1lariy the
excitement Of success, party In poiIical AFFAIRS act
ing through St cret organization, may pass uncha
lensed BY community except on the single score
of its UNIV arrsntable method OF proceeding. but oy
and by as the possible and probable incidental
such secre. organization may lead are fairly recog
nized BY men of cool judgment. TO say nothing Oh
alsi msis the fatal tenoeDces OF the pTty WIN as
close themselves Though evil forebodings may then
exsggerste the harmful ls.ues the com eqaences WIN
be bad CROUCH when conte Dl ,ted a. the leg nate
eiTects of the IL PRODUCTION OF an entirely new ana
DANCE element into politics. The influence oil
secret party will be feared in the courts OF JUSTICE
in the concerns of business, and ia the relations OF
private life. Men will discover al enemy by their
side in one whom they supposed 10 be friend.
man who s held by secret pledge, of the conditions
of which We are gnoraot, 10 some particular method
OF action, may be placed 10 circumstances in which
tha, covert obligation will mp.ir his fidelity to bis
manifest duties. IL there be reslly any reason to
dread that o.spotsm in government or religion will
renew here its old striss, let open, honest, bold
measures Der cath the very light day, prepare to
meet il While prescription Of foreigners would be
most odous policy, the sharpest reprosch of which
would be made TO sting us in every reminscence Of
Our own par eniage and Of our tenure Of ths SOIL
we NAV prescribe all foreign institutions. We may
insist with the spirit and purpose Of deter mined men,
that the ,rao tons Of feucasm aud the po,tiugs Of
despotism and the dctsions Of priescrsi sh all not
Transport the mst Ives from the Old World, which Is
veuy OF them, to this New World But no secr,t
party Organization IL needed, either to mature that
detefmns alton, or to make it effective in practice
What u righteous and just Va the object dessned vii
prosper tie more the more boldly it is proclaimed