The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-07-13
TOO LATE LEARNING.

Our friends of the Washington Co7saoaweabb are
Just learning what we learned months ago
namely that and secret political orgahZa-
ton is susceptible of the gIos>est abuse. and
scarcely escape being perverted to the service OF de-
signing and dangerous men. Nor Is our cotempora
" alone in feeling the scourge of such deSpoism.
We have felt 1t and only aveFred its more deadly
blows by graphing with it in its Threshold;
and many of our Wing brethren OF the press, who
had aided 10 warm il into life, and who thought
prompted by preJadIces or imaginary wrongs IN our
early and decided hostility to IL threatened
with the same dangers aud compelled IN sell-ie
fence 10 follow our footsteps. The Comm0"weaft4
will now agree with us that had il realized at
ier day the dark treason that rankies III the circle
where 1t expected friendship, its task of seiPreser
vatlOn would have been much more easily a6d more
successfully performed.
Our coteiaporary need not rs ''to beware
TO be prepared loF charges of 'sbrihery and to be
accused Gf seeking Ia bptrav the Wings into the
bands Of the Democracy. We have no such fears
fhe time for surh appfehensions is past. We well
remember however, but few months ago, when
We're threatened with anal hliatiou at every step
and exutlugly invited 10 prepare for bankruptcy
Even trne friends Trembled for Us, as they studied
tie hoasted strength Of organization cemented bY
the combined power Of extra judicial oaths and lhoT-
onghly excited preudices. But felt hat revo-
luton. not based upon prncipi which stand the
test of sober and strengthen themselves in the
calm judgment Of the people by their bpnefcent re-
suits, could fail recoIl with increasing power up
it, advocates and we have not been.dsapponted.
We did not seek to disifoy but to modify and strip
Of its evils. Heartily sickenrd the fearful mpoT-
tance accorded TO foreign Influences in this country
BY the base panderiEg OF parties could not but
SympalhIze with its apparently, and even avowed,
leading principle of Americanizing our whole pojti-
cal policy; and most reluctant resist it until
il presented, in It's despotic discipline, dangers to
which all other political dangers seemed nsgnifi-
cant.
But it IS now stripped Of its moral power, and IN
stead Of insolen dcration and inoerant prescription,
will soon WOO yon as gentle sucking dove. Ii
still eXsts-s' has formidable array Of nominal
tent by lnaugmating merit in and measures and
reaching the PopEiar heart by seeking the public
good. Ii Is no longer the firmly knit and ponder
crushing power il was. II Is hnt loose
aggregation o. men all other parties. and blind sub
mission 10 the edcts Of the council is among the
things that have been. True it is not declared az
open organization in this county for the very good
reason that there ambitious leaders whose only
hope OF using the order to promote their selfish
ends, depends upon secret councils and oath-bound
submission but the great of the party is TO all
intents and purposes open and free, for in defiance Of
the demacogues who would enforce discipline or i'm
pose disgrace, they will act as they please-alk as
they please-and rote as they please. They are sick
ened With dctation and fummery. and the oath is
robbed of its moral force by its prostitution to So m
worthy purpose. If the Commonwealth has differ
ent surroundngs--if still bow because oath
bound and prescribe because hidden so 10 dot has
responsible task Perforn and it must conquer the
desFosm that besets it fall beneath tsrenorseIes
stroke. There can be 40 halfway or middle ground
of safety, and only when councils, oaths grips and
signs are fofaRY abolished, Amerieanism be
stripped Of its dangers aud command the favor Of h
eral and conservative -Ckaal5ersJHxg KrpoSito-
ry and Wig.