Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-07-04
EBENsBURG, JULY 4, 1856.

Vic Stihiilioh sldidCtcI Ot SuCH dfi dCt. toitcQ
such association or taken upon himself any
such vows, obligations, or oaths, they are not
binding upon him in law and ought not to be
in morals. He will enact the part of good
citizen by eschewing all such fellowship or as
sociation and abandoning their Illegal enter
prise"
Upon careful review of this subject, lean
see nothing in law or morals to induce any
change in the doctrines thus laid down, and /
am glad to find that the same views have been
taken upon this subject in New York and
North Carolina. 1t is the view which is sane
toned BY law, BY sound policy and good
morals
From what we learn of this association
which changes its name as often as Proteus is
tabled to have changed his form, the members
are sworn to deny that they belong to it.
That they are to preserve its secrets and that
all their doings are secret and in conclaye.
They vote in secret to aomipate their candi-
dates fer political Offices, and each member is
sworn to vote for the candidate who receives
such secret nomlnation-they are sworn not
TO support the nomination or appointment of
any man, who happened not to draw his first
breath upon our soil or who has been educated
or chooses to worship God according to the
ritual and doctrines of the Roman Catholic
Chuch. There may be other Objectionable
obligations assumed by the member but these
are enough in all conscience, to stamp their
proceedings with the reprobation of all honest
men who love the institution of our country
In the first place, a high regard to morality
will insure correct habits of thinking and ac-
ting \ sacred regard for truth, is essential
to the well being of the community. A will
full disregard of truth is the father of whole
system Of crimes Whatever tends to pro-
duce such disregard inficts positive injury
upon the community. BY reducing the stan
dard of truth and encouraging immortality.
What, then shall we think of an organiza-
ition which requires of its members an oath
that they will not speak the truth, but that
they will utter falsehood in denying that they
belong to it, Even the habit of equivocation.
which, would
Hold the word of promise to the ear
And break it to the sense,
tends greatly to destroy the moral sense, and
who would desire to live in community
where such doctrines were generally the rule
of action?
Again, in their mode of selecting caudi-
dates, this secret, midnight voting argues that
there Is something wrong in it. Why seek
the dark unless their deeds are evil I? In
republican government, where the people are
sovereign, everything shouli be open to the
face of day. In the ordinary transactions of
life, we find it laid down that the secret trans
action of business is always suspicious. In
political measures the people should always
know everything that is proposed and they
should have fulr opportunity of discussing
the merits and pretensions of every candidate
who is proposed for Office, openly and publicly,
ia order that the best men may be selected.
In a secret, cabal, the designing demagogue
has greater opportunity to further his own
selfish views and rob the people of their rights.
And, if he can in addition to this, compel
others to support him in bis iniquitous pro-
jects, great indeed is the injury inflicted upon
popular sovereignty. But then, this compel
ling men to sacrifice their own opinion, and
vote as others shall direct, is an utter subver-
sion of the right of sufrage-itis is tyranny and
despotism. whether exercised by one man or
by many mcn-the tyranny of the many is
often more destructive of the rights of others
than the tyranny of man. There may be
generous impulses about despot which would
not peryade set of selfish aristocrats or dem
erogues. The giving mp of ones own opinion
Of the fitness OF u candidate for office and
hindlv following the orders of others in vo-
ting, is entirely destructive of the right OF
flee choice which is the object of the ballot
box
The open n,ocfing together of men profess
sing the sa.ne political creed and selecting
from number of aspirants those thought wor
thy of public support for Office, is proper
mode for the concentration of public opinion,
to carry out the principles of the party, but
there is no compulsion by secret oaths in that
case, to compel a man to vote for such candi-
date if he is not worthy of public confidence.
That is very different thing from the secret
midnight oath bound conciaye OF the Know
Nothings.
1t was the secret conclaves the deep and
silent intrigues of the tyrants who ruled
France in the reign of terror, that under the
name Of liberty, deluged that fair country with
blood Beware that you do not permit like
causes to produce like effects here.
So much for the moral and political aspects
of this organization, independent of its at
tempts to restrict the rights of naturalized
citizens and Catholics. In these respects,
their operations are as unjust in point of prin-
ciples, as they are illegal and unconstitutional
in point of law. It is an attempt, by opera
ting upon sectarian and local feelings, to Gre
ate prejudice against all persons born in
foreign countries matter how long since
they may have been naturalized nor how long
they have resided among us--no matter that
they are men of the highest moral worth, in
telligence and virtue. No matter that they
have come to this country from deliberate
choice, and have married and settled among
you. None of these things can be taken into
consideration in prescription that reaches
the whole class Talents, capacity, integrity
of the highest order, and education of the most
finished kind are all to be set aside for the