The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-06-15
Secret societtes... !.

Secret Societies.
"A secret society in republic is gliev-
Gus heresy in its very conception. Itis
at variance with all the aims, purposes
and boasts Of republican institutions. The
very theory of republics--the foundation
on, which all free government rests--is
the doctrine that the people have intelli-
gence, sobriety and integrity sufficient to
govern themselves sufficient to gov
ern with more honesty, discretion and re-
gard TO public and private interests than
are to be found under other forms Of poll
fhe estab bHsh&eht 81 a Secret society
for political purposes is, on the contrary,
plain declaration in act, that the people
cannot, be trusted with self-government;
that they must be drilled, controlled, guild
ed, invcigled, frightened or deluded into a
course prescribed by tide leaders of a mi
nority-whose deliberations are secret, land
whose decisions are to be executed with
blind obedience. Open discussion, frank
consideration of both sides of question,
and publicity of action, are the characte-
ristics of all good governments, and essen
tally so Of all free ones. In place of these
excellencies which have long constituted
peculiarly the glory and the pride of the
United States, Secret Societies would sub
stitute darkness. concealment and arbitra-
ry procedure. If truth and right are not
always in the ascendant in the former case,
their chances of success are not artificial
ly impeded. In the latter event, passion,
prejudice and blind obedience to the die
tates of supreme, secret tribunal, are
likely to be the principal influences brought
into play. In the former case an error
can be recognized and mistake correct
ed; in the latter, none but the chief Of
the inflated can see further than the out
ward act, and the result of previous secret
commands. In free governments every
man is entitled to free voice, and 10 his
due influence in determining the general
action of his fellow citizens. A secret
society neutralizes this grand privilege of
the free. and oyerEdes all free action and
free deliberalion by hidden combination,
which too easily and too certainly degehe-
rates into a conspiracy, at first against the
free action, finally against the liberties Of
the citizens. M f;E
There is political propriety, as well as
religious significance, in the scripturaI
remark that "men love darkness rather
than light because their deeds were evil
If the principles of republicanism are true,
and are sought to be maintained, and il
the objects contemplated by the secret or
ganizations are just and proper.why shoule
not the policy desired be candidly avowed
and fairly submitted to the Judgment o
the people? II defeat Of the proposed
aims is apprehended, those aims should b
renounced as either wrong in themselves
or as foreign to the sovereign will of th'
community. If they are still pressed b.
indirect means, the effort is a violation Q
all republican tendencies, it is a practica
Reputation ofrepublican government, an
will certainly eventuate in its overthrow
Grant that the objects originally contem
plated by the first secret societies are i
themselves harmless, or laudable, or patr
otic, the means taken to achieve them in
hict more fatal wound than could resu
from all the injuries sought to be redress
ed. For one secret. society will necessar
ly generate another; the devil must !
fought with his own weapons, and fire n
sisted with fire. One secret organizatic
planned for the attainment Of one set
purposes will suggest and provoke anoth'
contrived to resist them. That party o.
position which runs to such excess and
times creates such ruin and disturbanc,
even when exhibited in the broad day ligh
subjected to all the restraints Of publ
opinion, and liable TO censure from Il
thunder tones Of the masses--what wou
its action, and Its fruits become, when
Its measures were contrived in secret,
deliberations veiled by an impenetrab
mystery, and the responsibilities Of its a
vocates annihilated by the darkness
which they had enshrouded themselve
Let the first secret societies be organic
for real and not merely for plausible go
in very short time themselves and th'
imitators would sink gradually downwa
from their first elevated aspirations; al
victory, place, profit, honor, trump
would be sought at all hazards, and
eyeay method, without any scruples as
its propriety. The whole frame work
society would THUS be permeated by Il
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