Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-09-06

Milliard Fillmore,s Platform against Secrct
Societies.
twill be seen from the following article that
Willard Fillmore is not only opposed to secret scce
ties, but in 1928 was the anti-Masonic nominee
for the Assembly from Erie County" We under
stand that large number of Masons in the South,
who were members of the Know Nothing order,
are determind to oppose him in the coming cam
paign. =,
in 1927, as an t-Mason. In 1928 he was the anti
Mosonic nominee for the Assembly from Erie coun-
ty The Convention which nominated him was
held in Buffalo the 18th, or the 10th of October
That Convention issued an address which, accord
ing to the Buffalo Courier, contained the following
proposition against secret societies. We commend
them to the attention at once of Masons and Know
Nothings
l. "That large body of our citizens who do not
belong to the order are mysteriously Influenced ny
those who do.
secret societes) to be essentially opposed 10 the
security of the citizens to the impartial admnlstra
ton of the laws and to due reverence to religion
8. "The institution is at war with the spirit OF
our free Government hostile to oil equality OF rights
and an impossible barrier to the administration OF
justice.
4. "The equality of rights which the Constitu-
ton expressly guarantees cannot exist while secret
society shelters its members, and the asccndancy
of law and good order cannot be maintained in
community while an extensive and an influential
body of men claim and exercise the power Of i'm
posing and enforcing obligations which must often
come into direct collision with the laws and duties
of societies.
g. Moral sentiment constitutes the only weapon
with which the stronghold of Masonry (secret So
cieties) can be assaed, and this engine if properly
directed, will prove sufficient to batter down its
bulwarks, and expose to the gaze and derision Of
the world the mystic mummery with which it has
surrounded its deceitfu and detesable principles.
g. cit is vain to temporise and palter with our
duty. If we wish to destroy the baneful influence
of Masonry (secret societes) we must withhold our
vote from those who support it. We frankly &C.
knowledge that in some cases personal and political
friendship render this duty painful and difficult to
perform, but as honest and dutfu citizens we are
bound to sacrifice predictions for individuals
to the safety and success of the important princi-
| pies we have espoused and why should we startle
at measure in defence of our rights which our OPP
ponents have successfully used to usurp them !?
They are bound by oath to vote for brother be-
fore any of equal qualification and to support his
military and political preferment in opposition to
another"
els it not necessary in selfdefense to resist this
alarming conspiracy? Can we shut our eyes to the
fact that ambitious and designing men have attach
ed themselves to the institution to obtain that pre-
| ferment of which they were undeserving? When
it shall become we'll established that Masonry (se-
cret sociees has ceased to afford its superior ad-
vantages for political objects, the great nducement
that low sustains the institution will be lost"
: Exchange