The Placer herald., 1856-05-17
Mr.. Fillmore ON Secret Societies.

Mr.. Fillmore ON Secret Societies
Among other Inconsistencies involved in
the opinions entertained by this gentleman
at different periods covered by his public
career, none are more gross than those in
regard to Secret Societies-that is, if the
candidate is to be considered as identified in
sentiment with the party he represents. For
instance, in the absence of any declaration
on his part it is fair now to presume that he
is now member of the know-nothing order;
that he was secretly initiated into its mvs-
teries, and assumed all the obligations impos-
ed by its ritual. If this be so, and we pre-
sumo it will not be denied by his friends, it
will not be out of place to contrast his present
position with that which he occupied some
years ago on this important subject.
Every well-informed man is aware that a
few years ago there was in New York and
Pennsylvania, a powerful party, denominated
anti-masons. They directed all their thunder
against Free Masonry as a secret institution
The part which Mr.. Fillmore took in the
movement, and the grounds upon which it
was based, are a part Of the authentic politi-
cal history Of the times.
Millard Fillmore commenced his political
career in 1927, as an anti-mason. In 1928,
he was the anti-masonic nominee for the AS
sembly from Erie county. The Convention
which nominated him was held in Buffalo on
the 5th Of October That Convention issu-
ed an address which, according to the Buffalo
Courier contained the following proposition
against Secret Societies:
/. That large body of our citizens who
do not belong to the Order, are mysteriously
Influenced by those who do"
2. 1--WE honestly believe the spirit of Free
Masonry (secret societies) to be essentially
opposed to the security of the citizen, to the
impartial administration Of the laws, and to
due reverence to religion"
8. "The institution is at war with the spirit
of our free Government, hostile to all equa-
ity of rights, and an impossible barrier to
the administration of Justice"
4. The equality of rights which the Con-
stitution expressly guarantees cannot exist
while a Secret Society shelters its members,
and the ascendency Of law and good order
cannot be maintained in the community
while an extensive and influential body claim
and exercise the power of imposing and en-
forcing obligations which must often come
into direct collision with the laws and duties
of society"
5. "Moral sentiment constitutes the only
weapon with which the strong holds of ma
sonry (secret societies,) can be assailed, and
this engine, if properly directed, will prove
sufficient to battle down its bulwarks and to
expose to the gaze and to the derision of the
world, the mystic mummery with which it
has shrouded its deceitful and detestable
principle"
The following is the closing paragraph of
the address:-"And now, fellow-citizens, we
call for your merited and vigorous exertions
to accomplish the great purpose in which
we are engaged. The struggles of masonry
(secret soceties) are those of life and death.
All the ingenuity and devices of the sect will
be put in requisition to divide and mislead
you. i Il Let us not, then, be divert
ed from our course either by our own pas
sions or the articles Of our opponents, but
maintaining fixed and steadfast opposition
to the society, let us with untring persever-
ence exert those means which by the blessing
of God, we still possess to vindcate our
rights and perpetuate our liberties"
Mr.. Fillmore was the candidate of the
party who put forth this address, Upon this
platlorlH lie WAS uSnereu INTO pONtlcal l1e
AS long as the party existed he continued to
act with it. These charges were leveed
against a society of which Washington was
a bright ornament, and yet the more ardent
admirers of Fillmore have likened him to
the Father of his country But not alone
against masonry, was this Philpic directed
1t included all secret societies as a wrong
principle. The disavowal of the masonic
order of all interference in political affairs as
a body, could not save them from the fury
excited by prejudice, and kept alive for selfish
ends. Then Mr. Fillmore could Join in pro-
scribing fraternity because it was secret,
and because he chose to believe it was poiti-
cal--now he joins one avowedly political.
consistency thou art jewel"
Necada Democrat.