The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-09-09
MR. FILLMORE AGAINST SECRET
SOCIETIES.

Mr.. FILLMORE is now member of, and an
avowed advocate of secret political socic-
ties. He is a sworR, third degree Know
Nothing. About the time he wrote his Erie
letter, he ives ginger and mustard against
all secret societies, and, strange to say, on
the ground that he feared they would con-
pect themselves with political parties! He
made FURIOUS war on the Free Masons, up
on that very ground. No more forcible
speeches against political associations can
anywhere be produced than those deliver
in Buffalo by Mr. Fillmore, when Il candi-
date of the anti Masonic party in 1898
He then subscribed to the following scnti-
mcnts;
2. Tho institution (MoSorry} is at war
with the spirit Of our free government, hos
tile to ell equality Of rights and an impas sa-
BILE barrier to the administration of justice"
4. The equality Off rights which the Con-
stitution expressly guarantees cannot exist
whilst secre: society shelters its members,
and the ascendancy of law and good order
cannot be maintained i'll the community
while an extensive and influential body of
men claim and exercise the power of impos-
ing and enforcing obligations which must
soon come into direct collision with the
laws and duties of society"
5, sit is vain to tcmpOriZe and p4itef
with our duty. If we wish to destroy the
baneful influence Of Masonry (secret socie-
ties) we must withhold our votes from those
who support it. we frankly acknowledge
that in some cases personal and political
friendships render this duty painful and
difficult to perform but as honest and faith
full citizens we are bound to- sacrifice our
predictions for individuals to the safety
and success of the important principles we
have espOused, and why should we startle
at measure in defence of our rights, which
our opponents have successfully used to
uSurp them ~
They are bound by oath to vote for Il
brother before any person of equal quallt-
cations and 'to support his military and pO-
litical preferment in Opposition to another.
1t is not necessary IN self-defenae to resist
this alarming conspiracy! Can we shut
our eyes to the fact that ambitious and de-
signing men have attached themselves to
this institution to obtain that prefcrment of
which they were understanding When it
shall become well established that Masonry
(secrct societies) has ceased to afford its
objects, the great indueement that now sus-
tans the institution will be lost"
Such is the strong language employed by
Mr.. Fillmore in attacking the charitable and
benevolent institution of Masonry--and
with a most extraordinary inconsistency,
this same Mr.. Fillmore ID now the member
of a secret political society, regularly in
Quoted under the auspices of a dark-lantern
and presents himself to the American people
as the candidate of that party for the Pres
idency. We say nothing of the proscrip-
tive and blighting principles Of the Know
Nothing party, which claims and exercises
the power of enforcing obligations that must
conflict with the Constitution and laws
TO prove the pliableness of Mr.. Fillmore,
it is sufficient to point to the fact that the
once bitter assailant OfMasonry, which has
nothing to do with politics, on account OF
its secresy, is now the head and leader Of
a secret political party, that would destroy
civil equality and religious liberty.