The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-08-31
The Knishts OF the Golden Circle.

the Knights OF the Golden Circle. The OBJ
jects Of this organization are said to be to
throw obstacles in the way Of the government
and to give aid and comfort to the rebellion in
every possible way. The exposition which we
publish is from the Cairo correspondence of the
Chicago Tribune, and purports to be based
upon the sworn afidaviss of responsible par
ties. The ceremonies, signs and grips OF the
order are assumed to be fully explained. and
the arrest of member of Congress and OF
several other prominent citizens Of Southern
Illinois is reported. On the whole, the exposi-
ton in question is very curious. absurd and in
teresting, and will well repay perusal
1t strikes us, however, that the attempt to
represent this so-called Order a. great con-
spiracy against the government is silly and per-
nicious. In our opinion, the Order Of the
Knights Of the Golden Circle is as complete a
humbug as the Order Of the Sons Of Malta, and
the two orders very much resemble each other
in their signs, grips and ceremonies. Both Of
these orders were devised by dissipated fellows,
with the object of obtaining plentiful free
drinkS The pretence that the Knights Of the
Golden Circle originally intended to flibuster
Central America into the Union ia just as grest.
a sham and delusion as the pretence tat the
Sons Of Malta designed to fil,buster
Cuba into the Union. We know all
about the Sops Of Malta now, and its members
freely avow, since the Order has been squelched,
that their intention was merely to have little
fun, /" sell" few friends, and indulge in oys.
tiers and champagne at the expense Of the initia-
ton fees. The Knights of the Golden Circle
had no better or worse intention. 1t IL perfect
folly to represent them a. conspirators and
rebel sympathizers and to give them the credit
of widespread organization, powerful support
srs and numerous adkerents. The exposition
which we reprint seriously states that the
Order is an organized plan to foment rebellion
in our midst, and to encourage armed resist
ance to the authorities. It charges that the
leaders of the Order are in direct communica-
ton with the rebels, and that they are armed
by the rebels and send recruits to the rebel
army. It states that the Knights are sworn to
resist the draft and the tax and have their
generals, captains, lieutenants and other officers,
who drill them for this purpose. 1t details the
most absurd signs, grips and passwords, but
says that, /" though absurd, they are not the
less likely to be true.v /. represents that
signs are agreed upon by which Northern and
Southern members of the Order shall recognize
each other in battle and designedly overshoot
each other, and by which, when making bayo-
net charge. the Northern knights shall signify
their intention to surrender as prisoners without
striking blow. Now, if all this trash were
not pernicious to the government, were not
hurtful to the Union cause, and were not great
hindrance to enlistments, Il would be too nom
sensical for notice
1t will DO observed, however, that only abo-
lition journals-like the Chicago Tribune and
New York Post indulge in this sort of sedition,
and that the newspapers and the men whom
they charge with connection with the Order
are uniformly democrats. Some time ago the
abolition journals made such hubbub about
the matter that Secretary Seward was Sc
duced into writing foolish letter to ex-
President Pierce, asking him if he really be-
ionged TO such an organization. OF course the
cx-President, like any other gentleman, knew
nothing Of the Order except through the news
papers, and returned o most polite but decided
negative to the Secrctary's inquiry. We are
glad. however, that this circumstance did not
wholly silence all mention of the Order, be-
cause We think that this is very proper occa-
sion to summarily extingush a real conspiracy
against the government which tue charges
against this Order merely conceal In other
words, we believe that the fuss raised about the
Knights of the Golden Circle is simply another
shrewd device Of the abolition organs to divide
the North and hinder enlistments. Here are
newspapers seriously stating that a great con
spiracy against the government and in favor Of
JEFF Davis exists throughout the loyal States,
its conspirators by thousands. Is
not this calculated to afford aid and comfort to
the enemy? Here arc journals solemnly repre-
senting that the great mass OF democrats and
the great majority OF democratic newspapers
in the North are secretly sworn allies Of the
rebels. Il not this giving comfort to the enc
my and attempting to divide and weaken the
North. Here are journals deliberately stating
that thousands of our soldiers are ready and
willing to lay down their aru,s and surrender
to the rebels. l. not this giving aid and com
fort to the enemy? Here Ee journals not only
admitting the possibility and probability of re-
sistance 10 the draft and the tax, but actually
that preparations Of gigantic
are already made to support such
resistance with arms. Is not this aiding and
comforting the enemy and embarrassing the
government And are not all such statements
as those to which we refer directly in violation
Of Secretary Stanton's order prohibiting oil
writing and speaking calculated to discourage
enlistmerts. There can be but one answer to
these questions. and our special provost mar
shas ought TO make that answer sufficiently
and emphatic.