The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-28
s. .. B.O

republican paper we open, contains an
advertisement headed as. B." and not
only in this city, but of most of the towns
in the county, as well as all over the State,
VIC are reliably assured, the republicans
are organizing themselves into IS B."
associations. The Muscatine, Iowa, Courier
the editor of which appears to have pene.
trated the outer veil of the institution,
gives the following insight into the object
and aim of the IS B." fraternity:
1st. 1t is a secret political society," "educat-
ing the people through the methods of
symbols, covenants, ceremonies and or
ders." The object of its founder is a Pc
cuniary one. The object of the societies
Is to control the election for abolitionism
Everybody understands that secret DO
litical organization controlled by aboli-
tionists, cannot be of any benefit to-fhe
Union cause. Though the founders of
the order may think it can be used for
the purpose of keeping together the Union
of States, yet the people must know that
all secret political societies are used to put
men into office, and for no oter purpose
Cd. The organization is of military,
political, secret character. Wequote from
tiIc
The system of the s. B, as fraternity,
is essentially Military. Its nomenclature,
paraphernalia, covenants, laws and cere-
monies are warlike in their structure
| There are five grades of membership,
g. Comradship, } the Private, Lieutenant,
Captain, Colonel, and General The fee
for introduction into, the Association is
but one dollar. 1hi. secures Registration
in the General Office, a certificate to that
effect, and the knowledge OF the Rituals
tic observances, which are exceedingly
beautiful. An organization of Comrades"
is called camp, which adopts BY laws,
holds regular meetings, introduces {" En-
lists } candidates e. Recruits and adopts
such scales OF fees as the members please,
All OF which funds are controlled by them.
selves. An organization of Companies
forms . regiment, of which one or more
is established III each county. A Recruit"
/ must be eighteen years and upwards, pos
sessing the qualifications prescribed in the
| Ry-law5; and a semi mbership is af-
forded to youths from fourteen TO eighteen
years, thus giving the desired opportunity
Of e@aclttog H.at important class IN tie pTinci-
/ PIES Of 5:atesnaJlshp p and patriotism.
An organization for each State is pro
/ posed, which Will have the entire charge
/ OF the Association within its own bounds
To introduce the ) L. into a county, a
Commission as Chaplain or Coloael is fur
uished from this office, which authorizes
! the holder to organize n ComraDy or
I Regiment, and he is furnished with all
J necessary powers, rituals and instructions
| for that purpose. As fast as COMPANIES
are organized they elect til cir own officers:
when q Regiment is formed, the members
of the component Companies elect Regi-
mental officers, and representatives from
/ Regiments organize State Associations
/ Elections are confirmed at this Office, and
I then the temporary Commissions are an
nul!ed. The entire process IS simple and
| easily understood. Ia your State (and in
| organizations by July next, AS general
/ rule the Comrades elect to office those
! who hold the temporary Commissions and
f., perform the labor Of organization"
! Here we hs We the two chief objects Of
! the :. 3. f:aterEity-viz, : secret oath
} bound political society with an organ.za-
! ton essentially military. 1t Is expected TO
! have societies throughout the State of
| Iowa, by July, SO that they may be in
! working order for the October election
/ The organization is in fact a re-establish-
ment Uf the old Know Nothing and Wide
Awake orders The meetings are TO be
held on stormy nights in dark alleys and
| by lanes They are intended TO bolster
up the sinking fortunes Of worn out politi-
! cal characters.
Is the nation strong enough to stand
thi. new attempt TO destroy 1t? Can it
live with a secret military organization in
every term and village! Will not such
military iraternities lead to bloodshed and
revolution These are questions asked in
l III ,L
wer them.
Whatever others may dc, let the Demo
cracy act out boldly, openly and above
board. We are not ashamed of our prin-
ciples They require no cloak of secrecy
to make them acceptable to the masses OF
the people. And while we labor to extend
cur own sacera principles, let US be on our
guard and see that secret political military
organizations do not rob US Of the right to
speak our sentiments when We WILL and
vote these sentiments at the baliotbox
Democrats, you have q Herculean task
before you. Are you sensible of the mag.
nitude Of the work you have to perform
| We beseech you to wake up Arouse
from your lethargy. Speak out. Hold
your meetings. Organize your clubs Cir
cuiate good sound Democratic newspapers.
Invite the best speakers. Be active Be
| vigorous-or all may be lost No man
who loves his country should dare be
silent or quiet now. The foe is up and at
work. 1t holds secret meetings and pub
lie meetings.
1t is preparing to retain power by app
pealing to the catridge-box and ignoring
the ballot box. Democrats, wake up. Let
not another week pass until you have or
gazied club in your community. Ioyou
! 81 ho E,,ra nj
its greatest calamity Never desert the
old ship. Stand Jy her to tie last Don
permit her to be wrecked. Keep the
present pilo. from running her on the
Shoals and quicksands. Put new pilo,
at the helm as soon as the Constitution
will permit, ana all may yet be we'll