The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-06-25
''0pcn and sSubiic' Associations.


The New York Democratic State Com
mittee, in their recent recommendation of
political organization OF the State. advise
the formation by Democrats Of '-open ana
public" associations. These words were
chosen deliberately. The COMMITTEES did
not intend to give countenance g. secret
political societies. Whatever may BE- the
character and influence of secret societies
for other obJeotS, or however necessary
certain benevolent or mystic societies may
regard It, to protect themselves from in
trusion by secrcsY, these influences and
these motives ase to operate in tue case
of political societies, under republican
government.
Especially is this true Of Dsmocrauc
societies. 1hes lose their character when
they lose their openness and publicity
With secresv, they become cabaIs govern
ed BY cliques. They cease to form or TO
disseminate public opinion. They back the
boldness which is Necessary to lublic vir
tue. They belittle great cause. No
matter how beneficial the oryaniza'i,n. IT
will degenerate, ike certain Wholesome
plants, wAen put in the dark intp :. ,,er-
verted and poisonous grosth.
they are imppiiic aiso We 1eii-vs
the cause of iibe'iy In Europe. which has
been as urned by aiiiia ed socie it> meet
ing m the dark has suffered continual fail
ure from this c.a~c. The ouiy ef-c, ot
the organization has been TO cnabl. some
,py or traitor to bclray lis members,
wholesale, to The enemy
Let US have ''open and public" NEE.
ings-open and public d.scussons-open
and public defiance of usurpatlon and ty.
raanyl This has always been the course
of the Democracy; and this has given it
It's influence over opinion. and lis power
of r, slstance.
Our political opponents pursue Ri oppo-
site course They have little faith il pub
ic opinion, and great confidence in in
trlgue, dclat!on and meDance. They take
naturally u secret caba,- At the Loyal
League Convention in tca 1t was openly
avowed taat secret" L.agu were an ex-
tensive part of the political machiuery.--
1t is announced, also, in the " Y Times
that Gen. jim Lane. Ion Owen Loycjoy.
Hon Mr.. Bingha and o her gentlemen
equally well kno~n, hive been recently
Engaged at Cleveinnd in the forma,ioa of
"a close League "A secret so,iety. 10
oversee and dic:a;c 10 ali the others. That
these midnight cai,sl~ are encouraged bv
the Administrator. l. evident from the
iemark of The 'iule,io Conimelcia. which,
aluding 10 a passage Ia Burnside order ia
reference to secret p 'iiIicsl societies, says:
Whether General Bar side sp ,roves
them or not, they receive the ssuclion Of
those higher ii authority ,ban General
Burd>ide. and are known AMI acknowl-
edged by them to be- indispensable in The
struggle for the pre- erraien of the gov
ernment"
Let these demacogueS pursue these ,ac-
ties. out let u not initiate them Let
them fly 10 their hiding places. al! We
shall The more easily dispose If tbem.-
They cease To be formidable when they
cease 10 be bold. Open. r.blic. manly dis
cussion will prove too much for all their
tricks and All their cu,ning cobces.menis
and combinations; as Li-hi j. ever mc,s
po@erful than Darkness y y. Argus
a 'CcpPEKnEAp-~-W have found q.
last what ''Iop arhead - Tie %er-