The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-19

man blood, and which, with the torch Of the
incendiary, carried confisgration TO the dwell
ings of thousands of our foreign born popu-
lation. 1t was fearful crime; It Was dark
stain upon the page Of our American history
and those who Witnessed of remember ~
cvet oeth. bound, Know No4hing organisation,
with = shuddsr that chills the blood and
shsmes the pride OF American citizenship.
Such is the Character Of the history OF one
secret, oath bound political organization,
which has marked our history. But now, We
learn, the radical faction, which soruples at
no means to perpetuate iss bad rule and &C.
complish its revolutionary schemes. 10 at
work trying to inveigle the honest soldisry of
the country into another secret, oath.bound
political conspiracy. To accomplish this the
more readily and TO make it appear plausi.
BILE, IL 10 pretended that the only object 10 to
form an association Of soldiers TO help each
other and each oshsr's widows and children,
in case Of need. But, ~ will be seen by the
OATH il does not stop Of this, but goes away
cation q secret political one. So far rs the
object 10 benevolent, nobody will object; but
if it be purely benevolent, why the necessity
of secrecy, and above ell, why the secret
oath9
We warn the soldiers to beware. The OBJ
ject 10 to entrap them, to take away their
freedom Of viii and bind Thorn fast, by an
oath, whore they may be used BY politica
demagogues. Besides, the soldiers shouli
remember, that tho people submit to . tax Il
| pay them bounty, and TO some Of them ,
| pension; and We submit to their sense o
| Justice whether il il fair to thus combine, il
secret, against faithful tax paying people
We trust these suggestions may induce tn
1 .~R.~ II ~ hASn
he resigns the freedom of his action and will
by taking such An oath ss follows:
! Here 10 the oath. Read it:
| OATH OF THE GRAND ARMY THE REPUBLIC.
sI do solemnly swear, in the presence of Al
| mighty God and these witnesses, my former com
| rades in arms, that win never, under any pre-
| tenee nor for any purpose whatever, make Know
| the secrets OF this Encampment; that will neve
make known, or cause to be made known, direct
ly or indirectly, any Of the passwords, grips, o
| signs, or give any information whatever by whic
| any of the hidden mystsries, works, or ritual o
| this band Of comrades may be known to the unin
| itiated. do further solemnly swear that wi
| never wrong a soldier nor his family, SUITE
| others to wrong them il can help il; but Will
| on all occasions, when not Inconsistent with tn
duty owe to my country, my God, and myself
befrend him and his family that will, on all oc
| casons, employ him, or assist him to obtain EN-
ploymsnt; that If need be will extend the han
OF charity first to him or those by whose slice
have fought for my country; that tctH susfat
for offices of trust aud profit, all things being eQna
at all times the citizen soldier Of the Republic
further swear that will be governed by the rules
this Encampment and yield implicit obedieuee to IL
| Eneampmeut of trhich Tnay be member, and to q
the rules and orders Of the Grand Encampnent I
tphich this Encdmpment is subordinate. And fu
Their promise and swear that, should any OF tn
books or papers belonging to the Encampment b
placed in my hands, will neither print. nor caus
to be printed or copied, any part or portion Their
| of, except by special permission of the Grand FL
campment. l do further swear that 1 take tn
obligation upon myself without any mental rsse
walton whatever, under NO less q penalty than th
OF being treated as spy and traitor by this orde
So help me God, and keep me stsadfast.''
This is the oath as 1t is administered to eac
candidate. Read ID and ponder long befol
you suffer it to be forced upon you.
Honest men may now see what kind of
machine is the organization known as tf
Grand Army Of the Republic"