The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-02
SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.

A Schnectady, n. :, SuDcriDeIp un-'
der date of March 22nd, writes as fol-
lpws:
- "Will you give me your
opinion on the expediency necessity Of or
GaniEipg secret organizations to advance the Ia
tArests Of the industrial classes. Be"
AS the question is one which more
Or less agitates the minds of the friends
IF workingmen at the present time,
and upon which a great diversity of
opinion exists, we propose simply to
comply with our correspondents re-
quest, and give our osOn opinion on the
matter, leaving our readers to endorse
pr reject it at pleasure. Under or
binary circumstances, we would con-
eede the plausibility of the plea of the
opponents of secret societies that they
,re Gati-republican in character, and
should therefore be discountenanced.
But in this case we cannot admit the
force of their argument. When the OBJ
iect is to secure instead Of to snbvert the
tights Of the masses, and where the
odds are SO overwhelming, we be-
aieve the producing classes are per-
fectly justified in adopting the means
land measures most likely to secure
success. 1t is said by many, and with
Ia great deal oftruth, that successful
generals keep their counsels to them
selves, never expose their weakness,
and strike the enemy when and where
he leasts expects the blow and if we
'are going to make our plans known to
our enemy in advance Of the attack,
and before the organization has been
perfected, in nine cases out of ten, the,
contest will end in defeat and de-
moralization." @ml
1t is we'll known that our Trades Or
CARNATIONS are secret societies, and
that it is to this fact they owe their
strength and efficiency. The Knights
of ST. Crispin, now one of the most
powerful in the country, dates its sue
cess from its reorganization on a more
stringent basis and it is limited that its
success has been so marked that
several others are seriously discussing
the feasibility of following in its foot
steps. The fact that some secret or
CARNATIONS have been NAL in their in
fuence is certainly no more an evidence
they must necessarily be so, than the
fact that few black sheep have been
found in the garb Of saint, is an evil
dence that the gospel itself is a fraud.
In this connection, it may not be amiss
to refer to an incident which may have
some influence upon large class of
our readers in determining this ques-
ton. Tn 1861, deceased member Of
the Shipcarpenters' and Caulkers'
Union of Chicago, was refused burial
with the rites of the Church, by the
late Vicar General, the Rev. DR..
Dunno, on the grounds of having
been a member of secret (protec-
tive) organization. Exception being
taken to his action, committee was
appointed to lay the matter before the
Bishop of the Diocese, Duggan),
who, upon learning the facts Of the
case, and the objects of the Society,
withdrew all opposition, being satisfied
that such associations were not only
beneficial, but indispensable to the pro-
lection Of the workingman F; and from
that day TO this, there has been no
further trouble on that score.
Our opinion is that no arbitrary
rule can be laid down. There are sec |
tons where it would be impolitic to |