Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-07-31
Secret Societies and Politics.


| tiOu VI cNoEJ mdu WuO loves IAlf
play and freedom. The abomination
of Know Nothingism are now con-
coded by all. The outrages Of the
secret Society ofTammany, notwith-
standing its Endorsement by Gov
ernor Seymour, are familiar to the
American people and a disgrace to
American politics. The excitement
produced by the interfeIenc of the
Masons with politics ia a matter of
history. Every where and at all
times secret societies, so far as they
dabble with politics, must exert a
baneful influence. The public mind
is justly and properly filled with APP
prehension by their presence, as the
individual would be if he knew an
assassin were proving around in
the dark. He could not tell when
and whore the assassin might strike,
nor what might be his motives, nor
who might be his victim AS a
matter of course, all men would be
interested in ferreting out and rem.
dering the assassin harmless. So
must they and SO will they feel in
regard to oil secret political societies.
For these reaaons, we oppose the
Patrons of Husbandry, while we
sympathize with their ostensible OBJ
lects-the education of the farmer
and the enforcement of his rights,
both in the making and the admisis-
tration of the laws. We do not ap-
prove of these secret methods of ad.
vancing even a good cause. So far
as the questions of sociality and be.
| nevolence are concerned, we have
nothing to say. These are matters
for individual taste and discretion
to decide. 1t is only when the Sc
cret society affects, or socks to affect,
public measures that we have right
to object and to know what is pro.
posed. that We may be prepared to
indorse or oppose the measures, as
we think the public interest de-
mands. No set of men united in a
secret organization can have more
rights or legitimate interests to ad.
vance that those not so united.
They have no righ! to carry any
scheme through by surprise, nor to
lie in ambush for the purpose OF
thwarting their fellows, nor to play
the part of the moral or political
assassin in any shape. Only open,
free and honorable warfare is tolera-
BILE or justifable under our republi-
can institutions. Open and free dis
cussion of all public questions, and
honorable dealing in all public mat
ters, are what we demand. We
know il is denied that the Patrons
of Husbandry is political organiza-
ton. But we are very much better
able to judge tree by its fruit than
its name. The following, from To-
cal Democratic contemporary, CON-
menting on visit from one of the
"Wortbies" of the order, pretty we'll
indicates it's Jesuitical character
We pointed out to him the evil re-
sul.s which were likely TO flow from
secret political societies, when he in
formed US, with great gravity, that
the grangers were not political. He
then proceeded to point out clause
in their constitution prohibiting the
discussion of political or religious
questions. Political or not, they are
destined TO exercise a powerful in
fluence on public affairs during the
next four years. The Administra-
ton party is 80 linked with money!
ed corporations that its leaders look
upon the marvellous growth of the
farmers movement with ill.conceal-
ed alarm.
This is false pretense. The prin-
cipaI aim of the grange is poll tical.
The fact is clearly demonstrate in
tho West, wherever the oranges are
numerous enough to give them in
fuencc. The non.pclitical clause is
preliminary and descriptive. 1t is
intended TO quiet the scruples of
honest and honorable men, who OBJ.
ject to becoming political assassins.
Once roped in, it is believed that
these men can be controlled and used
for political purposes. And in this
false pretense is a confession that
the thing is wroDg-that secret po-
litical associations are repugnant to
the popular mind and inimical to
the popular interests. 1t betrays
the consciousness that the righteous
prejudice against such societies must
be overcome in order to secure re-
spectacle membership. 1t is the
devil in a new shape, tempting men
into q snare. The alluring bal. con-
ceals a barbed hook, and is not what
it appears to be. 1t professes not to
NEEDLE with religion or politics. Its
real aim and it's practice is to med
die with both-in secret. 1t cannot
be otherwise than disasterous to the
community at large.
Reaction is sure to follow. 1t has
even now begun. 1t would not be
strange if this reaction should reach
the other extreme, and make indis-
crlminate war on all secret organi-
cations. 1t will in the end greatly
arouse public indignation, and in the
fury of excitement produced by real
outrages on both individual and pub
lie rights, who shall say where the
tide will stop? There is already
an organization IN existence, known
as the National Association of Chris
tians, whose principal tenet is oppo-
sition to all secret societies. This
organization sees in the secret
grange new justification for its ex-
istence aud new hopes for the or
ganization of political party based
on opposition to secret societies in
the United States. 1t is now con-
templating a national convention for
the very purpose of concentrating
the opposition to secret political So
cieties. If the folly of the grange is
continued; this opposition will gain
n IL l. l. Il