Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-07-17
THE CRESCEETS-


Within few years past secret polit-
ical organization has come into existence
in this State which, from its secrecy,
holds a power far greater than is COM
mensurate with its actual strength. 1t is
composed of men Of all nationalities who
can subscribe the test required to obtain
mein bership, and while it endorses the
principles of no party, its power and in
fiuence are dreaded By all.
We have spoken of this organization
as secret political one. This is what it
appears to be TO those who are not Of its
mem bership and entrusted with its se-
orets. Whatever Of other proceedings
are planned in its lodge rooms are known
only to the initiated, but the political
character Of the order is made manies.
at each election. It's aim is to hold the
balance Of power between parties, and to
use that power to prevent the election OF
/ Catholics to Office. And, to illustrate the
method of its working we cite the follow
ing instances. In 1871 the entire Repub-
lican State ticket was elected by an av-
erage tnjority Of 5000. with the excep-
tion of John A. McGynn, the candidate
fox State Harbor Commissioner, who
was defeated by majority of a bout 100.
The Democratic candidate was also OF
foreign birth, but Of another religious
faith than McGlynn. The change OF
votes resulting in McGlynn's defeat was
almost entirely in San Francisco, which
| is evidenced by the fact that while Booth
received majority Of 2959, Rosenfeld
on the other ticket, was successful in the
city by majority OF 1887, McGlynr
beating him in the remainder of The
State.
The next instance in which the Cres
cents displayed their strength was in The
defeat of Crowley, the candidate Of tho
" Peoples Party" for Chief of Police
From the manner in which the ballot;
were scratched, the strength Of this pow
erful order was judged to be about 7,00(
votes in the city of San Francisco alone
though in other centers Of population
they do not appear to have like proper
ton Of numerical strength. Such pow
er, acting us one man, makes politician:
chary of oourting its enmity by the nom
ination Of men whose religious views are
known to be obnoxious to the order
! Hence the action Of the late Democratic
State Convention, which has evidently
aimed to conciliate the Crcscents by
he nomination of ticket unobjec.iona-
/ ble to them in every respect.
1t is not our aim in this article to dis.
cusS the good or evil which can result
and must result from the introduction
of such an element into our politics ; bu
simply to speak Of the fact as it exists
The Order is believed to CONTROL 10 ,00C
votes in the city of San francisco alone
| There no party can afford to encounter
its solid opposition. In the absence o
/ better lni2"mation, we take the principle
which underlics the organization to bt
1 tlis-that there should - no connection
/ of religious questions with American pol
itics, and that the church or sect whlc,
attempts to connect its followers with any
party for the accomplishment Of sect
arian purpose must be met and fought
with its own weapons. The idea of any
mingling Of religion and politics is dis
tasteful to the great mass of American
voters.
Whether this principle, in its brondes'
sense, is entertained by the Crescents will
be made apparent this tall. For one oI
the most important positions on theiI
State ticket, that Of Superintendent OF
/ Public instruction, the Democrats have
nominated II religious bigot whose known
views upon certain educational matters
contributed greatly to the Democratic
defeat in 1871. Had the Democrats nom
mated n Romish priest for the place on
their State ticket now held by Parson
Fitzgerald, the Crescents would have
been in arms ut once. Yet we know that
/ fitzgerald holds as narrow-mndcd and
illbcral views upon some of the qucs-
tions pertaining TO school matters as the
/ Catholic clergy are accused of entertain
ing. The same principle which would
Ia o. to defeat the one should labor to de-
feat the other.