The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-23

the existence of secret political society
seems TO be indisputable that 1t partakes
of the nature of the old know nothings,"
has the same objects, and endeavors to
cover its tracks in the same way seems to
be equally unquestionable.
The New York Herald publishes what
purports to be an expose of the society,
and the New York Times has report of
an interview with one Of its members,
which, If true, contain all the information
necessary in reference thereto, and from
which we CLEAN the facts, or alleged facts,
here with given. The order was organized
in 1867 its object being, as stated in one
of their circulars, "to disfranchise Roman
Catholics, and TO prevent them from
holding political office" The obligation
taken by member upon admission, binds
him not to vote for, recommend, or APP
point any "Romanist or Papist or any per-
"son sympathizing with the Romish
" church " to any political office, and not
to permit his children 10 be brought up, or
educated, in Romisbl school of religious
or secular instruction, and to oppose all
efforts to use the public furds for any sec
tartan purpose. The subordinate bodies Of
the order are called "councls" the state
organizations are termed estate leglsla-
"tures," while the national, or supreme,
government is known as the "senate. y
| There are now one hundred and forty
councils in the country, distributed as fol-
| lows VERMoNT-Two-one of which may
or may not be located in Rutland New
Hampshire, three /; Maine, four; Connect.
cut, seven New York, forty-three Ohio
twenty-ope New Jersey, nineteen; Hi
nois, sixteen Pennsylvania, thirteen
California, five Michigan, seven. The
membership is stated at seventy-six thous
and eight hundred and eleven, of which
twenty-one thousand two hundred ant
seventeen belong TO councils in New York
We need not say how utterly opposed VI
are to all secret political societies, and how
dangerous we believe them to be to the in
tegrity OF free institutions, more especial.
those having for their avowed object tn
Inauguration of a religious crusade. W.
profess, in this country, to believe in re
} ligious federation, and our constitution pro
hibits congress from passing any law inter
fering with the free exercise of religion
vet here we have a secret political societ
+ that moi only proposes TO interfere there
, with, but also to Interfere with the RICH
, of individuals to educate their children q
they please, and to disfranchlsea whole n
lgious sect embracing among its member
such men as Charles OConor and Franc
Herman. The bare statement of the prof.
osition is enough to condemn it, and "
there are men, calling themselves INTEL
Q gent, patriotic American citizens, who he
itate rot to join in such crusade an
they are the very men who would thin
that the very foundations of the COVER
ment were being undermined If the exis
ence of such society was discovert
: among our Catholic population. If the
: gentlemen desire to invite such Cathol
organization, they are taking the rigl
course to accomplish it, as it may lea
: them to fight fire with fire, and who cou
blame them If it came to this as dern
resort The fact is, and these gentlemt
ought to be made to understand it, Il
Catholics have the same political rights al
. privileges as the Protestants-no less ar
1 no more.
J So far as votes are concerned, this 'p
"tent factor" does not seem to be we
J "potent." A membership of some sevis
seven thousand out of voting populate
t of seven millons-the vote at the last pre-
: dental election being {, AGO, 745-would n
g be very "potent" in "square vote
8 tween the members OF the order and oil
r siders, but its work is not all accomplish
n in this direction. Its membership may
i small. but the names of members being u
g known. the work is performed throu
: primary meetings, and nominating conve
It tions, and by their secret, underhanded woI
the members of the order are foisted up
the people as candidates for office, and
II potent cry of Irregular nominations" a
&c liberal use of the party whip is reli
d upon to do the rest. The danger is great
J. than would appear from the numbers
e from the alleged fact that the membersl
'e is increasing by the hundreds daily. T
e. organization can, however, be shorn of
" strength. Shrewdy it has seized hold of a
ir incorporated among Its objects, the nc
Or sectarian school question: question
10 which all are interested and one which
c. sure to prevail. In favor of on-sectari
1t public schools all can unite, Protestants a
g Catholics alike, and it is patriotic dr
al for the members of the present congre
IN both democrats and republicans, to un
er and promptly pass the Blaine amendme
thus taking the question out of curr,
politics, preventing religious issue Their
ne and removing the only plausible pretext
OF this mischievous and dangerous order
ed Tho Couth oyd Mast Tuhi1op<