The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-23
The new KNOW NOTHING
CONSPIRACY,
Its Object Being a Third Term
for Mr.. Grant.
LIST OF IT'S GENERAL OFFICERS
AND coPIoUs EXTRACTS
FROM IT'S coNsTITU-
TON.
Grant, Blaine, Jewell, and Other Lead
ing Men Among it's Members.

report, covering nearly two pages of tina.
paper, and with startling headings: 20
A. q. Unmasked:" Full Exposure Of
the Third Term Conspiracy" Secret
Order of the American Union Laid Bare"
President Grant, Postmaster Jewell, and
Blaine Fake It," &C., &c. In its opening
the Herdld says:l
Our information is obtained from a
source that is believed to be trustworthy.
and all of the documents have been set up
by our cOmpOsitOrs IRON the original
printed copies as used by members. 1t
will be seen, says the Herald, that this
order has for its aim a decided and per-
sistent, social and political war upon all
Roman Catholics in this country. 1t is to
oppose the extension Of the church of
Rome, for the prevention of Catholic citi
2ens from holding office, and for the pur-
pose Of carrying out settled plan OF cam-
paien in favor OF the election Of President
Grant Tor n third term. The order is said
to be in the hands of Grant aud Blaine
+. Cowles, from Cleveland, member of
International executive committee. which met
ut the ST. Nicholas hotel last week, went
to Washington last Thursday to initiate
Blaine and talk with the president Grant
will be run by the order for third term
as political necessity Most of the men
employed by the government in the post
Offices aud custom houses are believed to
be members OF the order Plenty of
money has been obtained 70 carry out their
operations. Chief Justice Dunn, Of
Arizona, was removed, it is alleged, by
command Of he American union, because
he was papist. 1t is also said that Tom
Murphy, of New York, was asked to re-
sign the dictatorship for the same reason:
but Of this there is good reason to doubt.
President Grant is a member Of the order,
without doubt. Fosters letter proves it,
if nothing else, National Deputy Edgar
initiated Grant privately; also Postmaster
Gen. Jewell. j. \. Foster says Gen. Grant
is member Of this secret order, haying
been privately initiated, This is true, ac
cording to our information. He did not
name what order, because he was oath
bound not to reveal names; but when
pressed by the Heruld reporter he fell
back on the united order Of American
mechanics. There is no secret about the
existence of this latter order. Every
directory Of every city publishes it, with
the names OF their councils and places aud
days of meeting. Besides, no man can he
privately Initiated into the order, but in
open huge. ND bliltE SHtitl BINlI Its
private mutations. This y. 4. L. is polti
cal, and a stupendous secret organization
1t is the only one that admits private
initiation. n national deputy, state OF
county deputies, can initiate any person
privately or secretly, as if done in til,
council This is done to get into tie order
big guns who do not care to be initiated il
the presence Of many witnesses, aud 81
that if you charge them with being mem
bers Of the order they can deny, and i
members Of the order charge them viii
not being members they say they are
bids fair to the most dangerous, most com
piete and powerful secret organization Ii
this or any country, 1t is already RUE,
by the most consummate politicians
SECRET MEETING.
The Herdld describes secret meetin,
of one Of these bodies, and gives the tolloW
ing as constituting the senate Of tue order
CONSTITUTION OF SENATE
PREAMBLE, In view of the iniolerant, prcsstCI
aad aggressive efforts Of the Komanists ana thei
evident determination 70 control the government
the United States and to destroy cur civil aud Re
iigious liberty, we dec are ourselves adhereuts
the following propositions. viz.
l. lha, an Interference in poll iCal affairs by an
man or b dy OF men acting in behalf or by dirtctio
OF any ecclesiastical body or power for the bencl
Of such organization is opposed to that prnCp
of civil and religious equality fought for by OF
fathers and guaranteed by our nalioual cJns,it'
ton.
> That any recognition of scctarian questions
distinctions in the management OF our public cd
cttiOna or reformaiOry Ins;i utions or in polite
affairs, Is opposed 10 the spirit of institution
3. That there Is danger hat the Roman CgthCl
church, pa ofcssedly Il body superior to all Cover
nents and demandin. from their adherents a
allegiance paramount to that rivcn 20 the stat
may take adyant &c, a thcy have done in the pas
Of the equality allowed t. them In common wit
ether forms of religious bClicftO strive for pOliac
influence Tor lie tNFpUSc tF advancing the iii
OF the church.
Therefore as that organization have intrnduc,
Is issue into political affair. in various ssooi
ot ourC uutry, and arc u5Giu~ their own rcCOgu
lion az an element i'm poliicaI problems and q,
handing spccal legislation for their own brncfi
further declare II to b. COnvi ,tiOu that rr
Americans should organize to oppose Ich attempt
aud we do hereby organic, ourselves and adopt f,
our COVE nmcnt the following title:
This organization : a be knows, among i
Lcgisl lures and councils may adopt any 9TH
name for public use at their discretion.
THE SUPREME OFFICERS AND MEN
at present holding official positions in tn
senate are the following: President of ii
senate, Geo, ID, Weeks; residence Brood
Ign, n. y. A few months ago Weeks WI
chief clerk Of the superintendent cf III
supply department for the city Of Brood
Ign, and has for some time bor0e the repl
tation Of being shrewd and not orei
serupdlouS politician. Secretary of tn
senate, Henry j. Holt, practei
printer long doing business at 81 NasSa
street, under the firm Of Holt and Br,
He resides in Elizabeth, n. j., and
also the president Tor as they call it, IL
speaker of New Jersey legislature Of
a. L. All the printed matter issued b
or concerning the orderis prepared by lIol
The utmost secrecy is observed. the wor
OF setting type and printing on the pres
being either done at night or with locke
doors. The greatest mystery and watcl
fu!ness is carried out by the secretary. Tt
treasurer OF the senate Is ex.Gov Minor,C
Stamford, Connecticut. The national dept
ty is MIR. Edgar, residing in Jersey City, h
place OF business being at No. 80 Par
row, room 80. % the door of his Office
sign bearing the names of Holt & Edga
Besides those already named as officers II
most prominent members of the sena
are ex-Gov Newell, of New Jersey: Re,
DR.. Eddy, Jersey City; Maj. Pangborn. eC
tor of the Jersey City Erening .Jouraa
T.. Cowlcs, editor Of the Cleveland Ledge
DR., Van Epps, Cleveland, o.; Rev. ID
Forbush. Unitarian, Cleveland, o.; Re
DIR. White, of Illinois, Gen. Buckingham
DIR. Headly, now in the United States a
praisers Office, New York; Rev. ID
Hughes, Green Point; John Bar5ou
Brooklyn; Mr.. Buchanan, KiDgsbridge,
y, and Mr., Winslow, editor of the liner
can Citizen, Portland, Maine.
THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE lCoAIAnTTE
is all powerful in the order, 1t decid,
questions in disputes frames laws, and a
ranges the business affairs for the senat