The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-15
ORDER OF UNITED AMERICAN MEoHAN-

John Y. Foster, editor OF the Newark,
New Jersey, Ecening Courier, to James g.
Blaine, ex-speaker of the national house OF
representatives, of which the material part
was as follows "a potent faction In our
" next convention will be the secret anti
" Catholic order. Grant Is member of
" it, and it has good deal of strength in
congress. think you ought to go in.
" 1t can be arranged 30 that you can be in
I" itiated anywhere by one person. The
+" order is spreading widely. My obliga-
/" tions do not permit me to say more than
/" this, except that Grant no doubt relies
" upon 1t to promote his aims" In brief
comment on the letter, the day after Its
publication, we doubted its genuineness.
1t seemed improbable that letter of this
kind should make its first appearance in
democratic newspaper, and the attempt to
make the democratic Standard, "Mr.
Blaine's home organ" did not help the
probability. With the sentiment of the
country relative to secret political societies
"a sentiment so powerful as to lead even
so honest and truthful a man as Henry
Wilson to dissimulate relative to his con-
nection with the know othings-it seemed
hardly possible that any sane politician
would connect himself with such an order,
much less the president of the United
States, or that any man should avow his
connection Herewith, and commit to the
uncertainty of the mails a statement Of the
fact coupled with the advice =" to go in" to
possible candidate and aspirant for the
presidency.
All doubts, however, relative to the au-
thenticity of the letter are now dispelled,
Mr.. Foster admitting the authorship there
of and the fact that he committed it to the
tender mercies of the mails, directed to Mr..
Blaine. From his explanation it appears
that his attention was first directed toward
the existence Of secret political society
during the canvass relative TO the New
Jersey constitutional amendments in 1874
rs that he then learned of the existence
of the secret "Order of United American
Mechanics and that the order was be-
coming more numerous and powerful week
by week. This was his starting point, and
some two weeks later he was informed by
member of the republican national COM
mittee, "a prominent Washington official"
that the order was growing with amazing
g rapidty all over the country" that d.
visions of the order had been established in
every state in the Union, that score of
congressman and great many officials
were members, and "Grant himself was a
deeply interested and active member"
and that in the next nominating conven-
ton and election the 'oIder would be, per-
chaps, the great directing power" He
further states that the democratic reform
ers, who coalesced with the republicans in
Maryland, are members of this secret go
ciety "whose foundation stone is hostility
"to sectarian legislation"-a very good
foundation stone, we may be permitted to
remark, but one which requires no secret
political society to make effective. and one
which such society could only break or
shatter.
In his explanation, he speaks as if he
was only relating what he had been in
formed by reliable, trustworthy persons,
and, with their statements and other cir
cumstances, he makes the fact of General
Grants membership evident, but.aside from
this, we have the statement of Foster him.
self, an avowcd member of the order,
"whose obligations do not permit" him
I" to say more, that "Grant is q member
and, probably, relies on its support. 1t is
equally evident that Blaine is not mem.
Der. The letter, although forwarded by
mail, was never received by him. His
first knowledge thereof was obtained from
the newspapers, and Immediately after
reading it in print, he telegraphed Foster
to come to Washington, saying the "wholt
thing is incomprehensibl to me-" 1t is
perhaps, fortunate for Mr.. Blaine that tn,
letter was published in the public Journal
prior to being seen by him. Whateve
might otherwise have been his course
and we believe he is too honorable ant
patriotic man to have allied himself witt
a secret political society-it is certain tina
now he will never connect himself will
this "Order of United American Mechan
+" les" or any other secret political society
If he had, or could have, conceived an
such idea, the publication of this letter will
teach him the utter folly Of such an alli
ance.
| How the letter found its way into tn
hands of this Maine democratic editor is
mystery and one, perhaps, which is of n
importance to solve. That it was obtaine
surreptitiously, dishonesty, If not criminal
ly,is evident-and whatever of honor ther
may have been in so dishonorably obtain
ing and publishing 1t, he alone is entitled
enjoy. The object of publishing it wai
doubtless, to injure Mr.. Blaine, but thi
will not be its effect. Its effect, If any
will be to remove General Grant out OF tn
way and leave clear field between Blain
and Secretary Bristow and, perhaps, i
the end result in placing him second on th
ticket with Bristow at the front--a tickle,
we may say, which every honest, patriot
man can heartily support, and which, W
believe, the people would enthusiasticall
, endorse. Foster wrote his letter will
perhaps, the best of motives-that of ser,
, ing his friend the STANDARD published th
letter with the intent of destroying
dangerous political toe both have gu,
} ceeded In assisting Blame, but not in Ii
3 way or manner intended or desired.
, Woman's Work in the Centennia
, An opportunity for Vermont women
e show their handiwork and taste, as well {
r | their acquaintance with the various hei