The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-25
Monday. February 25. 1878.
Let us have little more plain talk.

The Organ" in its vain attempt to par
ny the charge Of a secret organization
and its pernicious effects on political ques-
tons, makes the remarkable statement that
it is confined to portion only OF the
Workingmens party and to certain other
class who designate themselves Nationals,
The admission makes the case more dam
aging than was generally supposed. From
this presentation Of the case it appears
there is party within party, a certain
few who are chosen out of the mass to be
the recipients Of the secret councils and
plans of the organization, and that the
selection is purposely made of those who
are willing to place themselves IN the unen-
viable position of sealed and banded
brotherhood for the accomplishment of po-
liticaI purposes, Knowing very well that
the general sense of the Workingmens
party, as we'll as the people at large, would
revolt at the employment Of an agency
which all conspirators employ to cover up
and conceal designs which cannot bear the
light OF day, they select a portion, and
through them seek to permeate and leaven
the mass. The sworn few, by mingliug
with the whole body of the party, aud
acting in unity and concert under the or.
ders and direction Of secret conclave hope
to control and manage with as much certain
ly and effect as though as all could be induced
to join the league. 1t is the old game OF q
solid and united few attempting to control
and use the unsuspecting many for their
secret personal ends, If the subject were
not of such a serious character, and at
tended with such evil results, one would
be tempted to inquire whether the head
wags the tail or the tail wags the head.
The ooly fair aud legitimate conclusion
to be drawn from the premises which tie
organ" lays down is that the secret or
ganization does not include all. and per.
haps not a prepouderating proportion Of
the workiDgmens party as such, but
may be summed up, by saying all the
secret oath bound members are also mem.
bers of the workingmens party but moi
all of the workingmens party belong to the
secret Brotherhood. This makes the best
arrangement possible for few designing
and INSCRIPTIONS men, for while the
schemes and plans can be devised in secret
conclave aud kept from all outsiders, al
the same time the secret order member:
can mingle with the mass of the party,
participate in their proceedings, and By
their previous concert and established
unity Of purpose manage to contro
aud shape the'action of those who are not il
the ring. So that after all by the Organs
own confession, the secret part of the mae
nGement is really the.organization of 1
ring within the party, with this additional
feature that it is a secret and sworr
society working for Interior purposes of it
own, and pledged not to divulVe even t
its allies any of its purposes or it
machinery. The solemn promises OF tn
confreres to each other serves to make tn
work more binding -otherwise, if it d
not, there would be no benefit in thu
banding together, and no necessity of dOin
things in the dark which are prohbite
from Icing divulged to their unpledge
associates under the penalty of a threater
ed woe to traitors.