The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-10
THEsONs OFLIBERTY

speclAl 70 me hAnala City a0uEuAl.
Topeka, July G.-The aims and
purposes OF the ''SOns Of Liberty" are
becoming more clearly known day by
day, though efforts are made to con-
eeal its workings. This society,
claiming over one thousand members
In Topeka, has, in reality, about
three hundred and fifty. The mem-
bers taken in lin both meanings) at
the formation Of a camp, do not In
crease, for there Is always dropping
of as soon as the real objects OF the
organization are known. Recruiting
officers, usually captain and a lieu
tenant, are sent out to the surround
ing towns for the purpose Of establish
ing q new camp. They advertise,
through friends, that there will be an
anti-prOhibitiOn meeting, and thus
gather a erOwd-sOmetimes a large
one. They make strong anti.prOhibi-
ton speeches, aud are liberal in their
sentiments. AQer this part of the
work is over, they call for member
ship for an ''anti-prOhibitiOn club"
and here comes In bold and bare
faced deception, fraudulent in all in
tents and purposes.
These officers promise that when
the oath is taken il will be such as
will not interfere with politics, reli-
giOn, or private convictions on other
matters that the club Is solely 70 Sc
cure personal liberty In the use and
barter Of Intoxicating liquors. Many
men sober and careful sign their
names, not wishing 10 submit to die
tatiOn ON the part Of others, be they
few or many. They do not especially
care whether they drink or not, but
they deny the right OF any person TO
say they shall not. Afterwards comes
the oath, in which the initiate solemn
ly swears that he will do all he can to
secure absolute freedom from this one
tyrannical law, adopted by q minority
Of the voters that he will do all in
his power TO secure its re-submission
and repeal; that he will aid only
those applicants for positions who in
dOrse this action that he will do all
Ia his power to prevent those known
as prOhibitionists from holding any
Office or position whatsoever that he
will aid In crippling the business OF
the common enemy that he will al
ways recognize a brother when called
upon for aid, and that he will give
him the preference In everything re-
gardless Of everything that he will
perform any and every duty assigned
him by the camp; that he will cheer
fully obey all its laws and orders, and
that he will aid In extending It's in-
flueuce; that he will observe this oath
and IL he violates IL he prays that
every living man will desert him and
his family will abandon him; that he
will become an Outcast from society.
This oath weakens a great many,
and while they have gone thus far,
neither asserting nor dissenting, by
their absence they sever all eUnnee-
tiOn with the newly formed camp. A
captain, three lieutenants aud eXecu
tive committee ARE selected, and soon
the real work begins, which consists
Of continual and insidiOus attacks
upon the Republican party. The
mask is soon thrown aside aud the
"SOn OF Liberty" finds that he is
within a secret circle Of Democrats,
and Is committed 10 vote for the Dem
ocratic ticket la full, or prove a traitor
to his order.
Governor Click joined one Of the
camps in this city, aud nearly all the
prominent Democrats have taken the
obligation, though there il one high
in authority who emphatieally said
last week, "D-n the Sons OF Liberty;
| want our party 60 win but I viii
not crawl in the dirt aull slime 10 Sc
cure success. Fhe sous of Liberty
is a fraud. founded by hypocrites who
would not hesitate 10 sell Us OuI, and
who are bane TO any party they may
belong to. While the order Is de-
signed TO help us, will let them 10
their underhand work" such were
the sentiments expressed by gentle
man well known in this city aud in |
the state. The camps Of the "sOms"
are reaching out In the interior, aud |
we may expect 10 see them in almost |
every town. They seek to seduoe
who are known 10 be
Averse to the present prohibition law,
by claiming 20 be with them. The |
low character OF the men sent out |
from this city should be sufficient 20 !
repel decent men Of any party.