The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-21
secret Political Societies in General and
the CIan-na -GaeI in Particular.

The Know Nothing party was the
only formidable political society that
ever rose aud fell in this free country.
That secret, oach-bound organization
owed its brief career of prosperity and
its PAL tial successes TO the fact that j.
WAS able to seize upon a pre>eXIsiing
passion, in a time of political reaction,
when the great parties were IN a state
Of torpor. But had the aims of the
Know Nothing party been patriotic and
praiseworthy, its Secrecy. its hummer
les. its Oaths. and Its suhjectiOn of The
will of the individual citizen to the de
crees of hidden junto, operating in
the dark, would have been its sufficient
cond- mnatiOn. AS long as this secret
party lasted it had great attractions for
men who were abe 10 acquire a pre-
emineDce in its councils which neither
toeir talents nor their worth could gain
FOR tn N elsewhere. aud who used the
footing acquired there 70 advance them
selves in other fields where honors and
emoluments of office were TO De har-
vested. But assoon as daylight flashed
upon the kuOw-Nothing organization,
exposing its character and mischievous
tendencies, it disappeared like the
mists before the morning sun.
Singularly enough. men who are
ready to condemn Know NOJhiDgism,
with its hidden mummeries and oathes
have not hesitated to attach themselves
to other oath>bound political organiZa-
tions of a much darker and more repul-
sive characted Recent revelations in
regard to the so-called Clan-ns Gael
Society show il to have been a nest of
intrigue and conspiracy, In which des-
perate adventurers operated upon the
weak and credulous in order TO accom-
plish the most Infamous ends.
Funds contributed by the poor and
needy for the cause of Ireland have
been squander-d by thousands on the
Chicago Stock Exchange in gambling
in Wabash and other "wildcatS."
Some of this money has been used in
hiring muTderous desperadoes to sling
dynamite in crowded railway stations
abroad, and in employing assassians 10
remove" dangerous enemies at home.
It is natural that such an organization
should be boneycombed with treachery.
and that the lie CsrOns should keep
the British Government fully apprIsed
of all its secret movem nts. So COM
plete has been the intelligence that
agents Ssnt TO England to perform the
"woTE" of the society have been ar
rested, with the proofs upon them, al
most as soon as they landed. In the
politics OF this country the organiZa-
tion has been used for all it would
bring its leaders in money and spoils.
A political organisation so consti.
tuted is not only curse to the cause OF
Ireland but reproach to the nation
that gives it hospitality. There is no
doubt that many good men have been
lured into the society without having
any definite idea of its aims and charac-
ter. Now that its true spirit and ten
denotes have been revealed their duty
is plain.
But, even IL the aims of this orgsni-
ZatiOn had bees as pure and patriotic as
they have been desperate and criminal,
there can be no excuse in this country
for the existence of any secret polit ical
organization. With the best aims, such
organizations inevitably degenerate into
tentres OF intrigue and conspiracy. In
a free government like ours the only
omDipotent conspirator is public opiu-
ion 1; and its sessions are always open
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