The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-04
espBal Rakf1tg a1ntunrr.
silent, or mildly censure-presumably-

silent, or mildly censure-presumabl
from policy.
The unlawful taking possession Of
other peoples property. or even destroy
Ing it, seems Ito me- less heinous than
the forcible interference with one poor
mans right to work where or for what
wages his condition impels him.
That any Of these acts are conscien-
tiously sanctioned by more than small
minority. even of tho organizations in
the name Of which they are ostenSibly
committed, | have not the least belief.
The conscience Of men as regards right
and wrong are too much alike to admit
OF such belief. But Ito me- it is aStonish-
Ing how much wrong is permitted with
out protest by those who think their
interests may be advanced, or VINO fear
their interests may pe imperiled, or those
who hope that good may come out of
evil.
If the sentiments of the combined
hearts OF the great American people could
be exposed to public gaze, / have no
doubt but that the condemnation OF all
such acts would be 50 overwhelmingly
preponderant that such acts would sell
dom be repeated. In my present state OF
ignorance, if / could control things with
words, | would have laws passed to abol-
'1sh and prohibit all secret societies; not
because | object to such societies as the
others, whose members are good and up
right citizens, and whose objects are only
good, but because if one portion of So
ciety has legal right TO band themselves
secretly, another portion of society has
an equal right to band themselves to-
getner secretly, and, as birds of a
feather flock together,n many organIZa-
tons may be for evil purposes, and their
combined secret power may be like
earthquakes and cyclones-verv de-
Structive in localities. This I admit is, If
wisdom, based on ignorance, because l
am aware that the secret influence for
good may overbalance the secret intlu-
ence for evil. But, from observation, [
do not know Of any good which has been
accomplished by secret societies which
could not have been accomplished by
open organizations, and il any portion of
society desires to associate together eX-
cluslYely, 1T seems easy to do SO openly.
Ii the bon ton desire a gathering of
their clique they issue invitations, and
they are not intruded upon; so with any
portion of society. Human evil is always
an active aggressive force, while human
good Is quiet passive force, until as
sailed by evil. If good knows from
whence the assault may come, much
harm can be averted.
Another thing which appears unwise
ito me- is the permission OF private de-
tectiye and police forces. Prote ton of
citizens is function Of government. and
ali forces used for that purpose should be
directly under control OF proper legal au-
thorities. The Government which neg
lects or delays to give protection
wherever needed is either weak or cuipa-
bic. That our Government lacks prop
erly organized, adequate police force is
apparent, and If ever such force is estab-
llshed many evils can be abolished
such as offering rewards for the
arrest and conviction of criminals, ETC., [
could give an outline of what l think is
needed, but thousandSof more compe-
tent men, if once stirred up to action,
can show the need for it, and provide an
adequate remedy. OLD CRANK.