The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-17
patriotic Order Sons of America.

setting forth tie objects ana prlhelPies vi
this organization. We also commented
upon it, giving our views, in respectful
language, which were adverse to the Order.
Our comments we're made in compliance
with the suggestion of the gentleman from
whom We received the pamphlet. That
thew were adverse TO the Order, was the
fault of the erroneous principles on which
it is founded, viewing it, as We did, from
our own stand point. 1t is much more
agreeable to praise than to censure, at all
times, but neither praise nor eensure should
be bestowed at the expense of truth. The
comments we made were our honest con-
yietions. after a careful reading of the
pamphlet. and as free and independent
nress we could do neither less nor more
than to give to the public our honest, I'M
biassed views of the Order, as requested.
We could not, in one brief article, present
the whole subject, and necessarily reserved
for Il future occasion, what remained to be
said on other points of the Order. Nor
can we, in what remains to te said, treat
the subject with any more favor than was
shown in our preceding article. The
fact is, the more we examine into the sub
ject. the more we are confirmed III our
views of the erroneous principles on which
the Order is founded They call them
selves the "Patriotic Order Son Of Amer
lea" But what sort Of patriotism is that
which manifests itself in direct derogatlon
of the Constitution and Laws of the United
States. They may deny this soft impeach-
ment but they stand convicted of the
charge by their own admission, by their
own published pamphlet, which rises up as
n swift witness against them. The Order
excludes from its membership two classes
of people admitted to citizenship by the
constitution and laws of the country the
Afro Americans, and all those who come
to this country through choice, instead OF
being here by the accident of birth. The
constitution and laws make provision Tor
the admission to citizenship of these two
classes. both of which are prescribed by this
Patriotic Order. Is it small matter Tor
an organization, boasting so loudly OF It's
patriotism, to put itself in antagonism to
he constitution and laws of the country
that oiyes TO its members asylum, and
throws over all the egis OF its protection
Suppose this Order were numerous enough
TO WELD the political power of this country,
wonld il not change the constitution and
the laws so as to conform to Its own
proscriptive creed? fits members would
not, they do not honestly cherish the princi-
pies they profess. And ifthey would is any
one so blind as not to see that this would
be revolution-a change of our present
liberal form of government, for something
alien TO that established by the wisdom and
patriotism of the Fathers of the Republic?
Nor is this all that we have against this
Patriotic Order Sons of America. 1t has
n MILITARY DEPARTMENT. What
does that mean? We quote again from
the pamphlet sent to us by one of its menu
bers:
.There is also in the Order Military De
partmeh, entitled the PATRIOTIC GUARD,
consisting of Communicates and Com panies,
arranged into Battalions, Regiments, etc.
Communicates wear Chapeau, Regaia, ETC.,
and are armed NTH slr0rtls Companies wear
the uniform of the United States Army, and
are armed tcifh Springfield rifles. Any
member, in good standing, is eligible 10 enter
the Patriotic Guard. !"
The italics in the above extract from the
pamphlet are ours. Again we ask, what
is the meaning of this Military Organiza-
ton? An organization designed TO over
spread the land, unknown to its laws, and
unauthorized by them. Are these swords
and Springfield rifles mere toys,fo grown-up
children to play with, or are they designed
for sterner work, the work that such i'm
plements are usually applied to? What is
the true inwardness of this vast and power
full military organization which exists in
the very heart OF the country, in the midst
of peaceful people? 1t is not the mill
Tia, organized under State laws. 1t Is not
the regular army, organized under United
States laws. 1t is an alien force unauthor-
lied by either State or national law. Has
it no meaning? Who will say that it has
not. Suppose this standing army, for 1T
is nothing less, should take At into its head
to enforce its peculiar principles upon the
country, would it not have the means at
hand to do so, taking the rest Of the peo-
pIe unawares? And is there not an equal
probability that they might take such a
crotchet into their heads, on occasion, as
that they should have formed such an or
eanization? OF course they would dis
claim any such thing, but they are not diff
ierent from other men, and other men have
done such things, as history proves. 40
actu ad posse galet eonsecutio. The mere
possession of vast military power is temp
tation to use Il, as history demonstrates.
Very slight pretexts have been sufficient
TO turn the military power. against the
rights of the people, even when such power
was ostensibly raised for the protection of
the people We need not specify, for his
tory is pregnant with such examples.
Hon. Josiah Quiaey, addressing the people
of Boston, on this subject said-"How
regular and uniform are the rise and pro
gresa of military calamities in all ages.
How replete with instruciion-how full of
admonition are the memorials Of distant
times especially when contracted into the