Year: 1877

The Supreme Eucampment Of the Or
der of Caucasians met at Sacramento and
elected its officers for the ensuing year.
The Caucasians is a secret order, the OBJ.
jects OF which, though not fully known,
are nevertheless sufficiently understood to
make 1t apparent that it possesses power
which, if not rightly used, can be pro-
ductlve of great mischief, as any organi-
zation founded on race prejudces can be.
The Caucasians, as secret organiza-
ton, is Of recent date, but we understand
that 1t numbers between seventy and
eighty encsmpments. il has its origin
in the excitement attendant upon the
large Chinese immigration, which threat
ened to oyerwhem the land with a del
uge Of Asatic labor. 1t was a just
subject for alarm, but it was one
which required statesmsnship to proper
| ly deal with it, and that is a thing rare to
find in an organization which aims 10 Sc
cure numbers rather than character to its
membership. For such, we understand
to be one Of the aims of the Order.
/ Strength is Of course desirable in any bo-
dy having public object to carry out,
/ but strength Of some kinds is only weak
ness. Such is the strength found in num-
bers alone when unguded by the power
Of well governed minds. The truth Of
this has been already well proven in this
very Order. For although it was not es


tablished judci0lly, by the conviction Of
the offenders, the public mind has little
doubt but the Trout Creek murder last
Summer is directly traceabe to the in
tense ti-Chinese feeling then ex-
i ting, which was ilHamed to acts of vo-
lence by the debates and interchange of
niments during the session of the En-
campment. That some of tie murder
ers went forth on their mission Of blood
from the hall Of meeting is another thing
of which it will be hard to dIsabuse the
public mind. Such actions are calculat-
ed to bring odium on any cause, or Order.
however just in itself, and make it fall
into disreputo. Consequently we are
prepared for the intelligence that the Or
DIR is weaker to-day than it was six
months ago. it is no more than should
b. expected would be the case.


But it is still powerful Organization
for good, if rightly directed, for evil if
not. It's greatest danger lies in the fact
that its strength can and will be used 20.
l.tically, and its members, swayed by
prejudice, be easily led by tie voice of
dcma gop ues. Mel OF high political char
a2ter seldom care to enroll their names
in secret organization, unless, as in the
Union Leagues, it becomes necessary to
combat secrecy with secrecy. Already
we see asserted the intention of the Cau-
casians to make use Of their power in pol
ities for the coming campaign, and we are
told that through their strength and in
f1nence Sacramento county will be car.
ried for the Democracy. Undoubtedly
a majority of its members are al eady IN
fall fiiliation with that party, AID are
more intent upon its triumph than up
on the success of the main principle gov
erning the organization. If Democracy
offered any better solution of the problem
Of Chinese immigration than is suggested
BY the Republicans, there would be reas-
on for this action, but it does not. The
question has been brought before the ma
ton at last in the proper manner, and
90 b less, had it not bOen for the excite
ment and delay growing out of the un-
settled presidential contest, it would have
b en- dealt with in some wise calculated
to show us how the matter was viewed by
those who had its deformities presented TO
their consideration for the first time. II
must be borne in mind that State action
can affect nothing whatever, beyond call
ing national attention to the subject-that
the only relief attainabe must rise from
the action Of Congress. Hence, the
avowed purpose Of throwing an influence
for one party in purely local fight, can
not fail to have a bad look to those who
can see other great questions at issue as
well as the one of Chinese labor.


We think the Order n bad one. al
though the principle on which it is found
ed, we think correct. But for local in
hlence in this Chinese matter there is no
occasion FOR secrecy. The Caucasians
can vote for tho-e most likely to sustain
their view as well when they are rot
members of II secret conclave as when
they are. No organization which fetters
a mans liberty Of action can be otherwise
'han inimical to the spirit of our institu-
tions, and should not be countenanced.