Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 September 1878 — OATH CLAD POLITICS. [ARTICLE]

OATH CLAD POLITICS.

11l years past there has been more or less discussion among the people of the United States about secret political oath-bound organizations. In general they havo been looked upon with disfavor as being hostile to the spirit of our republican form of gov eminent which is based upon the doctrine of equality before the laws, as having for an object special class legislation, or as aiming at the overthrow of the republic Itself. Know 'Nothiugisni attacked the constitutional rights of foreign-born citizens and attempted to abridge them; the Kfiighte oft lie Golden Circle, Sons of Liberty and kindred organizations which sprang into existence at the north during the rebellion, had their origin in a hatred of free institutions, a hatred of the tree laborer, anil sympathy with treason which attempted to destroy a system of govern in eut that knew no distinctions of person, birth or property; the Grange movement was a lhild incipient form of Communism, which advocated special hostile elujjp legislation ugaiust the transportation, manufacturing, commercial and kindred industries of the country; the KuKlnx of the south [ made war upon the rights of a class of people who had been newly invested with the privileges of citizenship, and was thus a virulent form of Know Notliingisin. Communism lias succeeded Know Notliingisin as malaria springs from decaying substances, ami .the..G range- was the - torer-u nner of tl»o present oath-bound political party of marked communistic tendencywhich* advocates the practical repudiation of our national debt, the "destruction of tiie value of our money, and wjjiieh has arrogated to.itself the false title of National Greenback party. The leaders of this party have a system of signs, grips and passwords by which they recognize each other, and are hound together by an oath or obligation as follow's; ; i I Mtlumuly promise oti'tfi j-yacred honor that I will not reveal the name ot any portion present, nor of any one who imi Wbeeomtf know u to me us a member (if the NaUfcpal Independent t*;4rty; and that 1 will not fleVCul tUi.V of the signs, grips or passwords that I m.'iy receive as heiougiiiK to said party, to any one not n member. of the game.- 1 furthermore promise that ( will not vote for any one for any office of honor, trpat or prollt who is uot solemnly plodded K* support the principles set' forth in its platform. Every Candidate uominated by this party in Jasper county, save those persons who had previously-taken the foregoing obligation in tlife secret lodges where they met, were required

to HiiliHiM'ibe to h formula of simitar character, us all who attended the convention In Starr’s Hall will remember; or, if they have forgotten, will recall to mind upon tending (lie following copy of the lusj paragraph of the memorials submitted to that convention by Messrs. James Yeoman, Ezra C. Nowels and James Nickel), to-wit: I will zealously lalx>r not only for mv own election but ii Iso for the entire Ijieenbnck ticket. [State llrwl rmipiesslotiulf] 1 further pledge nij self to vote foriifi mnn for nnv legislative office who is opposed to the Greenback theory. The democracy of Jasper county surrendered every time,honored principle of their party &tul ugreed to deliver seven hundred votes to the oath-hound, dark-lantern, commune ticket. Will they be able to tuiflll the contract? „ Possibly a thousand people listened attentively, last Friday, to the joint discussion of Hon. W. H.Calkins and Hon. M. 11. Weir, rival candidates for congress. They conducted the debate in a manner highly creditable to themselves as gentlemen, introducing one another to their audience, keeping their own time, andavoiding all offensive personalities nnd acrimonious accusatious. Mr. Weir has an

advantage ’of voice, which lias been better cultivated, and he also has a dozen years advantage In foreusic and political experience; but he was either laboring under some conscientious scruples, at loss how tb measure his auditors, or else lias no heart in the contest. Having listened to Mr. Weir when he was a zealous republican and heard the impassioned sentences which fell from ltis eloquent lips, the tame, spiritless, apologetic effort of Friday was disappointing •and pitiable. Unless Mr, Weir does better elsewhere Major Calkins will beat him two thousand votes in tiie district. Calkins came out far ahead at Rensselaer. The unceasing anil laborious efforts the ruiliQil party is now-putting fnrtii-to- maintain its Imbi—the several arrangements tile lenders arc now striving to perfect to enable them to colonize voters in Jasper county, &c., ke.-Demo-cnltic Sentinel. Our opponents are restless and uneasy. They will hesitate at no falsehood to secure their ends, lie prepared to hear all kinds ot campaign slanders against the democratic and national candidates, hut heed them not. Just ou the eve of election all kinds of reports w ill he set alloat to deceive. —lteinocrallc Sentinel. Those paragraphs mean just one of two things: The allies are frightened and nervous; or: They are shouting “Stop thief!” to divert attention from their own industry. In either case tile Sentinel is a fool, because it has discovered to its enemies the feeble corn) it ion of it» feamn. .: : :

The only times that it was suspected that men were colonized in Jasper county to vote were, the fall of 1874 when iJarkley and Charley Price and other democrats were elected, and in October, 1870, when Jimmy Williams was elected governor of Indiana. Put isn't it amusing to note how deftly the Democratic Sentinel assigns the nationals to the second position? The dog is gradually regaining control of his tail/ The republican central committee have been fortunate in securing the services of Muj. Mark L. DeMoite of Valparaiso for three campaign speeches in Jasper county- He is one of the most pleasing and forcible orators in the state, and those who are so fortunate as lobe able to listen to him will be well paid for their trouble. Friends of the republican cause who live in the vicinity of the places where the meetings are appointed will please see that they are well advertised and that all necessary arrangements are made for properly lighting the houses and the comfort of speaker and audience. Major DeMotto draws large houses in his own county, in which he is very popular, and Jasper county republicans will do themselves credit by giving him a cordial reception. Bee announcement of his meetings. A general invitation is extended to the public to attend, aud the ladies are specially invited.

An attempt is being made by the' Weir men to compel Mr. Skinner to withdraw from the congressional race. Mr. Skinner may possibly eonelude to do as Mr. Wolcott did two years ago, and then again he may conclude not to do so. Why don’t the flats ask Mr. Weir to withdraw ? He was the last man nominated, qnditjJbanild not be any more humiliating to his friends.tbau-4he- withdrawal- of Mr. Skinner would bo to his; besides wo have that stanch democratic newspaper,“ the Valparaiso J/< miiiya-, as authority that Mr. Skiuner is us good a democrat as Mr. Weir or any other man iulthe tenth district. i The Hats of Jasper arc? feeling badly, very badly Indeed. They drew an elephant, typically speaking, in their congressional nomination, utul they don’t know what to do with him. He won’t get more than a thousand votes in this county*. They dare uot put on their tickets in Ids place for feat of disturbing the equilibrium of totjier things, etc. A remarkable feature of the salaryrgrabxtcal is llmt it never -hurt a healthy, well (levclosed Indiana democrat-after ho got hoipc with it. but it Soured oh every republican, and as sorirt as he struck the Unto ime he was 100 weak to gtr J htmceaitynor?; — ig giaour Times.