03/23/2021
The term, “Molly Maguires” first appeared in the coal region via the media, namely the Berks and Schuylkill Journal (Reading, PA) and the papers who picked up their story and republished it in the fall of 1857.
Reprinted in the Pottsville Miners Journal, September 1857:
“The Molly Maguires.” - A new and exclusively Irish Catholic secret organization, under the above euphonious title, has recently sprung up in our eastern cities, and is just now occupying a very considerable degree of public attention. It was started originally in Boston, as an offset to “Know Nothingism,” but since the decline of that Order, has been found so eminently useful in controlling the Native Democracy, with whom the Maguires are politically associated, that it is kept up with increased zeal. The fundamental principle of the new organization is to “taboo” every political aspirant that is not of Romish faith, unless they will aid and assist its members. Under its practical working, every Locofoco Convention is in effect so packed beforehand, and so admirably managed by the secret drill of its members, that Native Democrats are thrust to the wall with no hope of political preferment. So powerful has it already become, that it is even said to control in a measure the action of the dignitaries of the Government in their appointments to office, and thus it has happened that recently so many of the ‘better citizens’ have been preferred to posts of honor over those of their political brethren who are ‘to the manner born’. To show that this is no fancy sketch, but that a powerful organization of the kind already exists, we may mention the fact that it was quite lately made the subject of priestly denunciation – to blind the eyes and abate the alarm which is beginning to be manifested by ‘outsiders’. At the catholic church of St. Philip de Neri, in Philadelphia, on Sunday, Rev. Father Cantwell the officiating priest [was] quoted … part of his discourse bearing upon the subject.
It is a singular circumstance in connection with this subject, that although the Locofoco press and leaders manifested such a holy horror of ‘Know Nothingism,’ they have not a word to utter against the ‘Molly Maguires’ – a fact which goes to prove that secret political association may be tolerated, provided their members are ‘right to the goose’ when it comes to voting the Democratic ticket. Berks and Schuylkill Journal.
