The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-10-29

the people, says the paper, are not secured, nor
REGARDED. Ii then exults that in the United
States Of America, these Societies do not exist
because, there, the people rule themselves. We
hope we shall never have occasion to contradict
the Morning Chronicle IN regard to this asser-
ton. which we hope is true. But If such socie-
ties do not, now. exist among us. we are conf
dent in our belief, that they once had an exist
ence here which produced remarkable effect.
No one doubts, but that the principal officers
of revolutionary. of consular, and even of impe-
rial France, were of the order of jacobins, alias
illuminate, alias earbonar. France made the
most daring demands upon all nations in the
time of the revolution. Her minister Genet, re-
fused to submit TO the constituted authorities in
our country. And because Washington, at his
rude demands, refused his assent to violation
of our national neutrality, he threatened an ap.
peal from Washington to the American people
Washington was denounced as an anti-republi
can and societies, called republican societies,
devoted to the cause of revolutionary France, &
in opposition 10 then administration, were
established m most of the principal towns in the
Union; and blind devotion to the interests Of
a band of cut-throats, was publicly taught and
enforced with a zeal similar to that which exist
ed in France Thousands of Americans wore
the French national coclade, and yilifed Wash
ington publicly in the most yirulent terms.
1t was believed By many, Tor pretended at
least) that our government must and would en-
ter into all the views of the French revolution
lists and all this under the specious name OF re-
pub.icanism. Was it genuine republicanism Z
Let its termination in France, under Napoleon,
lst Emperor OF the Gauls answer the question.
Were the rights and liberties of the people Sc
cured by the Accomplishment of the views of
these societies in France /? Let the blood Of
slaughtered millions, and the exile of an equal
number. have voice to answer this question.
Has christianity been advanced-or has the
moral and political state of mankind been made
better by the triumph Of these societies Let
the French Official document which proclaimed
atheism by law-tbc demora!ized state Of the
French people under the revolution, and the acts
OF the midnight soldiery all over France, dictate
the answer.
All the enorrnities Of the French revolution
were committed under the false pretence of re-
publicanism; aud it was intended by the French
party among us. in the time of the French revo-
luton, in opposition to Washington. to effect
like revolution in religious and political princi-
pies. They were however obliged to abandon
the hope of success during the life Of Washing
t0a.-" His head senate, and his arm host"
were sufficient to defeat an attempt of this sort.
But who remembers not the feeble, but malig-
nant efforts, of his political foes, to lessen the
public confidence in the man, who has been SO
often, and SO justly, described as " first in war,
first in peace, and first in the hearts of his coun
trymen Z" Who remembers not, that in pub
lie newspapeT-an American newspaper, the
people were told, that he W ashngton) had been
tue source of all the misfortunes of his country !;
and that the people ought to " hail the day OF his
retiring from office, as national jubilee - Who
remembers not, that another of these miscre-
ants, the infamous Paine, attempted to Willy
him, in similar manner1 But we have treat
ed upon a subject, which would admit volumes
of comment.
We do not mean to be understood, that the re-
publican societies, were all in the confidence of
these secret conspiratsrs or that they fully
comprehended all the objects of their secret lead
ers. No-they were only puppets in the hands
of the 8 master jugglers behind the scene."-
That there were such secret directors of plot
against the best interests OF our country, con-
tdently believe for several reasons.
/. Such effects could net have been produced
without an adequate cause. 2. These effects
were in unison with the views of the societies in
Europe. 3. Men of accurate observation, with
ample means to investigate the subject, were
confident of tho fact The proclamation ofPres-
ident Adams, TO this effect. is to satisfactory
proof The late Rev. Doct Payson, Of Ringe,
n VI. wrote book upon the subject, in which
he stated his proofs at large ; and that learned
divine had no doubts upon the subject.
We cannot, however, forbear to remark, that
in opinion, these gentemen's apprehensons
that Freemasonry has these ends in view, is by
no means warranted. We profess ourselves to
be of that ancient order, and to have an ac-
quaintance with all the degrees of masonry.
That many masons may have joined the lllum-
nees or Carbonari in Europe, we regret to say
we believe to be true This may perhaps fully
Justify the Russian government in suPpressng
all secret societies whatever We hope and be-
lieve however, that there is no danger of that
sort to be apprehended in our country. Many
masonic terms have been adopted by these per-
nicious societies; aud some others, perhaps, i'm
itated, with view to an easy communication
with each other, and with view to that secrcsy
which is all important to the conspirators. These
are calculated to produce prejudices against the
masonic institution, which we have never known
TO he warranted by truth.
But to return to our subject, have we not wit
messed political consequences which cannot we'll
be ascribed to anv other source than these soci-
eties Does any rational man believe that
Washington and his friends were " the most ex-
ecrable of all scoundrels," and vet American
newspapers did not hesitate to give publicity. to
this language, applied to them by the devotees of
the cause of the French revolution'
Does any rational man believe that Washing
ton was not republican-and that he was not
friend to his country? And yet he was pub