Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-05-11


filling our general Offices with men of
their own political sent iments. If this
be true, it behoyes all good men and
true, to be on the alert. If we have the
battle 10 fight again, let us not suffer our
troops to be scattered, and our swords
TO rust III their scabbords. We have
good reason to know the means to
which our enemies will resort They
will not hesitate to undermine the for
tress, if they cannot carry it by Storm
Let the warders Of the party be on the
udH, that our garrison may have the
earliest information Of the approach of
danger.
/ trust, sir, that our opponents are
mistaken in the opinion what they enter
tain Of our Anti-masonic friends, and
that although they are arii-masons,
they arc also National Rcpubicans;-
that they had united with Us in the elcc-
ton of Gov. Arnold and the present
Senate, with desire to promote the
cause of National cpublicanism, and
not with the expectation of procuring
the assistance OF this large majority Of
this State to aid in the persecution Of
Masons. For myself (and for myself
alone | can only say that if they or
any of them, voted with Us in the late
election with such views, the sooner
they declare off the better. Either
they or ! must be much mistaken in
the character of the present ruling
party, if they can ever lend themselves
to such purpose. IL my opinion, sir,
it is possible to be an ant-mason without
being political anti-mason, and that it
is equally possible to be mason, with
out blending masonry in any way with
our political rights, duties, or concerns.
The spirit of political antmasonry, is of
the same character with that of political
masonry, and are both equally reprchen-
sible. think we can require no better
proof than the late election, that masons
have not combined for any political pur-
peso. Truth requires it OF me to say,
that from what have seen in my four
days residence in Newport, | think that
there is too much reason to fear that
some anti-masons are flattcrng them
selves with the idea Of holding the
balance Of power between the two great
parties Of the State, and that they shall
be able through the fears of the Ma
tional Republican party, occasionally to
stab mason with impunity and perhaps
unpcrceiycd. ! do not agree that they
hold such Il balance of power; but even
if it is true that they do, and if it is Ger
tain that that party to whom they unite
. Al l.. 4
their aim, insist on it and repeat it,
that the sooner they separate themscl-
YES from us, the better for us. VIII
they better their own condition or for
word such purpose by taking the side
of our advcrsaries. | have too good an
opinion, even of them to think so -
Woe unto the party which shall call to
it's aid and receive into its embrace
another party with such objects.
The present ruling party in his State,
| trust, will cndcavor to elect to office,
the best men without regard either to
their masonry or antl-masonry. If they
Weld more than this to antl-masonry,
their carer will be short. call on
all good National Republicans who are
at the same time antl-masons, to leave
their anti-masonry at home, and not
bring it into the Legislature with them
Let them make use of it as much as
they please in keeping down the growth
and extension of this society, in dssuad
ing young men from joining it, in lessen
inc its influence and exposing its fol-
lies, but not in prosecuting lis mem
bers. warn them that for every drop
OF masonic blood which they shall shed,
some one else will shed two drops of
theirs. All good men Of both parties
will unite to prevent persecution and
oppression. If you have the power to
induce the National Republican party
to exclude from office Il single mason,
for no other reason than because he is
mason, the people will avcnge his cause.
On the other hand, if the masonic part
Of our friends (of whom know we have
great many,) should be the cause Of
injury to one Of you, because of your
opposition to masonic principle, the
people, their masters, rs well as yours,
will cause them to rue it, Persecution
is no part of the object of government
where the sovereignty rests IN the pco-
pie. had intended to have given
some details of the proceedings OF the
/ Legislature in relation to the election OF
the Sheriff of the County of Providence,
on which found my apprchcnsions of
the mistakes of some of our anti-masonic
friends, but as have already trcspasscd
too far, | must refer your readers to the
reports Of the proceedings of the Lcgis-
lature, which dare say will answer the