Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-06-08

lOClety nCNCI cuSu u SOuSClNutfC
ple. 1t is omnpresent. Like flashes from
the heavens it lights up the entire horizon.
Its sweep is from The "orlcnt to the droop-
ing west" The whole nation its stage
the whole people its audience What
power in society, when directed to
proper Show resistless, how awful! .
But in the case we are considering, with
tho exception of the comparatively few
newspapers anti masonic in special name
and object, the press, as far as | have
had opportunities Of observing, has been
shamelully silent. This best guard of a
free state, better than legions of bayonets;
this lion as its portals, whose noble ma
ture, for the most part 1t is, to spring
forward enraged and uncompromising, ),
upon crime, has been lulled to sleep,
has been chained and muzzled /; has
been faithless, has been criminal. L
say criminal. Silenced in such a cause ),
is participation. 1t shows,in effect, com
panionship with the murderers, had there
been nothing more than silence. 1t is
keeping hands with blood, when voice,
loud, Simultaneous and incensed, should
have rung through the land.
May 1 not justly say that the whole
transaction, in every feature in which
the public have right TO feel an inter
est, is an anomaly. Generally, it has
been the course Of the press, as though
salutary instinct of its nature, to be too
quick rather than too slow; to fly at
wrong in the remote intention and ten
dcncy; to err by inilamng too much,
rather than too little. But here, in Nor
gan's case, with the stain ofbood before
its eyes, with crime actually perpetrated,
and crying for punishment, it shut It's
eyes. 1t becomes suddenly and stupid
ly blind, or it turns traitor. There is no
alternative. The press on this occasion,
has fallen into stupciaction, or turptude !;
for it cannot so utterly have lost Its SEN
ses as not to know, that the crime would
never have been committed and left un-
avenged, but for the full and continued
existence in our country, OF the Masonic
obligation. No sophstry can g,nsay
this position. The evidence of it is fla
grant; its foundation is upon rock
Had case like Morgan's arisen in
l716 had blood been so atrociously shed,
and gone so long unavenged, throug h IA
ny acts Of the government then ruling ms,
or the black doings and subtle hidings OF
masonry within its borders, | believe that
il would have acted upon public opinion
like an electric shock, and that our fa-
theirs would have sought no stronger
cause for prostrating in the dust, an open
authority or secret influence, that could
so iniquitously PROSTATE justice. Am !
wrong? Do affirm too much' Am |
giving way to feeling, in place of reason
ing? No! speak under the highest OF
oil sanctions, before the American public
Turn to the Declaration or Inuepender e
the glorious charter of our liberties, ano
see if it be not there recorded as one oI
the causes in dismembering an Empire
that the British King, by his odious acts
had obstructed the administration Of JUS
tice in our country. No single case com.
parable in atrocity to this Of Morgans s.
whether as regards the original conspi-
racy and murder, or the total obstruction
OF the laws since, ever disgraced the ty-
ranny OF that era over US. If one like il
had occurred, town meeting in Boston
Woulu nave ~. lsIIHluilu W HcI
duty; the fire of Patrick Henry's elo-
quence would have summoned Virginia
to hers; the decree would have gone
forth, and Monarchy, or Masonry, woulC
have fallen. That the contest with the
latter would have been the most difficult
have no manner of doubt; but down i
would have come. Had the universe
Press of the country done its duty, in 6
spirit resolute and lofty as of that day, in.
stead Of sluggishly remaining quiet ol
ANONYMOUSLY conniving, this conspiracy
against Morgan would long since have
been laid bare, and public justice have
been vindicated. Its voice would have
carried CONSERVATION into the recess o
every Lodge. Its thunders would have
shaken their very walls and rafters; the
foundations underneath would have rock.
ed, their turrets above would have trem.
bled, and Masonry in turn, like the sui.
fering victim of the conspiracy, would
have put up Its prayer for mercy. Ap.
palled, menaced for its existence, i
would have been seen every where il
motion. Then, then its activity, It's dis
cipline, its terrors would have been a
work to ferret out the deep guilt. lts
conclaves would have assembled for m
other object, until that object had beer
attained. The institution would have
been placed under accusation; it would
have been arraigned before the dread
bar Of the nation, where, under the ma
jestic inquest of the press, it would have
stood, pale and breathless, waiting its
doom. The spectacle would have been
sublime! And who can doubt the issue