The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-06-22

that at least the tried and faithful and accepta-
bic lncumbents should be retained so far as
possible.
1t was, therefore, with no little surprise and
regret that the public were informed, that Mr.
BANCROFT would not be re-appointed. 1t was
hoped that some satisfactory reason would be
offered, why the public were to be deprived OF
his useful services. 1t was understood that he
had desired the re-appointment, that he had
originally been selected for the office by NJ.
Willard himself, had done the duties OF 1t to
great acceptance and the public were unwil-
ling to ascribe to dishonorable motives his re-
movaI from that office. The public have wait
ed for information in this particular but they
have waited in vain, individuals who felt in
terested, have endeavored to ascertain the caus-
es for this removal, but their efforts have been
unsuccessful. The public have right to know
and we hope they may soon know, why this
step has been taken by Mr.. Willard 1t is due
to himself as well as to them that it should be
known. Mr.. Bancroft is humble individual
in the community, and it may be comparatively
otlitle consequence in what manner he may be
personally treated. But it is not matter of
tritiing consequence that power delegated By
the public for the public good, should be exer-
cised as an engine of oppression or for the graf
lhcation OF private hostility or revenge. We
repeat, it is painful to allude to this subject at
all, and we hope there will be no further occa-
sion for any remarks from
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
MASONRY. We had laid out two or three
articles for publication this week, from pa
pers favorable to the Masonic Institution,
in reply to Rush's Letter : but day or two
since, we received an address to the pub
lie from the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island.
in which the views of masons are more fully
set forth, and concluded to substitute that
address for the articles we had already Sc
lected. Its length, and the late time at
which it was received, prevent its publca-
ton this week, but it will be given entire
in our next. In the mean time we will dis
miss the subject with the following extracts,
in which Mr.. Rush's attack on the press is
commented on.
From the Providence Journal.
The most serious part of the letter of Mr.
Rush, is his unqualified condemnation of the
public press. AS infamous as he considers the
murderers of Morgan, and the masons general
ly, he s nevertheless disposed TO attach greater
lnfamy possible, TO the free press of the coun-
try. He should have known before he made
appearance of Morgan, the fact ofhis abduction
was generally denied. The opinion then was
that his disappearance was but finesse TO add
to the sale of his book. At that time, as
the anti-masonic party was organized, anti.
masonic papers were established, to investigate
the fact, to expose the transaction, and, if pos
sible, to bring to light the nefarious actors in
the bloody drama An excitement was soon
got up, but all the transaction remained mys.
terry. Was that the time for the public press
to come forward in opposition to masonry? If
Mr.. Rush was himselfth then convinced that Mer-
gan had been abducted and murdered, why did
he not then send forth his eloquent voice as he
has now {? Why did he wait until the 4th of
May 1881 before he gave public expression
of his opinion2 And having omitted his duty
so long, how can he, in conscience, censure the
press for doing exactly as he did up to the 4th
OF May? In our opinion the press conducted
with prudence and discretion, and the charge
made by Mr.. Rush is ilberal and unjust The
State of New York Immediately instituted an
inquiry, which termned in numerous prosecu.
tons and convictions. Pending those prosecu-
tons, ought the press, with its almost unlimit-
ed influence, to have volunteered To increase
I the excitement Certainly not. The press
in this country is free, generally speaking, from
masonic or anti-masonic excitement The an
tlmasons have bought over several of the old
established papers, and established some new
ones, fer the purpose of continuing the excite
ment, and putting down masonry. Look at the
anti-masonic paper in this town. Not year
has elapsed since it espoused the cause of anti.
masonry. When we are convinced that ma.
S0nry murdered Morgan, we shall freely open
our columns against the institution without
any promise or assurance of additional patron
| age.
The press has viewed with alarm, the fever
ish excitement created by anti-masonic exag.
| geration; it has analyzed the motives of The
J leaders of the party, and with great discretion
has refused to apply the brand of discord TO in
fiammable materials, that nearly, ofthemselves
! produce spontaneous combustion. Mr.. Rush
! has thrown the lighted match among the com
bustIbles, and will be answerable for the conse-
quences. 1t should be the province of every
good man to allay the prevailing excitement
70 compare the character and conduct of the
two parties, and if the public good requires that
masonry should fall, TO protect masons in their
civil and religious rights, and prevent their be.
ing inundated on an alter more unhallowed
than the accused cells of the Inqusition.
From the Boston Courier.
| There is one part of Mr.. Rushs Letter
which deserves the severest apprehension. 1t
is his unmanly and unustifiable attack on the
J NSSNS'S "''SH Pui '"hOS hiOi0 va tAAS
ferocity of tiger and the malignity of demon
than of the candor ola gentleman, or the wis
dom of a statesman. 1t has neither dignity nor
truth to entlte it to respect. Every reader will
/ perceive that many of the writer's assertions
are false. We do not say that Mr.. Rush
knew they were false, but, unless he sees daily
many more of the newspapers than we imag
| inc he does he could not know they were true
The charges, we know, have been often made
before, but the repetition of a lie, even from
! the pen Of so respectable man as Mr.. Rush
docs not impart to it the attribute of truth
His charges against the Press, of corruption
and fear, of disposition to concealment in ref
erence to the progress and result of the trial.
in New York, are utterly groundess, and hi!
enlisting as volunteer to endorse the slande
unfortunately hurled at the conductors o
the public press, should meet the prompt anc
decided reproLation Of an insulted and indignan
community.
But let us inquire into the motive which
could influence Mr.. Rush TO write this letter
| IL can hardly be commended that snch n nhiiini,