Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-01
From the National Gazette.

From the National Gazette.
The subjoined remarks on Anti-n,nson.
~ are from patriotic, impartial and gift.
cd mind. We commit them to the SOUND
sense of the country, upon which VIC have
been accustomed to rely in all importan,
public questions.
.ANTI.MASONRT.
The spirit of Anti-masonry has eli(us-
scd itself extensively over the middle s.
northern States. 1t has now erected it.
self into formidable political engine,
which may exert an extraordinary pow
cr over the affairs of the country.
The Anti-masons are now a political
party, whose sole ostensible purpose is
the suppression of Masonry. To effect
this object, they propose TO dislranchisc
all Masons-to disqualify them for hold
ing any office of profit or honor-and to
render them incompetent witnesses or
jurors. The plan Corporations is to make
this test of political faith-to obtain the
Legislative power Of the States-to elect
the Governors Of the Statcs-and finally
ecutivc authority of the Government.
Can we for moment tolerate the for
nation Of new national party, upon
grounds distinct and foreign to the prin-
ciples, and the purposes of Government.
Why mingle Masonry with political
questions s'-Why connect it with cleo
tons? Why make it the standard of po-
litical fath-thc object Of n furious pros
ccution and an memorable proscri ption 7
Why not leave it like every other ques-
ton of morals, or Of religion, to the high
tribunal Of public opinion?
They have denounced the order to
the whole world. They have added to
the force of numbers and influence, a
powerful press. They have expressed
its errors and its follies. They have ex-
hibited either truly or falsely, its eng
matical language-its cmblematic signs
and its mystical rites. They have stript
it of all that was venerable in its forms
and imposing in its ccremonies.-Ihe
illusion which time and mystery had
thrown around it is dispelled, and it now
stands exposed to the power of reason,
the shafts Of satire, the force of ridicule,
and if it shall deserve it, the scorn of en-
lightencd men.-Is not all this enoug h to
satisfy our zeal, and must we add to It
the power Of party and the terrors OF
prescription The laws will punish its
crimes, opinion will crush its errors or a
buse, society will frown it down-these
are the remedies.
Masonry may not be worth preserving
and therefore not worth defending. ii
would probably decline under the gen
eral indifference or under the force OF
public sentiment. If left free it would
cease by neglect, and the total want OF
interest or motive in the continuance OF
the institution. But persecution will
keen it alive-make war upon it and they
will defend it-men will brave dcnuncia-
ton and even proscri ption as they dc
martyrdom; the spirit OF intolerance, and
every feeling Of their nature will revolt
at the attempt to erect tyranny over the
minds and their actions. The People
will see it involves principle that lies
n, the base of all free Government-tha,
opinion shall be free from political power
as well as legal restraint. Will they no.
remember the wicked prosecutions and
the sanguinary spirit it engendered in the
old world? Willthe descendants those
who fled from these prosecutions, to OBJ
tain the liberty Of conscience and the
right of opinion, encourage here, by q
dangerous example, the beginning of Q
system Of intolerance, that may in IT.
course successfully prescribe every par
~ in Government and every sect in Re
ligion? What! create n new moral SUI
IA standard of religious or moral faith
political test against the very spirit o
the constitution-violate the right of o
pinion, establish doctrine Of conformity
and drive frcemen from their principle
and their associations by violence ant
by exclusion from tho privileges of citi
Zens?
Little do they know Of the humaI
heart and Of the spirit Of liberty in thi
country, if they imagine the People vii
tolerate any political party to any schcm
ofpowcr, to impose restraints and condi
tons unknown to the laws, upon thci
thoughts, their actions, or their opinions
God forbid! Where will it cnd-who
freedom of speech, or what liberty q
conscience will remain, If men are pro
scribcd from public office for their opln
ions of nature and mattcr--oi theolog
and morality? What is 1t but to create