Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-22

j. A. DUNNINGToS, for Prince George, Charles, St
Marys, and Calvert counties, Maryland
RI. VEIrcH, Esq, of Maryland, is general agent
TO get subscribers on any route he may travel.
Anti-Masonry.--R Richmond Penny Post.
This spirited paper, published at Richmond,
Virginia, has hoisted the flag Of the "Ameri-
can party" and will do service henceforth, as
one of the sentinels, on the watch tower Of
American Liberty.
The Richmond Examiner Of Friday last, in an
article referring to this new phase of the Post,
and manifesting much personal kindness to-
wards its editors, "sincerely regrets the step =
they have taken, and points to the fatal result
to himself Of the adoption, by the learned and
accomplished William Writ Of the ephemeral
doctrines Of anti masonry.
The Examiner feelingly asks:
"What admirer of Writ would not almost give
his right hand to have that ridiculous and mortify.
ing chapter erased from his history?
Will the Examiner allow US to ask in what
respect " Americanism and anti-Masonry are
alike?
To change the form Of our inquiry, and make
it practical was not the anti Masonry oftwen-
ty years ago, based precisely on the same
grounds as is the anti Americanism ofthe pres
emit day? The leading demagogues who -four
ished under the flag of anti-Masonry assailed
the order Of Masons, as dangerous institution,
because its meetings, its proceedings, and its
signs of recognition were secret, and because its
members were bound together by secret oaths
and obligations! The watchword Of the anti
Masonic party was, Doom scith secret ascot
ations ~ The air was filed with howlings,
excavations and anathemas, against the Ma
sonic fraternity, on the sole ground that it was
secret, and therefore most dangerous and
damnable institution! "Blue spirits and
white, black spirits and grey" mingled their
voices then in like manner, as do the odds and
ends of factions noe, in bitter denunciation Of
all secret societies
In the anti Masonic crusade Of twenty years
ago, demagogues warred against secret socie-
ties, and brought all their powers of argument,
and of defamation, to bear upon the Masonic
institution.
The same arguments then used against Sc
cret societies have been lately rehashed, repub-
lished, and scattered broadcast over the coun-
try. No,o, as then, the result win be an over
whclming defeat Of the combined forces, who
have allied to frighten the timid, and gull the
Ignorant as to the dangers arising from secret
associations. Nog, as then, the crusade against
band Of brothers, who seek only to promote
the best interests of society, and the perpetuity
ofprinciples which are identified with patriot
ism, will end with discontinue and disgrace
William Writ was inveigled into the party,
caught in their meshes, and made TO play an
important part in the farce of anti-Masonry.
the principles of Free Masonry still remain
honored, respected, and sustained in their for
mer vigor and influence, whilst their assailants
were shipwrecked in the storm themselves had
created If then, the failure of the anti-Ma.
sonic crusade should be warning to any por-
ton Of our countrymen, whO are they that
should learn wisdom from this lesson Of expe-
rience? Who but those that assume the right
to denounce an association of americans nor,
because they meet in secret councils to consult
upon the means of redecming their country
from the evils Of foreignism, and Of snatching
the reins Of government from the hands of
demagogues
Americanism" is firmly established prin-
ciple undertaking the structure Of our political
institutions Washington announced it in
l777 and 1778, when he protested against the
further appointment Of foreigners TO lead our
troops on the battle fields Of the Revolution.
The trainers Of our Federal Constitution
adopted il, when they fixed the qualifications
Of President Of the United States. Washing.
ton again proclaimed 1t on the goth day OF
january, 1870, in letter to the American
minister at Berlin, and also in letter to a
foreigner who applied for Office at that date.
These letters may be found in the 18th volume
Of Sparks's Publication Of the Washington Pa
pers. We copy the essential portions Of said
letters, as follows
"Mr. VERNON, Jan. 90, 1890.
ITO j. Q. adams, American Minister al Berlin /.
"SfR; You know, my good sir that
II is not the policy Of this government to employ
foreigners when il can be well avoided, either in
the civil or military walks Of life. =
There is species Of selfimportance in all foreign
officers, that cannot be grathed without doing in
justice to meritorious characters among our own
countrymen, who conceive, and justly, where there
Is no great preponderance of experience or merit,
that they are entitled 10 all the Offices in the gin
Of their government. | am, &c,
[vol X1, p. 1922 g. WASHINGTON"
Same date, 10 a foreigner applying for office.
"DEaR Sin: II does not accord with
the policy Of this government to bestow offices,
civil or military, upon foreigners, to the exclusion
Of our own citizens.
"Yours, &c, @. WASHINGTON"
The same principle Of Americanism is found
in the constitutions Of the several States,
which exclude foreigners from certain speci-
fed offices.
Americanism is a living principle, and no
patriotic heart can fail to respond to its re-
quiremcnts Letnot the Examiner and its co.