The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-01
Masonry In Politics.

One of the most singular circumstances
connected with the Paris disturbances is the
appearance of the brethren of the mystic tie
upon the ramparts of the ~beleaguered city.
They have interviewed the government OIL
Gals at Versailles; and now, having failed
to secure such conditions as were deemed
by them to be acceptable and %opportune,
they have returned and announced their re-
solve to plant the banners OF the Order on
the outer wall. What part they intend to
take, the kilograms leave in doubt or mis-
represent. One dispatch represents them as
in friendly correspondence with the Com
mune; another of the same date (April 2s)
represents them as irritated against the me-
~tropolitan leaders. The fact probably is, that
they have undertaken the office OF peace
makers; that, as is apt to be the case when
the passions OF rival parties have been en-
Filtered, they have failed to satisfy the ex-
tremists on either side, and that in the su-
preme struggle that is to decide the fate Of
the city, they will display the insignia OF the
| Order and make q final effort to arrest the
efusion OF blood.
The design is, very likely, a purely phi!an-
thropic one. Yet it is ill-advised for all that,
as is evident already from the fact that both
parties are claiming the political support Of
the Order. With great wisdom the sonsti-
tuition of the Craft has forbidden political or
sectarian discussions in the lodges. The
prohibition cannot be violated without en-
dangering the existence of the institution.
And it is manifest that an endeavor to inter-
pose between Thiers who leads the govern
ment and favors the church, and Blanqul
who fights the government and suffers the
church TO be outraged, necessitates among
the brotherhood the most animated discus
sions in regard to Church and State.
The result OF such q perversion OF the de-
signs of Masonry was exhibited in Mexico in
the year 1925, and subsequently when the
Scotch Lodges under the direction of aristo-
cratic politicians, and the Democratic York
Lodges under the direction of Mr.. POinsett,
divided society, and at last fomented civil
war. At the same time the Morgan excite
ment prevailed in that country, and in many
of the States Masonic and anti-MaSonic tick
cts were run both in the local and federal
elections. We believe that it will now be
generally admitted on all sides that these
conflicts effected no good whatever. The
disciples OF Hiram Abitf maintained their
lodges, as they had a right to do, and the
politicians turned their attention to matters
which COZ cerned the welfare of the country
at large.
Whether rightly or not we cannot say;
but certainly the impression prevails in
many high places in Europe that the CONT
mental brotherhood are in alliance with the
Illulninati and Carbonari, the opponents Of
the present ecclesiastical and political estab-
lishments. In Catholic countries they OF ne
cessity hold themselves aloof from the COM
munion of the altar. Under what are known
as personal governments, they are suspected
simply because they are q secret fraternity.
On either account the interposition between
the political and military combatants at
Paris, however well mentioned, was ILL
advised. ''The banner with its strange de-
''rice" was not made to be lifted in the lurid
glare, or borne through the rolling smoke, or
dipped in the crimson tides of battle.
-Thackeray's daughter, who still writes
under her maiden name, is the wife of Mr.. Les