Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-15
THE LODGE OR THE B.sLLOT.

For the: information Off the Windham
County Antimasonic Society, and in ac-
cordance with the measures adopted at
Fayetteville In September last, It Is tn ought
proper to state that at recent election for
officers of the Village of Brattleboro, the
members of the society residing. in the
Village decided to present an Antimasonic
ticket.
characteristic attempt was made by
the opposite party, at the outset, to prevent
the use of the Ballot, a right secured to ev-
cry voter by the laws of the state, and
without which there can be 10 free or vol
untary elections, or security for personal
liberty. In this tattempt of the. opposite
party to suppress the use of the ballot,
they were animated by confidence, not
to say arrogance, arising from the long alb
sence of any opposition to their sway, and
from their familiarity with the successful
infringement of law.
Not only are the laws of the state against
Masonry violated, but, under Masonic
rule the Charter of the Village had also
been virtually ignored, by an attempt
of the old Board of Bailiffs TO acquire more
property than the terms of the Charter al
lowed; course proceeding which,
however it may end, must tend to forestall
the free action of the people OF the Village
in the case.
The final result, however, of the election
was as follows One of the regular Anti
masonic nominees was elected; and out OF
nine persons chosen for office, five only
were elected by ballot, and four were not
Masons.
But in addition to these facts 1t must be
! stated that though there were a large num-
Der of the villagers present. yet not one
half the votes of the Village were cast.
The vote o. the Masonic party grew less
and less at each successive balloting. Be-
| ginning with 2O7 votes, their last regular
vole cast enued at 100. The test of tho bal
lot applied TO Masonic management was
evidently getting to be rather uncomfort-
able, until finally that party broke over
the ballot-broke through all restraint,
and carried things by the force ofnumbers,
or rather by rush; for the strength of the
| party does not evidently lie in their num-
bers, but in something else far less credit
able to them as Republican citizens.
The presiding officer of the meeting and
the three tellers were all Masons, or secret
society men.
| In fine, we are compelled TO state that, as
a matter of fact the election as conducted
| has resulted in favor of the Masonic ticket
A square issue has been made between the
Ballot on the one hand, and the Lodge on
the other, and the Lodge for tho time has
prevailed.
The question now remains with tho
townships of the County, and of the State
il remains for them to decide to which o
these powers, the Ballot or the Lodge, they
will look for the security of their liberties
Will the poor man hold on to his Ballot, a:
his sure means of defence, or Is he to bt
turned over, bound hand and foot, to tn,
intrigues and Vaccinations ofa powerful
standing secret caucus? viii the farmer
look to his old township organization fol
his government, or to the secret counseli
of an irresponsible Lodge, which is entire
ly extraneous to American institutions
and which exists only through the contin
ued violation of law?
These are questions that are pressing 10
solution; aud they must be decided sooI
In favor of the Ballot and the laws, or tn
Lodge will become permanently installed
as the governing power of the state.
MEMBERS OF THE WINDHAM COUNT
ANTIMAsoNIc SOCIETY.