Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-09
The Anti-Masonic Defeat.

The following from the New York
Times is too good to be lost. Read it:
up to the present hour there is good
reason for believing that the anti
Masonic candidates for the presidency
and yiee-presideney have been defeated.
Ii is true that there are remote districts
from which no returns have yet been
received, but it is hoping against nope
to imagine that the returns from these
districts, when they do come in, will
make any material alteration In what
now appears to be the result OF the
election. Messrs Phelps and Pomeroy
have been beaten, and the banner /
apti.Masonary has once more gone
down. Freemasonry has again
tr:umphed, and the country will have
to reconcile itself to this painful TACT.
"Now that the battle is over and lost,
We can calmly examine the reasons Tor
the defeat Of the anti-Masonic ticket,
and it might be remarked that an ex-
animation of this kind is always more
satisfactory proceeding after a defeat
than before il. It is conceded by all in
many districts there have been large
ami. Masonic gains. In SmithtOwn,
1876 was one, it is this year two, gain
of precisely 100 per cent. In Brown
Vile, Md three men voted on Tuesday
for Phelps and Porneroy, whereas last
year only two men voted the anti
Masonic local ticket at the annual
election for the superiutendency Of
proving pigs. Here is another gain OF
so per cent. In Robinville, Illinois,
Phelps and Pomeroy received one vote,
which is clear gain OF more per cent
than can we'll be estimated, iuasmuch
as the anti-Masonic ticket, in 1876, IN
that town received only the vote OF u
young man aged eighteen, and this vote
was aiterward thrown out bv the reck.
less and periured men who superin
tended the counting. In Thompson
City, Wisconsin, an old lady publicly
announced that she would have voted
for Phelps and Pomeroy had she been a
man, and this declaration may fairly be
counted as an anti-MasOnic gain o.
several per cent. in a town where hlther.
10 no anu-Mason oil any defined sex has
ever been seen. These figures, taken
almost at random from the returns from
four different States, show an enormous
anti Masonic gain, and cannot but
awaken the utmost uneaslness Tor the
future in the minds Of FreemasOns.
How has it happened that in spite
Of such tremendous gains the anti
Masonic candidates have been defeated?
As in the case of all defeated candidates,
the explanation is, OF course, fraud and
corruption, though in this especial in
stance the malign influence OF Free
masonry must also be considered. Ii
can be proved that vast sums oil money
were expended both by the Republicans
and the Democrats TO procure the de-
feat of Phelps and PomerOy. In one
town in Ohio, the name OF which is for
obvious reasons withheld, prominent
Democratic politician is known to have
had upward OF twenty-seren cents IN
his procession during the week before
election, and to have boosted that with
this money he could buy the support OF
three small boys, sons OF a worthy widow
lady, who were outspoken advocates OF
the gallant Phelps and the glorious
Pomerov. In another town in Michigan
the grossest intimidation was practiced
by a physician of lunatic asylum, who
locked an anti-Masonic patient IN his
cell, and prevented him from going to
the polls in a state of nature-emblema.
tic OF purity-aud voting the anti-Ma-
sonic ticket. Thus with the aid OF mo.
ney and violence the Republicans and
Democrats, in unholy alliance, succeed
ell in multiplying the will OF the people
and placing Masonic administration
in power.
THE opposition to Phelps and P"mt-
roy did not hesitate to descend to TIL
use of the basest means to influence
the minds OF the people against the
anti-Masonic candidates Not one word
or syllable OF abuse was hurled at either
of them. This studied refusal to extend
to them the cOurtesies to which every
candidate is entitled admits OF no ex-
crse. l. cannot BE- pretended that
either Mr.. Phelps or Mr.. Pomeroy lie
serves this brutal neglect. Nothing
wOu q have been easier than 10 have
charged Mr.. Phelps with congenital
lunsCy, complicated with subsequent
ldivry To the shan.eo OF the Democratic
and Republic can editors it must be said
thSt thew persistently refused to make