JEDH MORSE.”
Pickering Papers, vol. xxiv, 29.
[716] Morse’s Thanksgiving Sermon, “Note F,” pp. 67 et seq.
[717] Morse’s Thanksgiving Sermon, p. 67. The reference is, of course, to the Democratic Clubs.
[718] Morse’s Thanksgiving Sermon, pp. 68 et seq.
[719] Ibid., p. 67.
[720] Ibid. This secret organization referred to by Morse was founded in Ireland about 1791. It was in part the outgrowth of republican sentiments which the French Revolution inspired in the Irish people, in part of similar sentiments earlier received. Cf. Madden, The United Irishmen, vol. i, pp. 3–44. The object of the organization was to obtain complete emancipation for both Catholics and Dissenters, and to reform the Irish parliament. The group manifested a bold revolutionary spirit. When the English government resorted to strong repressive measures, many of its members came to America. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 sent other Irish political exiles here; with the result that by many in this country the situation was adjudged to be alarming. William Cobbett (“Peter Porcupine”) was one of the most aggressive opponents of the movement in America. The Proceedings of the Society of the United Irishmen of Dublin was published at Philadelphia in 1795. The same year Cobbett published A Bone to Gnaw, for the Democrats; or Observations on a Pamphlet entitled “The Political Progress of Britain.” Part ii of Cobbett’s pamphlet was devoted to the Proceedings just mentioned. Cobbett’s paper, Porcupine’s Gazette, to a considerable extent was devoted to the raising of an alarm against the United Irishmen. Cobbett urged that the United Irishmen represented a conspiracy on the part of France to ruin the United States. See Porcupine’s Gazette, May 8, 10, 1798. Since Cobbett was one of the men in America deeply interested in Robison’s Proofs of a Conspiracy (cf. particularly Porcupine’s Gazette for May 18, July 14, and Aug. 13, 1798), and since Cobbett printed in his paper much that Morse published on the subject of the Illuminati (see, for example, Porcupine’s Gazette for Aug. 9 and 13, 1798; Feb. 25, 26, and June 3, 1799), it is at least believable that Morse took from Cobbett the suggestion about the identification of the Illuminati with the United Irishmen. The Commercial Advertiser of New York was another newspaper that gave attention to the subject of the United Irishmen. The issue of that paper for Nov. 1, 1798, carried an extended article copied from the Gazette of the United States, calling upon the citizens of this country to be on their guard against the United Irishmen. The author of this article identified the United Irishmen and the French party in the United States as one. Cf. also the Commercial Advertiser for Nov. 5, 1798. Thus Morse had abundant warrant in precedent if not in fact for the suggestion he made at this point in the Appendix to his thanksgiving sermon.
[721] One may be sure that the following caustic comment of the editor of the Independent Chronicle is to be set down to instinctive repugnance and hostility, and is thus representative only of rabid partisanship: “Actions speak louder than words. If the parish observe the Minister busy about many things; if they find him more anxious about the geographical description of the City of Washington or the Georgia Lands, than the New-Jerusalem or the Land of Canaan; if they find him neglect his parish on a Sunday and employ himself during the week, to collect ridiculous fables to swell an appendix to a political publication. If he will do these things, he must expect that his Flock will not increase, and that at the year’s end, while he is exploring the territory of the United States, and hunting up Robinson’s [sic] straggling Illuminati, he must not be surprised if some of his own sheep have strayed across the river, and become the care of a more attentive shepherd.” (Ibid., Jan. 7, 1799.)
[722] A Memorial of Divine Benefits. In a Sermon, delivered at Exeter, on the 15th, and at Haverhill, on the 29th of November, 1798, days of Public Thanksgiving, in New-Hampshire and Massachusetts. By Abiel Abbot, pastor of the First Church in Haverhill. Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1798, pp. 18 et seq.
[723] A Sermon, delivered on the day of Public Thanksgiving, at Deerfield; Nov. 29, ’98. By John Taylor. A. M., pastor of the church at Deerfield. Greenfield (n. d.), p. 13.