|
The Anti-Masonic Party (also known as the Anti-Masonic Movement) was the first "third party" in the United States.〔Richard B. Morris, ''Encyclopedia of American History'', revised edition, Harper & Row (New York), 1961, pages 170–171〕 It strongly opposed Freemasonry as a single-issue party, and later aspired to become a major party by expanding its platform and positions on other issues. After the negative views of Freemasonry among a large segment of the public began to wane in the late 1830s, most members of the Anti-Masonic Party joined the Whigs, the party most in line with its views on other issues. Although lasting only a decade, the Anti-Masonic Party introduced important innovations to American politics, such as nominating conventions and the adoption of party platforms. ==Origins== The Anti-Masonic Party was formed in upstate New York in February of 1828.〔Marshall Cavendish, (Exploring American History: From Colonial Times until 1877 ), 2008, page 979〕 Anti-Masons were opponents of Freemasonry, believing that it was a corrupt and elitist secret society which was ruling much of the country in defiance of republican principles.〔Samuel A. Whittemore, (Free Masonry: A Poem. In Three Cantos ), 1830, page 166〕 During a period of social upheaval caused by the Industrial Revolution and westward migration, community and family relationships weakened, causing many people to become skeptical of government and other longstanding institutions. The opponents of Freemasonry formed a political party after the Morgan affair convinced them the Masons were murdering men who spoke out against them. This key episode was the mysterious 1826 disappearance of William Morgan, a Freemason in upstate New York who had turned against the Masons. Morgan claimed to have been made a member of the Masons while living in Canada, and he appears to have briefly attended a lodge in Rochester. In 1825 Morgan received the Royal Arch degree at Le Roy's Western Star Chapter #33, having declared under oath that he had previously received the six degrees which preceded it. Whether he actually received these degrees and if so from where has not been determined for certain.〔〔 Morgan then attempted unsuccessfully to help establish or visit lodges and chapters in Batavia, but was denied participation in Batavia's Masonic activities by members who were uncertain about Morgan's character and claims to Masonic membership. Angered by the rejection, Morgan announced that he was going to publish an exposé titled ''Illustrations of Masonry'', critical of the Freemasons and describing their secret degree work in great detail. When his intentions became known to the Batavia lodge, an attempt was made to burn down the business of the printer who planned to publish Morgan's book.〔Jasper Ridley, (The Freemasons: A History of the World's Most Powerful Secret Society ), 2013, unknown page number〕 In September 1826 Morgan was arrested on flimsy allegations of failing to repay a loan and theft of a shirt and tie in an effort to prevent publication of his book by keeping him in jail. The individual who intended to publish Morgan's book paid his bail, and he was released from custody. Shortly afterwards, Morgan disappeared. Some skeptics argued that Morgan had left the Batavia area on his own, either because he had been paid not to publish his book, or to escape Masonic retaliation for attempting to publish the book, or to generate publicity that would boost the book's sales.〔(The Skeptic's Dictionary: Freemasons ), retrieved September 9, 2014〕 The generally believed version of events was that Masons killed Morgan by drowning him in the Niagara River. Whether he fled or was murdered, Morgan's disappearance led many to believe that Freemasonry was in conflict with good citizenship.〔Josephus Nelson Larned, (The New Larned History for Ready Reference, Reading and Research ), Volume 1, 1922, page 374〕 Because judges, businessmen, bankers, and politicians were often Masons, ordinary citizens began to think of it as an elitist group.〔Chip Berlet, Matthew Nemiroff Lyons, (Right-wing Populism in America: Too Close for Comfort ), 2000, page 38〕 Moreover, many claimed that the lodges' secret oaths bound the brethren to favor each other against outsiders, in the courts and elsewhere.〔Sydney Nathans, (Daniel Webster and Jacksonian Democracy ), 1973, page 88〕 Because some trials of alleged Morgan conspirators were mishandled, and the Masons resisted further inquiries, many New Yorkers concluded that Masons controlled key offices and used their official authority to promoting the goals of the fraternity by ensuring that Morgan's supposed killers escaped punishment.〔Henry Dana Ward, (The Anti-Masonic Review ), Volume 1, 1828, page 290〕 When a member sought to reveal its 'secrets', so ran the conclusion, the Freemasons had done away with him. Because they controlled the courts and other offices, they were supposedly capable of obstructing the investigation. True Americans, they said, had to organize and defeat this conspiracy. If good government was to be restored "all Masons must be purged from public office".〔Rayback 1959, pp. 18–19〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Anti-Masonic Party」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|