I am persuaded, Sir, you will properly appreciate my motives in making the above communication, as also in publishing the Sermon & Appendix. I live among a people many of whom err in Sentiment & Conduct through their want of information. It was especially for their benefit that the Appendix was compiled. With great and very sincere respect,
I am, Sir, your most Obd. Servt, JED^H 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._
[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.