The political possibilities in the situation supplied the chief, if not the only animus for this playing-up of the case by the _Courant_. On this point little room for doubt is left. One contributor who heard Theodore Dwight’s Fourth of July oration asserted that not till then had his eyes been opened to see in Mr. Jefferson “anything more than the foe of certain men, who were in possession of places to which he might think himself entitled;” but Dwight convinced him that Jefferson “is the _real Jacobin_, the very child of _modern illumination_, the foe of man, and the enemy of his country.”[749] Another argued that the zeal of the Democrats for office was to be treated as a part of the scheme of Illuminatism in America “to worm its votaries into all offices of trust, and importance, that the weapon of government, upon signal given, may be turned against itself.”[750] Still another contended that the one concern of the Democrats of Connecticut was to dispense “to the people of this state the _precious doctrines_ of the Illuminati.”[751]
The contributions to the agitation made by two newspapers that were published outside of New England but which were extensively circulated and much quoted in that region, are entitled to consideration at this point. These were _Porcupine’s Gazette_ and the _Aurora General Advertiser_, both Philadelphia publications and, it may be remarked in passing, both tremendously influential throughout the entire country.
William Cobbett, the editor of the former, participated in the publication of the first American edition of Robison’s _Proofs of a Conspiracy_. As soon as the book was ready for distribution he announced the fact in his paper, accompanying the advertisement with flattering testimonials gleaned from the _London Review_.[752] Later, he gave to his readers his personal estimate of the merits of Robison’s production.[753] In his judgment the _Proofs_ was of such great value that it deserved to be read by every living man. For one thing, “it unravels everything that appears mysterious in the progress of the French Revolution.”[754]
In the issue of _Porcupine’s Gazette_ for August 9, 1798, Cobbett expressed his deep interest in the reports which had come to him respecting Morse’s fast day sermon and the “Vindication” with which, he understood, Morse had followed his sermon. He would be grateful to any gentleman who would send him a copy of the “Vindication,” since there could be no doubt as to its great public utility. Very promptly his desire was gratified, and Morse’s articles in vindication of Robison, which in the summer of that year he contributed to the _Massachusetts Mercury_, began to be spread before the readers of _Porcupine’s Gazette_.[755]