Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-20

THE SPHINX AGAIN.


a few days since the Know Nutlin. organization
was compared in the Enquirer, 20 that fabulous mon
stcr the Sphinx. The resemblance may bo traced
fhher with modesty enough and likelihood to lead
IT, The SPHINX is an animal which is very scarce at
present, and not to bo found, even in Barnuus MI
scum. The time will soon come when the Know
Nothing political Sphinx will be az great raiiy--
Other points Of resemblance are not wanting The
Sphinx ia said to have brem a mixture of niany nni-
ma!F which IL IN scientific language called owniaa
gGthcrnm. 1t had the wings of n bird the claws Of Il
drag"ii' 'ie head OF woman, and the body Of lion.
The political Sphinx aiswcrs TO this lrscripton Its
wlngs represent those wonderful Hi".- of fancy that
embcsh the Nnow- Nohng publications. The head
Of Il woman is that deccit;ul pr.,ance Of religion
which III il fact cthypocrisy and intolerance. The body
OF the Brsh i;on is joined to the rest, that hungry
lion that Is never IN good condition unless c IL fed
with irishnlen. The claws Of tho dragon are taken
from TINT deunct old griffin Of Whggcry that prowed
about the land till ii finally cd of sheer old age
But TO be serious, il gravity is not impossible in
connection with the Know Nothings it is mut,er of
cnngratuation among good citizens that the very na
turc Of this association will prevent it's fastening it.
self upon people whose character has much nnti-
pathy 10 it. The American people are intelligent and
well informed; but We have our faults and though VIC
pride ourselves upon our fitness for self.governnent
the tendency Of those faults when reason is not call
el III t" check them, Is to diminish that capacity for
governing Ourselves. Externally grave and sober we
of tho most exctnblc nations of NIL the Ca,,.
casian tribes, the most easily hurried away bv that
imp",uositv that lies beneath our cold and serious
surface. And it is not strange. 4 country which has
become tbs very paradise Of steam and tccgraphic
miracles, must naturally BE- inhabited by q people
prccipltatnS themselves hroug life in the most dcs-
peratc haste. la business and manufactures this
quality may indeed produce beneficial results. Batit
has its dangers. This haste and excitement if allow
I'D 10 silence the voice of reason. will ru our glorious
cxpeyircn; OF soli-s government. Reason appears in
three forms: Experience, prudence, common scnsr.-
Experience relates 20 the past, prudence To the future
common sense TO the present. To nll and each OF
these tests the appeal may be made, and onr position
will be only more strongly established. The Know
Nothing association has no claim to the name Of ths
American party. The reason il that the organization
Is nt war with our institutions because founded upon
that which tends deprive It's ofour inheritance OF self
common sense, OF which there is large stock in thl.
country. unite to support our institutions. On the
other rhoug',lesB haste" burning excitement and
less pre- udices appealed to or the Know Nothing
cause II the first obtain the victory, it will bc an
American triumph But if the contrary should hap
pen, and Virginia sink under Know Nothing domin-
ion, then the true sovereignty Of the people gone and
with 1t the experiment Of scgovcrnmcit. But, no
such result is too disastrous calamity Cor Providence
to ni!ic upon ns. The political Sphinx mus; perish
nnder the assault of that imeh0n0rcd emblem Of IL
berry, and oar mott" sSc scmper fyr0Hnis shine oui
| with renewed lusrc.
One of the unfortunate consequence Of our intense
ercitabity, and that go-ahead rrinc pic tha s in
is, that we all 4, the South rs well as at tho
North, By ts means easily made victims of that spe
ces Of deception called humbug When cool and
calm, our vita arc keen and penetrating enough t(
defy any imposition. But we arc easily pa; oil OIL
guard and warmed 10 proper temper FOR tho absurd
deccpons 1t not necessary to refer I" thr eX
plus Of Barnun, nor the "chckan fever becaus'
these are exploded. But II iiie reflection is given
70 the subject it will bc found that the whole nyate
ry Of the successes claimed by tho Know N",hings
is explained in this way: The know-N0;hrg excite
ln.nt orr. mated and j, maintained for The same pur
pose as mos; other humbuga," as my one can deter
mine to his satisfaction by looking sharply arount
him. But what is this purpose! The history OF the
association tho North proves that it il the privatt
advantage of ccr,nin men who desire to push them
selves forward i'll their professions, to advertise them
selves cxtensivcy and do more lucrative business
in their several callngs. For the honor of the South
it is to be hoped that this feature has not yet appear.
cd among Us. But in tie native seats OF Know No.
tllingism it il So. Editors Of tho Lowest aud vcst
papers prosper and flourish by means of THEN
Know-Nuthing adhcrenS and victims. Lawyers who
If left to their own merits, would fanish thrive upon
the excitement oi their dupcs by means oF this ncw
political organization. Doctors without PATIENTS wilu
dream of large incomes, now realize their dreams by
the same means, anl harnesniEa their partizans 10
their chariots, gaop into fortune And it is equal
y true and pity It's It's true, that gentlemen of n
graver cloth, and n more digniicd profession, more
than all the Others eager in this pursuit. and, no
less by political deception than the agantesi dema-
gocue oin in the furious chase of ucrr the sure re-
ward OF whoever has bra.en front and rcndy
tongue. This suggestion is sufficient to show how
things work at the North. Is il proper that we should
receive among rs such an Ordcr7 r. il fit that this
organization should be taken the representative Of
the American character and distinguish itself by the
American namc7 Let the reply come from the honor,
the sense of sclfrcspect the patriotism OF sound
American heart, and the Sphinx will be among the
things that are not