Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-27

WM F RlTCHlE & ROGER A. fK1OE. fpiIOho'
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH 36, 1888.
LETTER FROM MIR. FLOURNOY-KNOW-
NOTHING STATEsMANSHIP.
In the whole range Of political literature there u
not so vapd and feeble production as the ie'ter "
which Mr. Flournoy signifies his acceptance OIL '''
Know Nothing nomination. If it was hs WISH n'e'.
" 70 announce b;s readiness to run for the ofice
Governor, three lines would have boen sune'e'' ''
the purpose. IT, declining to canvass III. '''a' ,Ia
was willing to manifest his respect 'o'
| by full und clear exposition oi Ills p' ..r,;,
ciples somewha. more oi iehS'" """
more of candor, might have been eNpoe'0u :"
publieation He has written JUST fno"s' w
| consciousness of the weakness oil MS eause' "''''
sasfypr any Just demand of the popular
II is obvious that he meant TO sseef o' 'e h''A'''
| of the adroit Mr. Pelham, which lns'ru''' eau
didate for popular favor never 10 comm" n'''-
self in a single instance, but 10 profess S"cn vague
and fundamental principles as every houeo' hA'
will pnbsststipgly approve. But the know-Nothns
| ,o,n;rs. 1c.s his work clumsily. We speak NOT OF
tho Grammatical soecsms in his episte, tor they are
hsow the dignity of legitimate criticism, Neither do
~ scor 70 the awkward and unskltul construction OF
bis sentences for that too IL matter oil SUBORDINATE
considerations We alludeto the singular iniehc'ty oil
his effort to battle, while he would appear to Sr"y'
the popular expectation. There is an elaborate a'-
tempt to avoid coInmital to any distinct measure
with sufficiently intelligible endorsement OF the
most obnoxious principles of the -Nothing par
~ The letter ia about as unsuccessful apiece OF Jug
cerv IS politician ever essayed to practice before the
people.
NJ, Flournoy expresses reluctance TO accept the
Know Nothing nomination, but 'a conSlt"'neu " sae
rifce his private inclination TO the in1efess oi hs par
~. This TO say the least. ID u modest oe''"ta''o-
AR. we 10 understand that Mr.. Fournoy REGARDS hi'h
slf "a III, strongest man of his party and that ne
co,.ents 10 come forth from his retirement only L"
ascu. b;s cspse from defeat Thla egotlstcal assu
,,c. con,asts strangely with his modest sbectaion
of humility.
Mr. Elournov Igiyes it as his "humble" opinion
, ,h rotsc,on of the rights OF the States and the
nre,ervs,ion Of the Union depend Oh the success OF
the PRINCIPLES of the Know. Nothing party" Now s
not this precious confession from man. Who up 10
the date OF this epstle has maintained that the ph
cles OF the lThis party were sl-suthcient Tor Tue
| prosperity of the country He has been accustomed
to represent the Wing party as the true champion o
State rights ana OF the interests OF the Cm"n' anu l"
applaud lis principles as the perfection OF political
wisdom All at cnce he discover. that II h"""''"
,hingisiu iocs not prevail the republic ih0=' :" W
ruin.
We tell Nr. Fournoy that the country neea' u"
,uch extreme and dangerous madisne AS that which
he proposes administer. II 10 not inng L" "'u!
il is not lneuaced by any impending evil II rs pros
/, above
other country. 1t enjoys power and respect abroad
peace and plenty at home And this Is 'pe irsu'' o'
Democratic policy. The grandeur ind glory "i Tue
American republic ia the achievement ot The Demo
cratic party What need then OF any new party! Sh"Ii
we abandon policy which has conducted us 10 '''s
eminence OF happiness and power! SEal we restru7'
aud discard party wnicl hss beer 70 i"itL'" 10 W
great mission Of developing ard consolidating the
principles of republican government What better
Anerican party need than that whr! has elevated
America the highest pinnacle "i national glory
Do we sink under such orerp"weInS scnse "' I'M
pending calamity. that we must abolish NIL the prIn'
ciples of popular liberty, and destroy nli the sale
guards Of republican government II the danger
of foreign and Catholic domination were never so
imminent we would gain nothing but rather lose "'I'
by adopting the expedent OF voluntary suire"'er
of our liberty. Il IL aaiSs. !eaaor Il e yai6Pis ao'
surlity 10 Arm that tnoaslcs Of Intolerance and pre-"
scriutiou are essential to tie security of arepuo'can
government The stability OF the edlt!ce 10 not
strengthened by digging up ita foundation.
bat Mr.. Flournoy strangely exaggerales the pro-
portions Of tho danger whce he describes 10 the not
distant future. His imagination seems TO be haunted
with the apprehension of popish plots and with INN
ees of terrible torture. Ds,rustng the strength OF
his own cause, unwilling torely upon the 'r'e'srTs'
ble and rre.i-tt'o v;.y oi the Protestant Faith ho
coura ,he t,lrce oi the temporal power, and pr"Po
..s to fight Catholicism with its own cHrnal weapons
Inconsistent and suicidal policy, that proposes t""h
liz, brotrv and persecution in the service OF r"'ss
tantism and TO rro:Gtd tie interests cl repuh!ican IL
ber;y by atopting tie pr,scptlve principles OF DIES
potic governments No, it is all pretence, and an
impn.turc. A n good Protestant. Nj kloSrnoY can
not nstrust the issue of tT cGccGnor Ie'Ween the
religion of tie Hibie and tie religion OF Rome, I'VE
state the case as he would state l between invnci-
bl. truth, and poor human error. Ii Is wrong and
rouroaUh to the Protestant Faith, to be thus sus'
pcctud and di-trustod by its own disciples
f Ii, however Mr.. Floumoy cannot find in the
strength aud justice OF his cause satisfactory
rance Of its glorious triumph G the ere; n:aybe his
confidence VIII be iey.clel Nhcu he discovers the
disparity oi fore oa his side. For his tonsos.
tion we submit the following .taes,eni Of Ire coul-
paritivo strenglh OF tpe Protestant and Catholic in.
the census