Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-10-30
THE LyNCHBtRG KNoW-NoTHlNG CON.
NESrION


A, vircip;ans wo can but feel gratificd with the
,roe.ed;nss Of this Convention. Within one yeur
nur ,sd Commonwealth has achieved the double honor
first of defeating Know Nnthinsism Mt the polls, and
now OF seeing it, under the pressure of public opi-
ion, profess t" throw of, at least moy, its reli-
ous test, nnd dispense with its secret organizations
and its 'unadulteraed nonscllse and ridiculous tom
foolcry," its "humncry," &C. The high sense of
honor and great political sagacty which distinguish
Virginia. have brought about this result. We
ourselves haveobsorved that great many good per-
sons joined the party without due consideration, and
many more undor the impression that tho secret or
canizaton and religious test would soon be dispensed
with Thousands in other Stntcs have no doubt act
cd in tho same way. Yet vEsnans were hO hrot I"
burst tho fetterS OF such eguvocal morality. We
need not send son. to Cambridge to learn mr"'
~ rrnn Lee. r.InIuure or 10 be thught religion
from Boston pulpit. Learning, religion, honor, M"
rality gcntcmany and generous bearing can be bet
tor acquired ut our University than my where else
Tor it is now the best school in tho Union.
In ostensibly dispensing with their religious fest
and secret organization, tho w-Nuthin,s stand
sclicondcmned, and cannot complain that we aiId
others should heretofore have insisted prescribing
mcn who had themselves prescribed all the resi- q"
their fellow Citizens We believe nnd hope the pary
is dissolved and merged IN predicted il would be-
into the old Native American Wing party. This was
respectable party, and we shall treat them a. c
spectcd adversaries. We hope the old members "i
that party will not sink grade, aud permit the busy
faction. tools of Know Nuhusism ~ ou:ank them
nnd direct their councils We shall wait will! some
patience to see how fur the leuven Of Know Nothing
ism will influence whg action.
The Washington Sentinel, in referring to the reno
val OF sccrcsy aud the ridiculous ceremonies "' ina
tiom by the Reformed Know N"hngs' nj lynrh-
burg, well remarks that ''the new order is "mascnI"-
ted The fangs oi the serpent have been extracted
| A Know Nothing organization without the Textures
thus sunmariIy removed hy the LynchburS Conven-
tion is in fact not kuUwNuininS organiIHii"!i.-
1t is play OF Hamlet with the part OF Hamlet ir out
| What melancholy end is this But few short
months have passed since it seemed rs luSy rs giant
aud us happy as lark. Ii relied more rpon H.
distinctive feature OF secresy for success than "r
ANYTHING else. But falling sick, it calls in IL
chosen leaders, who advise it that wha, ii regarded ns
the sources Of its strength instead the sources oi
its weakness. They set 10 work upon the sick Sam
son, and, aa. he i, shorn OF bis lock-
whilst Know Nothingisn was yet new and in-;
entering upon its Of success when, indeed, II
gaurd victories! every: dhy-when lis friends We're
iubilau, and it, rnelns diSpiritcd, lost cur
faith in the '.ober second thought Of III. pr"pr.-
We had an abiding conviction and consu,ing belief
that il, fall would bc isna mud rapid ~ it, r".
We ielt assured that free, Intelligent and thinking
people would not tolerate organization gotten ui'
ior such purposes and distinguished hy such i,M'rs
The work of charge und reformation thus COM
menced in Virgnn WILL no doubt, be gcucraly fol-
lowed up, and the ritual, the ceremonies, the secret
meeting, aud the ponp aud circumstance and My"tc-
ry that lent it such charm in tho eyer Of many will
DO speedily Topped off as 81 many eIcresccnces What
now name will be assumed by il, remains to be seen
However it s not unlikely that II will dis"rpear like
a cloud, fade like flower, burst lik, bn'ble, and
tina, the places tlat knew it, will kaOw it IL"
moro forever