Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-16
ALLEGED CONSOLIDATION OF TIE OPPO
SlTION


tions of the opposition completely Identifies the Dem
ocraio party with all the conservative elements OF
national politics. We are no longer called upon 10
oppose political organization rivalioG our own IN
national extension, and pretending To an equal care
for the interests of the whole confederscy. During
the last Presidential canvass, the Democratic party
was mainly opposed by purely sectional organiza
ton The struggles of 1855 had already rendered
the doctrines of the Know Nothing party go odious in
all sections Of the country that proved, in 1886, en-
tirely towerless in itself and for ITSELF and became
mere make weight in favor OF Black Republicanlsm'
Nuvsed in the hotbed of secret organzatlonthe Know
Nothing purity derived its entire strength from this
form Of organizaton-s fearful strength for the time
but could not rely the spirit principles which
it adopted for the maintenance of its vitality Tried
by the test of adversely, it could not endure defeat
rhs stampede of it's own followers, coon proved that
they had sought lite standard from no devotion to the
do1mss of ils platform, but only to effect the over
throw Of the Democratic party. 1t was really the
exponent of unreasonng partisan hostility aided oy
Fictitious appliances by which to attract the curious
and to quel the tmid 1t appealed to no ceeprooted
feeling among the people, by which to secure earnest
partsans of lite cardinal princpes-for bolh religious
bgotry and arsiocratic eIcluslveness although ihey
exist under many forms, can never be continuously
employed as political engines among free people
The religious feuds which have dlshgured the wora
history, have been in every instance the result ho'
the cause, of the assumption Of political power oy
some exclusive religious association In malor"y
of instances such movements have been purely re-
actopsry and retaative; the oppressed have caught
the spirit of oppression from their tyrants The
love of God must FIRST be pros,ituted for political en-
uloyment by the rulers of State before II can be-
come a revolutionary element in the State. The Pro-
,es,ant had no nducement 10 persecute the Cathohc
in our midst, simply because no unjust Interference
with the freedom of conscience had placed temporal
supremacy in the hands of the Catholic. Aud IN the
same manper, that union of church and Stale
nroyes equally disastrous TO boh-a political party
which attempts to employ religious bigotry for seca
| lar purposes seizes weapon which must wounu 'ne
hand that welds it. Nor can the attempt at denial
of the right OF eIpatriation secure continued political
| favor among the masses, in country wboee hlsorl
cal precedents all refer to, and whoee continued de
veopmsnt emnently depends on foreign immigra
| ,ion.
We have nothing, then, 10 fear from the Know
Nothing party further than local irritatious which
may vet, under some circumstances, render doubtful
ncal aud State contests. Ii can never act an lnce
pendent part in Presidential campaign.
With the Black Republican party the case ;' dIi-
| f,rent. 1t commands cohesive power secondary
oay to that which reaults from sincere adherence tt
conservative national principles, dictated by poltlca
morality and expedieucy. Its animatipg prlnc'pl.
are, indeed, all counterfeits-but these coun'erie'''
| nfuse, for time, perhaps for very long hmp'
spirit OF activity and enthusiasm which is more viru
snt and scarcely less effective, by reason OF It's mis-
| taken tendency. The Abolition party renounces' IN
deed the anmating influence Of an enlarged patriot
su but il appeals powerfully to sectional jealoury
1; r-uounces the moral force of conservative naiiona
principles but it keeps alive the irlpe:uous ardor
auatical devotion to mistaken syetem OF morality
Such are the two parties which It ID attempted II
consolidate, for the struggle in 1860, against Demo
cratic sscendsncy. The mOdnS Of tbs arrangement
| seems to be the only problem for solution; aAd th'
will prove extremely difficult. Indeed We do no
believe that any complete union can be elected ln
establishment Of a 80 called Peoples party Is al
together impracticabe. The Black Republican part!
will refuse to merge its identity and rick its efhcen
cy for abolition purposes, in political combination
| which proposes to ignore the slavery question dn'
construct platform of equivocal geueraes Ih
Republican leaders intriguing on, for an aosorP
| ton into their own ranks of the adherents Of tt
weaker party.
Thus the Southern Know.Nothings are excluded
altogether from the new organization. They mus
remain isolated-employ their energies in local etrug
giles with Southern Democrats, and be conented Il
mix in Presidential campaign political cyphsi'
afi xsd il spite Of themselves 10 Black Repubica
unit.
In the North, we spprehend the entire dissolution
Of the American party. The Republicans Will no
even risk their own singleness OF object by epgra''
| ing on their platform prescription OF naturaSe
citizens 1t is probable, from present appearances
that they will obtain the accession of part Of III
American forces, by come Iatudinarisu concession
on the tariff question, and that all the Know Nothing
who cannot fal! in with the Republicans will 20 owe
TO tne Democratic ranks
In short we judge from all indications that tn
Northern and Southern wings of tho opposition wi
90 unable to coaesce and that we eha havs but one
instead of two opposition parties at the North.
II hess calculations shall prove true, j. apparen
that the Democracy must brace all their energies o
confic. even more excited than that of the lac
campaign. At the North, mere plurality will n
longer be sufficient for victory we must carry clea
majority in enough OF the Northern Satea in addition
to the vote of the South, to secure an electoral ma
iory The Republicans will make every effort t
convert their recent conversion 10 the doctrine Q
popular sovereignty into available political capita
UNLESS estopped from this by the result of The pend
ing .,rugge in Illinois and the rallying CRY OF ia
uaticsm will be opposition TO the Dred Scott decision
In view of this approaching struggle, We egail
deprecate the course Of certain Democratic journale
which persist in efforts to create irreparabe spli
in the Democratic party; and We urge all good an'
true men 10 silence all faction and division in ou
ranks and stand fast in the spirit of equality and fra
;ernity.