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Letter to Editor
February 5, 1822
Richmond Enquirer
Richmond, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In a 1822 Richmond letter to the Enquirer, 'Algernon Sidney' warns Republicans that resurgent Federalists, compared to Samson regrowing his hair, threaten to regain power and destroy their dominance, invoking biblical imagery of the Temple of Dagon's fall.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
RICHMOND. FEBRUARY 5, 1822.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
"Yet, Republicans! I greatly fear that your sins have overtaken you. I deeply regret that you are found sleeping at your posts, and that "you could not watch one hour." I greatly fear that the day of retribution is at hand. The sceptre of power is, I fear, about to depart from beneath your feet." The leaders of that party, who were shorn of their political ascendancy in the year 1801, are again beginning to bestir themselves. The hair of these federal Samsons, has again begun to grow, and, with it, their power and their strength. They are hoping, with great glory, to bring their vanquished party, once more, into power. They are bowing themselves, with all their might, to overthrow the Temple of Dagon, and will at length, I fear, completely avenge themselves, of their political adversaries. Woe! be to the unhappy Philistines who shall be crushed beneath its fall.
"Algernon Sidney."
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
"Yet, Republicans! I greatly fear that your sins have overtaken you. I deeply regret that you are found sleeping at your posts, and that "you could not watch one hour." I greatly fear that the day of retribution is at hand. The sceptre of power is, I fear, about to depart from beneath your feet." The leaders of that party, who were shorn of their political ascendancy in the year 1801, are again beginning to bestir themselves. The hair of these federal Samsons, has again begun to grow, and, with it, their power and their strength. They are hoping, with great glory, to bring their vanquished party, once more, into power. They are bowing themselves, with all their might, to overthrow the Temple of Dagon, and will at length, I fear, completely avenge themselves, of their political adversaries. Woe! be to the unhappy Philistines who shall be crushed beneath its fall.
"Algernon Sidney."
What sub-type of article is it?
Political
Persuasive
Provocative
What themes does it cover?
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Republicans
Federalists
Political Power
Samson Analogy
Party Rivalry
What entities or persons were involved?
Algernon Sidney.
The Enquirer
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Algernon Sidney.
Recipient
The Enquirer
Main Argument
warns republicans that federalist leaders, likened to samson regaining strength, are poised to overthrow republican power and crush their adversaries like philistines under the temple of dagon.
Notable Details
Biblical Allusion To Samson And The Philistines
Reference To Political Ascendancy Lost In 1801