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The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
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Pseudonymous letter in the Rhode-Island American defending Solomon Rophy in a political dispute over Mr. Knight's dual office eligibility, satirizing opponents' inconsistent attacks and advising them to rely on insults rather than concessions.
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I have observed, in the Course of my reading, which has been very considerable for one of my years, that whenever any great character was about to lay the burthen of his ideas upon the publick, he generally provided himself with a Philo, who is a sort of a 'squire to your literary Knights errant, and steps forward to the assistance of his friend the Knight when in imminent danger. Thus I have seen your Philo Cassius—Philo Junius—and more recently "Philo Manlius," each in his turn step up to the contest and brandish a flaming spear in favour of their discomfited Knights.
My friend, Solomon Rophy, was not such a novice as to enter the lists without such a companion in arms, and I therefore avow myself his champion and defender. I do not consider, however, that he stands in need of my immediate aid, as I believe it is generally considered that Solomon stands on commanding ground, and has completely worsted his antagonists; yet I take it on me, in the station which I occupy, to caution his opponents for the future, that when they load their blunderbuss, which they term a Phenix, not to put in any thing like a confession that their opponents are right in saying Mr. Knight cannot be Governour and hold United States' offices at the same time, but that they confine themselves to their old and "characteristick" charge of "low blackguardism" "foolishness"—"knavery" ."falsehoods"—"misrepresentation"—"untruths," &c. &c.
Such loading will do for the blunderbuss which they now have in use, but if they get out their double-barrelled piece, which they formerly used a little before election day, I would advise that they should be careful to take for the wadding of one barrel a Phenix of Friday night, and for the other a Phenix of Saturday morning.
PHILO SOLOMON ROPHY.
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
Philo Solomon Rophy
Recipient
The Rhode Island American
Main Argument
the writer defends solomon rophy against political opponents, cautioning them not to concede that mr. knight cannot simultaneously hold the governorship and a united states office, but to stick to their characteristic personal attacks like accusations of low blackguardism, foolishness, knavery, falsehoods, misrepresentations, and untruths.
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