I actually assumed this for many years because he ran under the Know Nothing banner. However it appears Fillmore did not share those views and in fact was trying to hijack the party for the purposes of the Union coming together.
Over at American Catholic , in a post that is critical to say the least of Fillmore, that is brought out.
Speaking of Fillmore he does have defenders and I have to admit I think history has been a tad too critical of him. Elektratig has done about 54 posts on him that are pretty interesting and I think he does a good job in showing history has been a tad unkind to him.
As to the Know Nothing Issue he address that issue in some detail. (see my further thoughts below)
See
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part XI
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part X
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part IX
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part VIII
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part VII
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part VI
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part V (This is interesting because it goes into his Audience with the Pope)
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part IV
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part III
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part II
Millard Fillmore, Know Nothing: Part I
Now what is interesting here besides the Presidents day theme is what lesson the Know Nothing party can give new political movements. Such as the TEA PARTY. That is will the Tea Party look at history and not make the same mistakes the Know Nothings made that has put them in history as being despised. More on that later
1 comment:
James,
Thanks for the kind words. It is certainly true, in my view, that Fillmore was no anti-Catholic bigot. Frankly, I've never seen a reasoned argument that he was. The case against him rests entirely upon the fact that he ran as the American Party candidate in 1856. As I've tried to show, Fillmore was trying to convert the American Party into a bi-sectional pro-Union party; anti-Catholic bias had nothing to do with it.
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