The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-08-19
From The Hartford Patriot and Democrat.
TIE LOCO FOCOS AND THE
OPPOSITION y


1t is a striking fact and one that should be
carefully remembered by every old fashioned
democrat in the country, that the Loco Focos
or Radicals faction that has been known
in our country but year or two--in repeated
instances have coalesccd with the opposition
in order to effect the defeat Of the regular
democratic party Indeed SO often has this
been done, Notwithstanding the loud profess
sions and the reiterated claims Of this faction
TO purer and better democracy than the great
mass of the party, that it has become pro-
verbal that Loco Focoism is but a new
tangled ally of old federalism, which, like. its
former union with ani-masonry and nulltica-
ton, will soon run its short and ignohle ca
rcer. 1t is undoubtedly the policy of the old
federal party, since they ceased to have any
distinctive principle of action beyond that of
hostility TO the republican party" 10 embrace
not only every fragment which has broken
of; but every s,raggler that has wandered
from our ranks-and although as yet, " there
is very little of this radical spirit in the
country, there may nevertheless be found in
dividuals in almost every country who hang
loosely upon the skirts of the democratic
party men who, if not already enlisted in
the service of the enemy, can easily be made
instruments to do his will" Such men, while
they exhibit most immoderate zeal for the
welfare of the people, and manifest hypo-
critical horror of all partial and exclusive
legislation" are constantly dissatisfied with
the movements of the democracy, ever ready
to calumniate tits truest and best friends, and
always on the alert to magnify and increase
actually existing evils. "l'hey will, not i'm
probably, be very loud in their denunciations
of a national bank and every species Of rag
money!" while at the same moment they arc
advocating measures having direct tendency
permanently to establish both.
few facts upon this point, briefly stated,
may not be amiss. During the late session
of the Legislature of New York, it was well
known and generally conceded that the Loco
Focos were constantly engaged in one form
or another, in connection with the Wings, in
endeavorng to embarrass and "put down the
national and state administrations" refer
cncc TO the political movements Of that ses-
sion will abundantly prove this.
concert of action between the radicals
of the city of New York-the head quarters
of these ncm-hghts, whose organ the New
Haven Register says is " the vilest old federal
paper in the Union" although it claims to be
$50 much more democratic than old demo-
Gratis, that few are ti-bank radical enough
for its society and the Wing party, against
thc old Tammany or regular democratic party,
during the last year, have destroyed the
democratic majority Of five thousand in that
city, and thrown it temporarily into the hands
of the partizans of a national bank"
In our own state the same course has been
pursued by the Loco Focos, and the same re-
suit been produced In New London county,
where radcaism and faction have obtained
temporary loothold, the old fashioned demo
cratic party has been divided, distracted and
wcl-nigh overthrown-a result that could
never have been accomplished by the op-
ponents of the administration sngle-handcd.
The town of New London, uniformly demo-
cratic by an overwhelming majority, has, in
consequence, been for two years unreprescn-
ed in our Legislature, and at recent town
election all its municipal Offices passed into
the hands Of the old enemy, the icdcralists.
through an avowed union between them and
their new allies the Loco Focos.
But shall the Democracy suffer themselves
to be taken in the snare which has been laid
for their destruction ! They have never fol-
lowed the example of the enemy by resorting
to new-fangled notions or devices TO acquire or
support their power and all past experience
admonlshes them that they have nothing 10
gain but every thing 10 lose by giving any
degree OF countcnance 10 radcasm and
faction. Let our democratic fricnds-the
ancient guardians Of the party-kccp an eye
on such mock patriots as described above,
and sec that they arc not allowed to stir up
strife. They will then accomplish no more
mischief in our ranks than they would in the
appropriate station of open enemies.
NILES'S REGISTER.