The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-04-06
From The Western STATE Journal.
LOCO FOCOISM-ITS NATURE AND
DRIEC,TG

Loco Focosm bears no more resemblance 10 pe-
nuine Republicanism, than an English hawthorn 10
Newtown pippin. Loco Focoism is wild uncut
tivated scion, engrafted upon once pure stock at
The rooi by which both stock and branch have be-
come unnaturay vicious. The root sends up no
more shoots of the original growth and the fruit Of
the tree is so depraved that could not be supposed
to be nonrished BY juices fr I'M wholesome sources.
Loco Focoism Is schismatic in its origin and ten
dency. II pretends to more wisdom and virtue than
was ever incorporated into the original belief Your
Loco Foco is Pharisee, who conemptuousy bids
the fathers OF the church, stand bp for am boiler
than thoar' II is fanaticism, which discovers new
meanings in the book Of faith, interpolaes spurious
passages into the common text, and regards the old
professors with a more deadly luminosity than the
heahenish idolator It Is animated by the spirit OF
persecution and intolerance, and wastes its energies
by blind fury which makes compromise with
circumstances, and heated zeal which consumes
itself without diffu sing It's warmth to others
Loco Focoism is the false light Of an exhalatiop
Follow it and you are led into quagmires and mo-
RAISES. II hovers over hideous wastes and desolate
places. II you approach H. ii eludes your grasp Il
Is never seen within the bounds of cultivation but
the poor borderer the unfortunate outcas of society
VINO SOLITARY and alone" inhabts outpost on the
confines OF civilized society, is the frequent witness
OF its baleful illumination, and regards il with su-
perstitious awe.
Loco Focoism is OF Gothic and Vandalic descent.
II holds the conveniences and comforts Of life in
contempt lis rude hands are exercised in pulling
down and overturning what il never build up or
establish. II disdains the arts OF peace and delights
IN the ravages OF war. Issuing from wild haunts,
and accustomed TO extreme privalion il cannot ap-
preciae the institutions which learning industry
and commerce have reared, but ignorantly levels
palaces, temples, academies villages, triumphal
arches, columns and monuments with The dust :
Procusies was the first Loco Foco He possessed
an iron bedstead upon which he stretched his vic
TINS and whenever their limbs exceeded its length.
they were hewn off 10 the required standard, and IL
they tell Short they were heightened by the screw
and pulley 10 the prescribed dimensions
Foco Focoism labors to cqualize the condition of
all mankind by levelling every thing downward
Because some men are poor, II seeks 10 make all
poor alike. Because some are vicious, il would take
away the rewards Of virtue. Because some men are
Ignorant and depraved, it would confound the dis
tInclionS of knowledge and rectiu1e. Because some
inen prefer idleness and cold meat it would dscoun-
'enance industry, soup and warm bread. Because
all men cannot wear gold watches, there should be
none manufactured but Of pinchbeck. Because all
men cannot get their notes discounted at the bank,
,here should be no btnks Because some men never
nave much money, none should have more than the
ie>| because railroads transporting passengers at
.nlee GEMS mile, are such odious monopolies peo-
Pc onsn, 10 travel in post coaches and pay six
-. L''o ocolSm is 'dsorganizing and revolution
SOY S,n Is never contented with the existing
"' VI 'ningS II is constantly fomenting anarchy
ana breeding dis"ord Ii is reckless innovaor and
o 'ne ioVe OF charge is ever VARYING It's purposes
ana PURSUITS The machine that was erected yeser-
I In aau operated to admiration to day, is battered
,:....., W make ToOUl LOT some new cXpe-
mlneht is the deadly foe Of order, harmony and
,ysmn; II y could control the planets, it would set
"sn an running IN cometary orbits. II would i'm
par 10 water The double property of running up hill
as well as down. In cold weather il is in favor of
no' and in summer it signs Tor the blasts Of winter
iI motto is" Man mcrer is but al,oaps 10 DC 6est"
Let well enough alone" is detestable sentiment,
IN rs opinion pants for novelty, and though ii
cooduclS the government and The people from bad to
s %"fSe pelends that the spice Of variety gives
ife>h mayor TO every succeeding Formulation.
L1co tocoiSm is tbeorsing agent. II rejects the
ieSalS o. experience, and leans upon the fine spun
SnpnS',leS OF the Imagination. II is firm believer
~ ne creams Of poets and enthusiasts and reads old
nrn,"o'rs lor vertable history Its great men arc
If ~, ana inventors Il is persuaded Of the fact
er r%% in 6nmmes hole and the FL Dorado II be-
nhs, In, - .e transmutaon OF metals BY the phioso-
rlen,r s " and holds that gold may be made as
moon o a as Ifon credits the story of the man in the
nven, ama thnks that the art Of ballooning will
neans DC carried 50 high, as not to afford the
i In sb ., Communication with that luminary
o,,a >" Smor Loco Focoism is an old Ash. and who
r,I mu>s himself TO the sea Of politics upon the
ammo, ;. plcN will soon find himself laundering
SUI ooze al the bottom w" vac