Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-09-01
LOCOFOCOISM.

:LocoFocoIsM has become distinctive term in
politics, more difficult perhaps to define than
TO illustrate by instances. 1t is said TO have
originated in 1884 at a Democratic meeting in
Tamany Hall; in which there was great diver
sity of opinion. The Chairman left his seat
Ihe moderate party extlnguished the lights,
and Withdrew with view 10 dissolve the meet
ing Those in favor of ertreme measures, pro-
duced lOcotoco matches, rekindled the lights,
continued the meeting, and accomplished their
obieee the advocates of these extreme mea.
sures were ate rwards styled by the moderates,
LOcOfocos. 1t denotes those principles in
politics, that have reference to individual and
parry aggrsndzement instead ofthe public good.
1t denotes those measures that are intended to
tear to pieces and destroy, rather than build up,
improve or originate. 1t, iE special man.
ner, denotes those means of the demagogue,
which consist in appeals to the worst and lowest
passions and prejudices of the people, instead of
theil reason and their consciences, to accomplish
his nelarious purposes.
The "1Oh of May ConUentiOn," which orig.
mated and set on foot the scheme of revolution,
Aor the purpose of securing the government of
abe State from the hands orthe majority, is one
jnstance where party aggrandzement and not
ahe psphe good was the object
Another Instance, where an appeal is made to
ahe lowest passions and prejudice of the people,
Scr the purpose of awakipg hostility towards a
political epponeaa, we notice in the Ohio Pat
riot af iasl week. In noticing the nomination
of Mr.. Mason, as The Wing candidate for Con-
gress in this district he is spoken of us law
yer who has acquired some wealth by the mis-
Eortunes of his felow-citizens; a young man
who has considerable opinion of,himselG who
wears pantaloons wider below the knee than is
fashionable; who has ately visited the Saratoga
Springs, a fashionable resort; who at times
Arives pair Of fine horses in his carriage, &C.,
and concludes by remarking that when the yeo-
men of the country come TO cast their votes at
dhe October election they will conclude that he
and his horses shall not oats out of the public
crib for the next TWO years. We have not the
paper before US, but we have given the substance
of the article.
This is an instance of Locofocoisn1 on a very
small scale-very lou focoism 1t is pitilul at
'emPt to awaken prejudice against Mr.. Mason
on account of his profession, his dress, his maa'
ners-and is only worthy the demagogue who
conducts the Patriot We know nothing of the
character of the "yeomanry" who read that pa
per; but know the farmers of Carroll county
would not feel themselves Hattered by such low
appeals TO their prejudices. They will not in,
quire, in the present campaign, whether the
candidate Of either party wears fashionable OF
Questionable cloths; whether he is successful
at the bar, or has failed to get to it; whether he
visits the Saratoga or Harlem Springs; whether
he travels with two horses or donkey; whethe,
he earns a livelihood by his own industry OF
lives by the industry Of others. None of these
things will be deemed as affecting his qualifca-