Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-07-07
The Old Hunkcrs.

Ilunkerlsm exists 10 greater or Less
er extent throughout all political space.
In Europe it clings to its potentates,
principalisies and powers as the only
means whereby people can be govern
ed. In this country, il is the lock chain
which would stop the wheels of progress.
Welded with the errors of the past, it
views with alarm and with hostility, any
and every attempt that looks towards an
improvement in the political condition,
| social relations, or pecuniary advantages
Of the masses. Attached to old dynas-
ties, and accustomed to life long sucks
at the public lit. itrepudiates rotation in
office, and holds in holy horror all things
which smack of Young America. Long
| dominion and old habits, have also i'm
parted To it imperial airs, which il as
sumes with regal Significance whenever
compelled by circumstances to come
down and face d" The people, and hence
the grand talk which we sometimes hear
SO denunciatory of all who may have
kicked out of the traces oil hunkerdom,
and set up little shop Of private Judge
ment in their own minds. Time was
when hunkerism was thing only heard
or read of in Iowa. when homes. people
were permitted to use their own brains
to do their own thinking-but the time
now is when hunkerism is an extensive
elemen, in our public affairs, and when
men must think and act, and feel with a
particular junto-an acknowledged dyn.
asiy, or run the risk of being ana,hena-
tised as " revoln,ionis,s," disorganz-
ers," &c We know not how far the
public mind may be prepared to submit
to the eternal bondage with which it is
proposed 10 saddle it--bu., unless great
ly mistaken in the signs of the times.
there is day coming, and not far off,
when the people of Iowa will show to
these would be everlasting REGENCY gen,
tleman, Tim, there is spirit of progress
among US which viii no. be longer check
ed by the croakings o. old fogyism, and
that there is spark of pride which will
not forever brook the domination of
selfish and naughty catal of Office holders
and office seekers. .s "
Ii d change of our constitution is sug.
gested, these old bunker rulers at once
cry out against trusting the people with
another chance to provide for their own
government, lest they should adopt some
principles not set down in the political
horn books of the antiquated quacks who
have never yet progressed beyond their
elementary studies, but who are both
stupid and vain enough TO believe that
they "know itall." Ii i, is proposed to
give author ,y to the counties to take
stock in railroads, il is at once opposed
as anti-democra,ic-or, the power being
admitted, the policy OF taking stock is
jecried. and all the horrors of :. nation.
al debt" are paraded before us Cor the es-
Pecial purpose OF astonishing the gudge-
ons. How long, think you, will the PEG.
pie consent to this shabby humbuggory |!
Are we forever 10 listen to the croakings
OF old fogyism-are we forever to pandcr
to ,heambi,ion and necessities of a proud
and imbecile dynasty, by holding on TO
exploded dogmas, and thus leave our.
selves not only hanging to the coat tail
Of hunkerism, but forever in the rear Of
our sister States lara
Look, for moment, a, our prosper
Gus neighbors, in the States of Illinois,
Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, where
under wise and liberal system of poll
cy, and where the people are in the ex-
ercise ola personal freedom which knows
no master, neither in the shape Of party
nor party leaders, we find that public en-
terprise of every description is heartily
entered into. and energetically carried
forward land where they are already reap
ing the rich rewards resulting from their
various improvements. Have we such
a people in Iowa, and shall we follow
the noble example Of our sister States
or shall We remain stGlu quo, stuck in
the mud, and pinned down fast to the
coa.-tail of hunkerism That is the
question which the people of Iowa now
have before them-anG thew can settle il
to suit themselves Huntington Iele-
graph.