Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-10
BOurbOniSnl.

BOurD0nISm.
Not the kind which takes its name fror
the celebrated county of Kentucky, but th
Kind that lives and learns nothing. Cham
bOrd is not to-day the best representative G
it +; bound up by traditional cob-webs, b
did not perceive the temper of the Frencl
nation, but he had the excuse that be hat
been for years an exile. The Democrat,
representatives went up to Washington last
week, and coming straight from among the
people, performed an act that needs to be
understood to be appreciated.
Democratic newspapers and Democratic
conventions have denounced the salary grab
as specially the work of the republican party
Some OF them have in an ontspoken manner
denounced members of their own party who
voted for the bill. The 0dium of the act
has, however, been cast mainly upon the
party in power. This was all right; when
party is in large majority in Congress, it
ought to be held responsible for legislation
A large part of the criticism of the Demo
cratic press has been foaming at the mouth
about republican corruption the words of
independent republicans have been seized
upon as proofs that nearly everything was
rotten in the ruling party. Men who de-
plored the acts of republican members of
Congress, are told that there is no reform
possible within the party; that,,the only way
out OF our difficulties is to walk in at the
ever open doors of the unterrlfied and pure
minded democracy.
The argument has been, g the representa-
tlves ola party must be taken to be the party
the men it elects to Office are its spokesmen
and exemplars; behold Credit Mobilier
look at the Salary Grab, and see what your
boosted republican organization has come
to- And there was force in the suggestion.
If pra 'tices that have obtained among many
representative men were to be continued
and the men themselves kept in power by
party machinery, then the republican party
had nearly outlived its usefulness.
The resolutions of republican conventions
were treated as mere bats by the democracy,
and Tor pure and cutting denunciation of the
conventions were unsurpassed. When Con-
gress came together it was seen at once that
such resolutions were deemed by the repre-
sentative mel of the national democracy to
be put up to deceive, not the elect. but uu- {
suspecting voters.
Stralghtway coming together in caucus,
these men nominated Fernando Wood for |
Speaker; salary grabber, and this after all
one of the few comparatively meritorious |
roles which he has played in life. Tried by /
the same standards which they have been S
applying to the republican party for the last b
lew months, with what show of fairness can
the democracy appear as party of retrench-
ment, as party that rebukes wrong doing r
in high places? I
mat this blunder is one of the worst in
the long line of highly foolish actions which :,
She democratic party has been guilty of. is
admitted by many honest journals in its own
interest And the danger from it to the :.
party success which was seen coming N the
near future, lies where the danger to that
party has always been for the last twenty
years In critical periods 1t is this, that
every now and then this old organization = =
shows Its true character. Figuratisely and =
speaking, it breaches well and u
Prays we'll, but it will get drunk; and then p
comes truth.
1t the reformed Tammany Hall sachems ~
Ike IIlden could get control of the machine q
~ throughout the Union; if the democratic !; ~
press could beat honesty into the heads of h,
Inc leaders, and sense into the heads of the h
ed there might be some hope that in some p'
future time such performances as that in ~ ~
The Congressional caucus would become i'm 81
possible There are honest men enough in E
the democratic party, and such are no DOUBT Il
panied at the action of their representatives u
FOR they cannot invite men who do not really or
Ike all the food set out by their own cooks. ed
70 SIT at their table, served as it is with stale I'll
pieces of the grab. ia