Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1881-02-05
"BOURB0NIsM."
A Defense of the Democratic Party

To the Editor of the Chicago Times:
. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH, Jan. 16.-As
a journalist OF singular independence
aud courage, you have rather invited
than repelled adverse criticism. Natu-
rally aggressive in political controversy,
the fact that there are blows to take as
we'll as to give. has never kept you out
OF the lists. OF late you have "waxed
exceeding wroth" in dealing with the
democratic party. You denounce it as
fossil; a party living in the past, whose
modes of thought are not OF the present;
party cllnging closely to the constitu-
tim OF the United States and antiquated
in nerpretations thereof, and charge 1t
with being a t'rock-rooted Bourbon"
party, thereupon demanding its extinc-
tien and that new political force be
placed in the field. By Bourbon you
mean one who never torgets and
NEVER LEARNS ANYTHING.
Democrats accept, as applicable to
themselves, one-half of your definition.
We do not forget. Touching the other
bali, we ask from whom or what we are
to learn? Plainly, from our political op-
pnents and their history. We are the
tourbons. and they are the progressiv-
lists. They have piped and we have not
Ganced; therefore we are standstllls,
rock-rooted and behind the age. This
is the idea.
Some metaphysician who wanted to
split hair "twixt west and northwest
side," has said advancement is not
progress" Webster says it ls. Let US
suppose that he is mistaken, and that
progress must mean going forward to-
ward good, and advancement may mean
rush toward Hades. By this. conJoin-
ed to the consideration of few scanda.
lously immortal facts, we may get at an
idea of the nations since
the date OF sAndy's" accession, and learn
why the democracy have not learned
selecting the expression. rather than the
chaste and refined mode Of presentation
why the democracy have not only held
back, but have braced themselves in the
breeching.
1 shall employ, tor the purposes ol
this communication, the words bourbon
aud bourbonism as synonyms of demo
crat and democracy. The bourbons
north and south. accepted the plan o
restoration projected by Mr.. Lincoln ant
his cabinet, and adopted by President
ohnson. The malIgnants rebelled ,anC
carried to completion their own plan .
reconstruction. Against this the bour
bons
| BRACED THEMSELVES.
We held back when President johnson
was stripped of his constitutional pow
ers as commander-in-chief We held bacl
when the multitudinous infamies of thu
military bills and the treedman's burea,
bill were urged forward. We held bacl
when congress entered upon career O
extravaganza and corruption. unde
which the ordinary expenses of the gov
ernment reached more than two hundred
millions OF dollars year, outside of IN
terest and pensions. We held back wher
McCulloch began policy of contrac
ton by which the currency was reduced
at the rate OF tour hundred millions o
dollars year. and the business Interests
of the country laid PROSTATE. We helc
back when such huge amounts of tn,
African were injected into the constltu
ton. as, under radical construction, t.
whelm the Caucasian. Under all ant
singular transgressions and bedeyil
ments OF the constitution, so far as W.
could, we blocked advancement.
We frankly admit that for the ftteel
or sixteen years last past, holding bacl
has been the :.best hold" OF the democ
racy. It5has not escaped your memor,
that you were Industrious and effectiv,
IN APPLYING THE BRAKE
to the republican train. You stopped i
suddenly when the order was issued t,
suppress the Chicago Times. Anon,
the many and brilliant triumphs yoi
have achieved in the domain OF Journal
ism there is not one which more poten
TALLY challenged and fixed the attentie
OF the entire nation. The order was re
voked before the decision of the cour
was reached. but you then relied conf
IDENTIFY Tor protection ON the agencie
provided for IN that constitution whic
is now too frequently the subject OF you
assaults. The effectiveness of the holdin
back policy was portrayed in an articl