National Republican., 1882-11-03
Democracy and Bourbonism.

The existence of parties in any country
is easily accounted for, but why in this
country people divide along the particu-
lar lines where we find them is some
thing of mystery until the matter has
been profoundly studied. 1t was easy to
see that the South before the war was
necessarily Democratic, because slavery
was the ruling paramount interest of the
South, and the Democratic party in the
North was abundantly willing to sustain
that interest to the full extent demanded.
The alliance was perfect and reliable.
The Democratic party North was COM
posed mainly of three elements. First
The able and designing men who wanted
Office. Second-The large importers and
their dependents in the principal cities
wanting free trade. Third-The COM
mon laborers who were educated to think
that if slavery were abolished the negroes
would come North and compete with
them in the markets of labor Democracy
satisfied these elements and slavery used
them.
But slavery having been abolished for
twenty years, the disasters predicted in
relation to labor not having been real
lied, and the fear of them having wholly
died out the ruling interest at the South
having been annihilated, and it having
become utterly impossible for it to be re-
vived, and, from the nature of the case,
there being only one hundred thousand
or so of people interested in oftice-hold-
ing, and the large majority of these being
small-salaried postmasters and light
house keepers, it is not apparent at first
sight why the Bourbon aristocracy of the
South and the bone and muscle of the la
boring Democracy of the North should
still coalesce when they have absolutely
nothing in common but natural and
mutual contempt for each other The
old Bourbon interest still hopes to live
and flourish on the labor of the country,
and the laboring men of the Nation
have to carry the burden of all that
ancient aristocracy which still tries to
secure maintenance without con-
tributing its quota in some form
to the common stock. Bourbonism
has nothing to offer the labor interest Of
this country. 1t can no longer say
"Vote the Democratic ticket, and we
will keep the colored man on the planta-
ton" for the east wind does that i'm
portant duty in way that leaves moth
ing to be desired. Bourbonism does not
say to Northern labor, ave will give
you system of protection which
shall enhance your wages" because even
the present moderate rate of wages
makes it extremely difficult for the old
time aristocracy TO stand on its feet with
out visibly tottering before the gaze of a
world ready to say amen ut its coming
doom. Bourbonism does not say to the
Northern mechanic, "Come thou down
South and partake of our lands, our
crops, our mineral wealth, and we will
clothe your families, educa te your chill
dren, and give you the fatness of of
fee and first place on our So
cial standing ground" Malone is the
statesman who makes advances OF this
nature in the direction of the labor in
terest, and for doing so is pursued by the
Bourbons with all the venom which
Bourbonism can command. Bourbonism
does not say the safety of the nation
depends upon free and fair election
and an honest count ofvotes, but declares
that society is justified in protecting it.
self against the votes of the ignorant
masses by tissue ballots, stuffed boxes,
false returns, and any other method
when these shall cease to be effective
Bourhonism does not say much of any
thing that a wide-awake, progressive
high-toned, elevating population OF
thinking men cares to hear or heed, and
presents nothing in the way of a policy
in the slightest degree adapted TO the
circumstances of the country, the wants
of the age, or the interests of the farmers
mechanics, and merchants who compose
the working forces of the American
Nation.
The only hope of the South is to follow
the North in building up free industries
and in educating the common people
Virginia must emulate Massachusetts
Georgia must foil ow the example of New
York, and Tennessee must adopt the sys-
tenn of Pennsylvania but this cannot be
done while the rule is in Bourbon hands