The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-03-18
IRE 'BUURBONS.


lBaton Rouge Capitolian-Advocate.l
No term in political nomenclature
has been SO ahuseAs or has had injected
into II a more indefinite Specification,
than this word Bourbon" applied to
politics In the South. The origin Of
the expression grew out Of the old ,po-
Htical lepigram, that the Bourbons for
got nothing and learned nothing. We
do not know how far 1t Is desirable for
political party to forget, but We all
recognize the expediency of learning
the new relations of government, and
to keep abreast with the changes pro-
duced dnl the progress of the country.
But how far any one section of the
party is more atnenable to such a charge
than another, should be the subject Of
deliberate investigation. ,i,... .t.,....
l. Another subject of inquiry should
also be, how far the discipline of party
Is affected by the disposition of some Of
It's members to ,criticise its policy and
to break away from its restraints, In
the mere spirit of insubordination. For
such q spirit the cry of Bourbonism
affords a,oonvenient subterfuge, but we
ihave always noticed that It is mostly
employed when the horrors of Repub-
Iican mlsrule are chiefly forgotten. IF
it is part Of the Bourbon characteristics,
not torforget incidents, of that regime
IN Iouisiana, which are written on the
darkest page Of American history, we
must admit. that We are subject TO the
charge of Rourbonism. lbs. l..u o.,
But we deny that the Democratic
party in Louisiana, or any respectable
section OF it, lave not kept pace with
the march Of events, or have preserved
a sullen and obstinate adhesion to an
tiquated ideas. Against the whole in
fuence of tho general government,
against a most fearful consolidation of
adverse agencies, it has struggled for
the regeneration of our industrial sys-
tenn, and for the resuscitation of our
prosperity. .Inheriting q tremendous
burden Of debt and maladministration,
it has cleared, away the ground for the
resumption oftbe methods which made
tho prosperity, OF I4ouisiata before the
war. 1t deserves well OF public opin-
ion, and. public opinion will certainly
give it full approhation, Whenever it
expresses. itself ,at,the bAfloS box..' u d"
> Bot as Parties are cohtosed ,'of tndi-
YIduals, mapN Of whom are controlled
by selfish oonsideratfons,l it Is, untleni-
able, that It's administration of the gov
hoo
tory. But what administration is alb
soiutely perfect? What government
has ever been able to organize an ud-
ministratioa personnel, as devoted to
personal interests as the agents of gov
mentin Plato's daydream of Utopia
Every sensible man knows, that all
government is q practical business, in
which you have to take human nature
ast you find 1t, and make the best of it.
Every such sensible man looks at the
tendency of government and considers,
whether the direction of administrative
measures is towards reform or is towards
abuse. That the tendencies established
by Democratic rule are favorable to
good government, no judicious man
can deny. The very keenest Of criti-
clsm on public measures is tho outcome
OF the opinion it has fcstered and pro-
NOTED. ..l..
To turn in and destroy the party
which has been our salvation since tho
war, in order to escape minor incon-
veniences, is like burning down the
house to destroy the bed-bugs. Our pol
icy is to give a good solution of sub
Innate, and roast the bed-bugs in their
holes. All the reform has to be within
the Democratic party. Where else do
you have to go?
Echo has to answer this question, and
it replies to every man, who is not
patriotic enough to keep uP the good
fight, "Go!'
THE CHAMPION AFTER THE GREAT
WALK.