The examiner., 1882-04-01
American FlunkeYism.

A nunkey, IS one who meanly and ser vilely compliments to excess, one who IS obsequious and cringing, contemptible sycophant, @ miserable parasite, who lawns on his superiors, and basely bullies those he deems his interiors.
 Unfortunately for the honor and credit of our American nation we have too many just such people. These hunkeys do not all belong to any one class of society, they may be found in all classes, and especially in what is termed our higher orders. In- deed quite large portion of this latter class ever manifest 8 perfect willingness to don the livery of royalty, acknowledge with eagerness their admiration for the glorious British constitution you know, are in ecstacies of a lord or @ duke but carelessly nod at them, shout themselves hoarse, if a debauched Royal Highness but pass in his carriage. would crawl half a mile on their hands and knees to lick the dust from the feet of some majesty" and deem it an honor surpassing the highest favors of republican governments, if priv ileged to humbly bow in the Royal pres
 
 tender regard for long line of aristo- cratic ancestors, consistently ape the man. ners and customs of those ancestors, dili- gently search works of hearldry for some sign of a seal or 8 crest, and if found ex- hibit it as an evidence of their noble ex- traction. There is nothing in pure repub- ican or democratic institutions that com- mends itself to their judgment. The idea that government should be founded on the principle of equality, that all should participate in ordering or regulating the government, is so outrageous to their highly cultivated and aesthetic tastes, so shocking to their delicate conceptions of the justice of aristocratic privileges, that they cannot imagine why the fathers of the republic recommended the adoption of the system, and in order to remedy the evil would favor an immediate change, and ment.
 This eager worshiping at the shrine of royal authority, this custom of subservi- ency, this obsequious cringing, this dis gusting sycophancy, has become so com mon, and so fashionable, that even many of our public officials, men whose duty it 1t is to guard the interests of our nation, to protect and preserve the independence and the liberties of our people, yet look quietly and smilingly on while American citizens guilty of no crime, but that of hazarding their lives to protect the Ameri- Ann oR &oh& &o &Ion American union languish in British pris- ons, arrested without cause and denied the privilege of a trial, and these same officials needless of the outrage on American citi- xens and regardless of the insult offered the nation they represent, raise no voice in de- fence of the imprisoned citizen, make DO demand for a restoration of their rights or for an apology to the insulted nation, but like James Russell Lowell, our minister to the court of St. James, quietly eat theif English dinners and sip their English wine, and facetiously remark that the only burning question that is likely to disturb the friendly relations existing between the two countries is the stubborn refusal oi the elephant Jumbo to leave his comfort able quarters in the Geological gardens in London and be transported to this country as the property of MT. Barnum. .
 We'll, we confess we admire the good sense of Jumbo in refusing to leave his present pleasant quarters, for if he should come to this country and become an Amer cam by adoption, and by any change ol circu instances be forced to return to ''the