Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-01-12
The Men who are to Bend the
Solid South.


but fittingly describes some of the
small politicians, the cheap heroes to
be found perhaps in all the Southern
States Of the Union, who are not only
willing to share the unenviable fame
of General Malone, but who are con-
stantly proclaiming their purpose to
revolutionize divers and sundry States
by the overthrow of what they face
tiously call the Bourbon Democracy.
These puny patriots are loud in their
protestations of devotion to "a full
vote, u free ballot, and fair count"
and to attain these desirable and praise
worthy results, they are jointly and
and severally ready to undergo all
sorts of Affections; to endure all the
privations, scourgings, stripes, imPris-
onments, hunger, thirst, nakedness,
and dangers by sea and land, that fell
to the lot of that great Christian hero,
the Apostle Paul. The last one of
these fellows is ready to meet contume-
ly, obloquy, and insult ; to encounter
all the ills that flesh is heir to; and.
in addition, add to their sorrows and
sufierings by accepting an Office at the
hands of President Arthur, as evidence
at once of devotion to the old flag, and
their constancy to principle--the prin-
ciple of taking everything in sight
and with heroic courage refusing moth.
ing that will payl Patriotism, which
surly old Sam johnson declared was
''the last refuge of scoundrels," is still
potent factor in the affairs of this
world, and to use slang phrase cur
rent among the boys, "the woods are
full" of gentle, but hungry patriots,
who are ready to do anything in the
world but die, for pay and provant." "
Large numbers of these enterprising
fellows have been in this city lately.
and more of them will soon be hang
ing around the Capitol, the White
House, and the various departments.
When they first reach this political
Mecca they are generally in good con-
dition, having managed TO encase
themselves in tolerably presentable
outer garments they HE them to one
of our first-class hotels, where, for a
brief period, they flourish in festive
gaiety, and recount with sportive glee
their innumerable interviews with the
President and other gentlemen occu.
pying high official positions. For the
first week or 50 these interesting crea-
lures have very elevated notions Of
their importance, and of the exalt-
ed stations for which they are destined
as the reward of great merit and val
liable services. In the first aush OF
their exaltation each one selects first
class foreign mission for himself, but
If, as sometimes happens, there Is no
vacancy, he reluctantly consents to
humble his pride, and agree TO become
o minister resident at a second-class
court, but, finding no vacancy in
that direction, he finally concludes
that, for the good of the country he
might be induced to become q charge
d'afdires. When he finds that the
road todiplomatic fame is impassable,
he turns his attention to the Territories
and dreaming Of future senatorial
honors, he modestly insinuates that he
would accept a gcvernorship or q ju-
dicial position. Here, again, he finds
himself baked, and lowering his pre-
tensions, he comes down, step by step,
until in his desperation the poor devil
Is ready to beg for 5000 clerkship
in one Of the Departments. And yet,
for the most part, il Is such fellows.
as these who are rending their gar.
ments, and making night hideous with
the vain boast that they are going to
do in their States what Malone did in
Virginia, and thus sever the solid
South, and bury the Bourbon Demo
Gratis beneath its ruins.
The sensible men Of the South
know that these brawling patriots are
harmless, even for evil. They know,