Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1882-06-17
WE PROMPTLY RESPOND.

That venerated shade of the Rev
clution, yclept The Spirit Of Jefferson,
whose distinguished godfather is
popularity remembered as having
projected at the head Of the British
lion the famous American Declare
ton, is disposed to be sarcastic at
our expense. In his last issue our
unsophisticated neighbor politely
asks us to define Bourbonlsm, and to
give him facts and figures as to " the
tremendous progression of West
Virginia under Radical Republican
rule" and per contra, I" the decrease
of population, property value and
prosperity, during the latter years of
Bourbon rule" We answer that a
modern Bourbon can dress up in the
clothes of a certain Charlestown ed
itor and find them a perfect fit. A
modern Bourbon is he who covers up
his political tricks by abusing the
pesky radicals; and by "pointing
with pride" to two eminent leaders
of Democracy, manages to set up a
tolerably respectable-though aged
and musty-code of political morals.
You hear him constantly prating,
first of the Jeffersonian-J acksonian
Democracy; Eext of the bloody
Shirt" and then of the Registration
laws-forgetting in his zeal to say
something that he is constantly con-
tradlcting himself. These and other
traits are always discOverable in a
Bourbon, who is distinguished from
a true Democrat by his extreme lib
erality. In further answer to our
neighbours courteous interrogatories,
we take especial pleasure in the fact
that the Republican party handled
upon it's knees the infant State of
West Virginia. Commonwealth
which the Bourbons malciously de-
nominated the "bastard child of
political rape;" and Notwithstanding
it may have made mistakes and may
have faults, the Republican party is
both liberal and progressive in every
sense of the word. We need not now
contrast the Republican with the
Bourbon administration of affairs in
this State. Unless our amiable CO.
temporary be politically blind, he
needs no comparative statement to
convince him of the superiority of
the first, and if blind it would do him
no good, and accomplish nothing for
us; but we respectfully suggest that
he may find it profitable to read an
article elsewhere published in this
paper, emanating from Petersburg,
over the signature of Reform"
While paying our respects to our
excellent friend of the Spirit, we
deem it proper to say that The
HERALD does not aspire to be the
spokesman of this, that or the other
prominent politician protesting to
stand in the Democratic ranks :" nor
has any one "prof Tossing to be a Dem
ocrat" ever asked THE HERALD's
consent, nor sought its aid, "in be-
coming a candidate of the Demo-
cratic party But when "factors,
however SMALL" commence indis-
war upon their fellow fac
5ors, aud make irritable remarks
about eminent gentlemen who stand
n their sunlight, it is evident there |
S going to be fuss in the family;
md we deem it our common duty
indeed, esteem it a privilege-at such
to "pour oil upon the
roubled waters" and to administer
oothing syrup to the refractory fac
ors. This disintereSted kindness
Ipon our part has been mistaken for
perhaps; but it shall
make no difference in our future
curse: and refractory factors may
onsider themselves lucky il we do
lot yet find it necessary to mildly
pank them, fguratively speaking.