The Portland daily press., 1883-10-15
The National Union Leaaue

In another place is printed report of
some remarks at one of the Boston political
clubs on Saturday, by Col. Bryant of
Georgia, upon project of the National I'm
ion League. Col. Bryant gives some infor-
nation about this organization but nothing
concerning its present status. He speaks
OF National Committee and an Executive
Committee as now existing, and he says that
the league at one time had more than one
million members. But we would like to
know the present number of members.
What are its objects in general now, for the
original object of its organization is no long
er urgent? Who compose the constituencies
OF these. committees, or are they volunteer
committees? Are there, in fact, any active
chapters or lodges of the league, and where
are they? We asked these questions some
time ago on the appearance of an eloquent
address advocating harmony in the Rspub-
lcan party emanating from committee of
the executive committee of the league; but,
SO far as we know, they have not been an
swered We asked them then, and we ask
them now, in good faith seeking informa
ton, for it seems to us the public has some
right to know about an organization which
makes appeals to public attention and solic-
its public support for Its work.
The special object now suggested by Col
Bryant, whom we have long known as an
able, jealous and honesbRepublican is the
overthrow of Southern Bourbonism. That is
a good purpose; but we take leave to doubt
whether the work can be greatly helped by
q special effort directed tn that eud It il
something to be outgrown in the general
progress of the nation rather thar driven
out by particular attacks. We expect the
Boston and Louisville exhibitions, the emf
grafton of Northern men and capital to the
South, the educational work in progress,
and general political discussion are each do
ing more to eradicate what we call Bourbon
ism than any organization which attacks it
directly can effect. Bourbonism is the foe
of progress. 1t is prejudice, bigotry, resis-
lance to new ideas. Its tendency is reac-
tionary. But progress cannot be stayed,
even in the South, and any notion that the
condition existing before 1860 can be re-
stored is contrary to all reason. Of course
the men. who were brought up in that era
are not easily weaned from respect for it,
and of course they do not care to have the
children taught that their fathers were all
wrong, but the children will be wiser than
their fathers and will come to have their own
opinion about the past and the present
This project of the National Union League,
according to Col. Bryant, is intended to be
worked as party scheme. There is to be
meeting in Atlanta, to which prominent
Republicans will be invited for the purpose
OF maturing plan of operations which will
secure ''the approval of the national admin
istration and the Republican press" OF
course we have no opinion to express about
any policy until we know what it is, but it
is questionable whether it is good policy to
organize special movement within the par
ty to antagonize Bourbonism, especially if
the machinery of a secret organization is to
be made use of. Our conviction is that the
Republican party itself, and as whole, is
the strongest opponent of Southern Bour-
DOAiShh, duu tHdb OuO VI Luc IuS U6Sb lH6duS
of making Roadway against the false senti-
ment is to never mind it and go forward.
President Arthur struck it heavy blow by
ignoring it altogether in his message. More
over Bourbonism is not confined to the
South, nor is it confined to the Democratic
party. 1t is species of Bourbonism to sup
pose that future political contests will be
waged over the embers of old State-rights
sentiment in the South. The nation has
passed beyond that; but some good Republi-
cans have not and never will. Until they die
their minds will llnger over the issues
that were formally and finally abandoned
in 1871 While it is hardly probable that
the old Southern theories of the constitution
will cease to have an abiding place in the
minds of Southern men during this genera
tion or the next, they will not greatly embar-
rass the progress of the nation. We wish
they would use better text books in their
schools; but we do not believe they will be
persuaded to it by making national politi-
cal issue if that could be DONE Nor do we
believe that they will be persuaded or com
PEELED by any policy which the somewhat
mysterious National Union League, in con-
sultation with prominent Republican poll
ticians from the North will devise.