Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-11-13
Concerning the Mugwumps.

Now that the heat of debate is over it
seems proper to submit few discrim-
mating observations on the subject of
the mugwumps.
The keynote of the opposition in the
late canvass was pitched by the mug
wumps. They led the fight. The DEM
ocratic hosts were happy enough to lin
ger little in the rear with their free
trade baggage carefully masked. The
method OF attack was to huri personal
abuse at the Republican candidate, and
thus to divert attention from all public
questions.
While, as rule, we do not admire
the mugwump variety of politicians, it
is conceded that there are mugwumps
and mugwumps. Among them were
some good and patriotic men who, if
mistaken in judgment, were actuated
by worthy and patriotic motives. There
were also a considerable number of
young men who do not properly appre-
ciate the character of the party which
they were ready to place in power, and
whose intentions were pure and I'M
tainted by selfish schemes. There was
further. quite a numerous body of read
ers OF The New York Nation who ac-
cept the opinions of that sheet as a sort
OF inspired oracle, and imagine, when
they are reading it, that they are wiser
and better than all other men, except
its editor, whom they regard as the en-
bodiment of human wisdom in political
matters and the final judge upon all
questions, whether of politics, literature
or morals. The latter class of mug
wumps are irritating, but they mean
well. They don't suspect it, but they
are an offshot of the Philistine stock
reprobated by Matthew Arnold. After
these come the baser sort-the men
with grievances, the men with disap-
pointed ambitions; the broken-down
and spralned political hacks who have
been ruled off the course, but who still
demand an opportunity to show their
PAGES; the men with grudges to wreak
the men who have not got the post
eilices they longed for; the men who
have seen others clothed with political
honors to which in their great souls they
felt themselves better entitled, and who
have been allowed to peak and pine in
the cold shade of neglect. Any party
which has been long in power must,
from the necessity of things, become
encountered with host of stragglers of
this kind, and from them the fighting
phalanx of the mugwump forces in the
recent canvass was chiefly drawn. 1t
was they who drew the worst possible
| differences from the Mulligan letters,
who made the most noise about honesty
and purity, and who pronounced other
men who did not accept their charges
as Gospel proof, smitten with that fatal
degeneracy and decay of the moral
nature that, when pervading COM
munity, threatens the commonwealth
with ruin.
We have no great respect for the last
mentioned class of mugwumps. They
are humbugs and imposters. The world
is never likely to appreciate them at
their own value, and in whatever party
they take refuge they will be source
of disturbance and mischief. The Re-
publican party cheerfully contemplates
their departure from its councils. As
for the others, we expect that they will,
in due time, and by actual trial of MIR.
Blaine's qualities as the head of the adj
mlnlstratlon, become treasured as to
his character and qualities as public
man, and return with new love and re-
spect for the party with which they
formerly acted, to their wonted and ap-
propriate political associations. Mi
ua7tLee Sentinel