Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-27
ANANECoOrE AND PnePHEsr
About the Democratic Party by the
Late John Minor Bolts.

About the DemOcE0IAc EaFtJ " NV
Late John Minor Bolts.
Some weeks ago read the following
in the Richmond Dispatch:
"HARD TO D1srosE OF.-The New
York Tribune remarks that
The Democratic party is 10 pass away, and "a
10 be succeeded by "some party that has honest
convictions and selects honest men TO lead IL"
1.-THE Boston Herald, 10 replying to
this, says:
That may he. but Tiers must be radical re-
form In tho Republican party both in principle
and in leadership, II IL expects 70 boat such
party a. this. our impression Is that the NEST
of IT'S managers would prefer that the Demo
cratic party should continue. IL Is hkely 70, In
deed. The Democrats are "drehul" hard
set Of people TO dispose Of finally.
"The Herald is right. The Demo
cratic party has moro lives than whole
colony of cats, aud is as dangerous in a
fight when it is under as when 1t is on
top. 1t is probable that in the course of
human events an end will be put to its
existence, bat it is safe to assert that
that time will not arrive until it has
accomplished its mission, which mission
is to put period TO the existence OF the
Republican party"
These opinions Of the Boston Herald
and the D5spGtch coincide so nearly with
those of a well-known gentleman vino was
throughout his whole life a stsunch and
incorporating Wing and Unionist
that | cannot forbesr telling this little
anecdote.
The gentleman referred to was John
Minor Bolts. Shortly after the war he
was present at little informal party at
winch | also assisted. " MIR. Bolts
was sitting all BY himself in the corner
of sofa, when took Ey place beside
him and engaged in q desultory CONVEX
sation, during which among other things
l dropped this question;
"Nr. Bolts, it seems TO be a general
impression just now that the Democratic
party is burned beyond hope Of resur-
rection. What do you think about it?
"Ah, WELL" he answered, IL do not
meddle much with politics at present"
Fearing that l had trespassed on for
hidden ground turned off the colloquy
into other channels. After awhile Mr..
Bolts turned TO me suddenly and said ::
lyon asked me a while ago if J
thought the Democratic party was dead,
didn't you?"
Yes, think made some remark to
that effect
"Now, whether the Democratic party
is dead or not cannot tell, he con
tinued, but l can tell You little story
if you would like to hear it.
IL should be very glad to do SO" l
answered.
"Well, then: l once had friend in
Albemarle county, Virginia, a farmer,
who was greatly annoyed by profusion
of wild leeks growing in his front yard.
One wear he determined TO get rid of
them for good and all, for which pur-
pose he pulled them up by the roots,
laid them out in the sun to dry, crum-
bled them up, burned them in furnace,
and scattered the ashes to the wind"
And the next year he had no more
wild leeks in tho front yard, l hope?"
"The next year he had twice as many
leeks in his front yard as before. said
Mr.. Bolts smiling.
"Do you mean that this has any re-
ference to the Democratic party?" !
queried.
Eyes, rejoined Mr. Bolts with some
what more OF animation now. 1.-THE
Democratic party has been dead several
times, but whenever an emergency arises
the old corpse suddenly starts into life
again. They come from foreign and do
nestle shores, from log cabin here, a
lakewood cottage there, and Heaven
only knows where not from. Nobody
can accuse me OF ever having been a
Democrat, and yet L must confess that
there never existed better organized
political party in this country. You will
in all probability live to see them on the
top again, and perhaps, also-who
knows ?-the majority OF our colored
brethren vote with them"
The first part of this prophesy is full
filed, but what about the second?
Time will show. o. A. L.