The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-13

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE CUCKOO.
Forty Varieties of the Bird-Peculiar-
tiles of the Cuculus COngressionates.
New York Sun.

New YORK sun.
There are forty varieties Of the cuckoo. or
Cuculus, exclusive Of the Cuculus Congress
sionalis. but they do not appear to be rep
resented in the poultry and pigeon show
now in progress at the Madison-square
Garden. The use of the word cuckoo" as
a designation OF political reproach is trace
able to Captain Boutelle, the free-spoken
Maine mariner, and was applied by him In
Congress. in nautical sportiveness, TO an
upstate New York member whose partial
ity for the policies enunciated by President
Cleveland has generally been observed to
be of the automatic order; defense and ex-
tolment always on tap, and no questions
asked. The addition Of this apt and ex-
pressively noun to the political vocabulary
Of "mugwump," "stalwart," "half-breed,
''~doughface," tenderfoot," "~barn-burner,"
dark horse" ''copperhead," bunker"
'moonshiner," 'feather-head," "log-roller,"
"roorbach." and rag baby" is not enfold-
ed in mystery or uncertainty. 1t is In use
only about three weeks, but has attained
already a general popularity.
This Maine Republican desired to get a
hearing for his resolution of censure on
the Cleveland policy of infamy against
free institutions In Hawaii. There was an
objection. A single objection was sufh-
cient to shut off distasteful inquiry into a
subject so generally repugnant to Demo
cratic members. Mr.. Boutelle's resolution
was temporarily met by an objection from
a New York member, VIGOROUSLY partial
to Mr.. Cleveland's peculiar policy; and Mr.
Boutellc, in a spirit of levity, strongly sug-
egestive of tarpaTli9' +, Delaying PIN and H %aT,
clock had struck that morning.
Such was the origin of the expression
cuckoo" but 1T has fastened 1tselt py
forna of ~. 70 the CnQNial de-
tenders of uifwise, unpatriOtic, undemo-
cratic White House policies under the pres
ent administration, mistakenly saluteo on
March 4, 1893, AS the harbinger or an era
of general good feeling. Up TO date, now
ever, the good feeling has been pretty gen.
rally monopolizd, candor compels the ad-
mission, by our Republican friends. very
little appears TO be left for Democrats.
In England naturalists aver that cuckoos
arrive from southern countries In Marcn
and depart early In summer, c~orresPoPdlne
In their migrations somewhat TO the seS-
sions of Congress in Washington: Tnert
are other points OF resemblance DetWSen
American cuckoos are of the subfam1ly
Coccyzinae. or ground variety. In this, 700
is another point Of resemblance to the con,
g~ressional cuckoos, who are to be found
applauding and justifying policies not only
Frustrated by popular disapproval, but re,
quiring for defense q total surrender OF
those convictions and aspirations which are
an honor among Americans: fealty TO con
stitutionai forms and restrictions, supper
or neighDOrlnS freenen ueSlrOuS Oh oNST'
throwing an odious monarchical govern
ment, and Of American mechanics who be
lieve in the dignity and just rewards OF fre'
labor.
a political cuckoo is a man who is willing
to defend an unworthy political cause, moi
because he believes in 1t, but because he
hopes, by so doing, to curry ravor WIZ
some individual in office, whose personal
comfort it may promote. "A person by be-
coming a political cuckoo sacrifices indie
pendence and consistency. He ceases &c
have a mind of his own, IL he had one be-
fore. He becomes, as ii were, an automa-
ton; but that is not all, for the hateful con-
not only must he eXtol abhorent policies
and discredited personages, but he must
attack and traduce those OF his associates
in the Cabinet, or the Congress, VINO have
retained intact their political manhood and
personal independence.
Such are the marked and Distinguishing
points about the political cuckoo: he must
of others whose sincerity and moral percep-
ton are, as he knows, constantly better
than his own.
There are few cuckoos in New York. The
atmosphere Of genuine Democracy Is no
conducive to their existence. They soon fly
away to points further SOUTH, Washington
being Just now the center of their PERM.
cious Partially for all things having q
White House label warranted to advance
them in office-holding honors, il not In tn,
confidence and regard OF their neighbour
and constituents.
One thing in praise of political cuckoos
may be said truly and unreservedly: Tn
and II must be reluctantly admitted by al
Democrats that during the past eleven
months the demand has been abnormally
large and cumulatively increasing.