New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-26
FACTIONAL MECHANICS.
SOME OF THE PRODUCTS OF AMERICAN
POLITICAL CONTESTS.
THE 'MDDLE-oF-THE-R ROAD" PoPULisrs THE
LATEST ADDITION TO THE LIST.

THE MIDDLE or-THE- ROAD" PoPULrsrs THE
LATEST ADDITION TO THE LIST.
When the followers OF "Sockess" Jerry simpson
and the bewhisker.d PETER began singing the Old
negro song Keep In rhe Middle Of the Road" 40 .
gentle protest against any fusion Of their newborn
Populist party with the old Kansas DEMOCRACY
they probably little thought that they were he'p'ns
to make history. But sLch seems TO nave peen 'he
result Of their unprecedented action. They haa
broken loose from Old party ties. and joined the1
fortunes with those Of the Sage OF Medicine Lodge
and his senior colleague. They objected 10 the idee
OF being absorbed into one OF the old pHties ana
they gave voice to their sentiments In Song. Thas
was four Ave years ago. Last week tney a"oHs
to fnd themselves famous. Every dispatch sent OUT
from st. Louis contained some reference to the
Middle of the Road faction in the Populist Con-
vention 1t was tine faction which still wanted 10
keep In the middle Of the road" IL declineo 70
turn to the right turn TO the left out IN
sisted on the Popusts maintaining their own hsh-
tity and individuality a party. putting Candidates
of their in the field and running their own
campaign regardless Of the old parties. what they
achieved in the Convention does not matter Inc
Interesting fact remlins that they have maze pc
cullar and suggestive addition to the long ISL OK
original fact.onal names with which the history OF
American politics IS full
Some Of these names have been attached to fac
lions in derison by their opponents and explain
themselves: others have been adopted deliberately.
almost trademarks; and there are few whose
origin Z would be hard 20 trace. The first real rae.
ton known to American politics under the Constitu.
ton escaped being labelled by any der.sve appela@
ton which has been handed down. though II such
faction were to crop out now II doubtless would b
nttingly CHARACTERIZE. These were the people who
lent aid and comfort to Citizen Genet. who came
here in Washington's second Administration as the
representative Of the French Republic His follow
ers were animated By intense hatred OF Eng.
land and organized clubs after the manner or the
Jacobln clubs OF Parts. They addressed each other
as Citizen and "Citers." and did all In tner pow@
to stir up trouble for the Administration ana the
Government. AS 1t happened they adopted hams
which was afterward taken up by the Anti-Federa'
lists then known Republicans. They called ther
clubs Democratic clubs, and the name IL "os 'ns
principles has become historical
When the Feieralist party IN It's decline durnS
Jenerson's Administration. there arose .
Republican faction known as the "Cuiis, the ad-
herents Of John Randolph, whose exertons gave
fresh life to the Federanst PAUSE in Congress. ara
who made themselves for a time an active and USE
fu oprosit.on party Their existence was brief. By
the time OF Jacksons ascendency the anti-feo erai.
lists or Republicans had become generally known az
the Democrats and the Wings had succeeded the
Federasts. But 1t was MOI long before the " hiss
were all calling their opponents Lcco-Focos' ms
term like many other OF Its kind grew out OF rae.
tionol dssensions in New-York State. A ioco-foco
was a self-igniting match. At Democratic meet
Ing in Tammany Hail. In 1885 one faction fearing
that the other faction had control OF the gathering
put out all the Fights. Matches were produced. the
lamps were rerghted. and within a short time mo
whole party known as "Loco-Foccs naine
which chung 20 them for years
II was not many years before another split IN the
same party in New-York added two more cholcs
terms 70 the political vocabulary. sias Wright was
the leader Of the party In the State He was friend
Of Van Buren, and not always on the best
of terms with President Polk. In lsB he was de-
feated for reelection as Governor. and his friends
attributed downfall to the secret opposition OF
the Administration faction whom they dubbed
"Hunkers," because Of their persistent numbering
for once. The 'Hunkers were pro-slavery In then
sympathies. The Wright faction were such radical
anti-slavery men that they became known as the
barn burners IN allusion TO the story OF the
Dutohman who burned his barn to clear II OF ra0
and mice. The "Bsrn-eurners Were p.e srv an.
knows were merely the Free-so. Democrats, VINO
S so4ss: the extension Of slavery into the Terri
Politics for some years before the war was n
scale Of what was known the Native American'
movement again originally New, York movement 10Y
An elaborate code OF signals and passwords waS
adopted. and all operations Of the Americans.
OF the order asked about its practices or Pur:
poses he answered tia, he KneT n9Ss a sSo
came came. to be called Know Noth.ngs."
The 'Copperhead' faction or the democracy our
ing the war furnishes another well-known example
Of a name applied In derision BY opponents. The
"Copperheads' the Southern sympathizere
In the North, and were, naturally. named after
the venomous serpent common in many sections VI
the country. a..
The origin Of the name Greenbackers. as applied
to q party, is OF course obvious. The men who
formed II were advocates OF unlimited issues OF
United States notes and the United states notes
early in their career were characterized as greene
Sks fyS the a fS'! Fl Hefr
come Of the Conkling strife as IL found ex.
preston in this State Mr.. Blaine invented the
former term applied to Republicans but Conk:
iinss adherents Appropriated it. They pointed
with pride to their stalwart Republicanism, ana
the name was In their eyes badge or dislinction,
until Guiteau after the assassination OF Garheor
proclaimed himself 'Stalwart OF the Stalwarts
The .Stalwarts" called their opponents Half:
Breeds" in derison. that being the term wnicn bess
conveyed the contempt they affected to feel for
them and their political attitude
attracted National attention were the Funders'
and "Readjusters." Their differences were over
the settlement of Vrginia's Reconstruction debt
and with the disposition Of thar matter they fade1
from view The "snappers' and "Anti-snappers"
in this State are still too wildly impressed on the
public mind to require more than mere mention.
The origin OF the term every one knows
Finally there the "Mugwumps This genus
as 1t is known to-day. appeared on the stage dur:
been used in politics before. however. chiefly dur.
ing the days OF the Loco Focos" when the news
pers occasionally INDUCED in some such facetious
livered OF a speech which the faithful loudly APP
plauded" The word IS Of Indian origin, and meant
with the redmen big chief. Locally. along the
England coast II came 10 mean man OF con.
sequence; whence Its secondary meaning. a man
defined In 1854. a man educated beyond his Intel
lect.