Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-07-10
The History Of Arneri-
can Parties.
Selected by R. L. Tallman. }
Continued from last issue.

| lie TfbAf pHtlfit d)'fUb 7 l-NfOtO NOiGS
in the November election, against 3 1885,
600 for the Republica:, ticker end 6,293,
600 Tor the Democratic Tlia ia the first
time in our history that any ct bird
party" has jumped into second place at
the first attempt MSry predict that the
Progressive party is to b. IKE The Repub-
lican party OF half century ago and
gather to itself the divided factions and
become the great rival of he Democratic
party, while others, argulng trom differ
ent aDalogiee, pardic' thar like lie Popu-
list party it will be absorbed again II is
never safe to prophecy Ia such matters,
and time of course VIII have to tell what
the future OF the Progressive, the Repub
lean, the Socialist and the other parties
! is to he.
In reviewing the history of American
political parties we come across many
small factions or groups which existed
for short period and which usually
bore some curions nickname hut which
did not eudure Tor any length 81 time
For example there Are the ."Locoiocos"
Of about 1885 Now how conid snch
singular term as locofoN," which was
the name then applied 10 friction match
es, come 10 be applied 70 political
party
In 1885 the radical or equal rights fac
ton of tho Democratic party in New
| York sought control OF 3 party conven-
ton. The Tammany men, finding the
opposition too strong turned off the gas
and lett the hall IN darkness. The radi-
cas-, anticipating this emergency, had
come provided with caddies. These they
lighted with friction matches. The name
"Lacofoco" was seized upon as name
Tor the monopoly faction, and was
later applied By the Wings to the Demo-
cratic party III the nation,
In 1914 and 1913 also the Democrats ii
New York state were fac;iona9Iy divided
The radical wing were nicknamed She
'6arnburners, in alusion to the Dutch
man who burned his barn in order to get
rid Of the rats. The other faction were
called the thinkers" and eventually
even they divided into two factions, the
lizards and tie ''Softs " These
"Huukels" were what would be called
"standpatters'' today; they were ultra
conservative and OPP osed to progress, or
at least willing to 'let well enough
alone" The name probably came from
Dutch word meaning a post--irom the
idea that they stood still, or stood pat
Then there were the 'Knownothings,
whose formal name was the American
party" They dourished about 1852.
Their chief tenet was opposition to for
eigners They had organized a secret
oath bound fraternity and when asked
about their proceedings they professed
entire gnorance-whence the mn m
"Know nothings" They pnt up presi-
dental ticket in 1856 and received eight
electoral votes, but with the war coming
on they were swallowed up. The same
I idea has been revived several times, once
notably in the form Of the "a. P. A " or
hbiCljCdli IiotCCtlFC A6SpCtsthlOf.
The name "Aholitionist' was at first
applied to the anti-slavery people as p
term of reproaeh, they called themselves
the Liberty party" but were soon alb
sorbed into the Republican party Back
in 1920 Randolph applied the epithet
"Doughface" to those Northerners who
entertained Southern principles During
and after the civil war the term Copper
head was applied to the Democrats of
the North who sympathized with the
south-from the fact that the copperbead
snake strikes without giving warning.
In 1884 we find the "Mugwumps''
much in evidence They were disgrunt-
l. led Republicans who revolted against
Blaine and turned the election for Ceve-
land by voting for him The New York
Sun called them ''mugwumps," from an
Indian word meaning a man who thinks
he is a great man-and the word caught
on and went into history. In 1881 there
had also been Republican split and the
insurgents of that time were called 'tHalf-
breeds, " as being only halt Republican
The Progressives are referred to popu-
larly as Bull Moose" from the ex.
preston casually let fail by Col. Roose-
welt one morning during. the campaign
that he "feIt like a bull moose" Ii is
singular how quick name VI hicn i s
picturesque and expressive will catch on
and how it will stick. Col. Roosevelt
has given his sanction to the pet term
"bull moose" though Of course on all
formal occasions the name Progressive"
is used.
Statement Of the Ownership, Management,