Bourbon Democrats

Bourbon Democrats
1884 cartoon illustrating the decline of the "Democrat Bourbonism" (represented as a broken cask). By Joseph Keppler
Leaders	Charles O'Conor, Samuel J. Tilden, Grover Cleveland, Alton B. Parker, Woodrow Wilson
Founded	1876 (1876)
Dissolved	1904 (1904)
Ideology	Classical liberalism Merit system Decentralization Anti-imperialism
National affiliation	Democratic Party
Politics of United States Political parties Elections

Bourbon Democrat was a term used in the United States from 1876 to 1904 to refer to a conservative or classical liberal member of the Democratic Party, especially one who supported Charles O'Conor in 1872, Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, President Grover Cleveland in 1884–1888/1892–1896 and Alton B. Parker in 1904. After 1904, the Bourbons faded away. Woodrow Wilson, who had been a Bourbon, made a deal in 1912 with the leading opponent of the Bourbons, William Jennings Bryan; Bryan endorsed Wilson for the Democratic nomination, and Wilson named Bryan Secretary of State. The term "" was mostly used disparagingly, by critics complaining of old-fashioned viewpoints.

Bourbon Democrats were promoters of a form of laissez-faire capitalism which included opposition to the protectionism that the Republicans were then advocating as well as fiscal discipline. They represented business interests, generally supporting the goals of banking and railroads but opposed to subsidies for them and were unwilling to protect them from competition. They opposed imperialism and U.S. overseas expansion, fought for the gold standard, and opposed bimetallism and promoted hard and sound money. Strong supporters of reform movements such as the Civil Service Reform and opponents of the corrupt city bosses, Bourbons led the fight against the Tweed Ring. The anti-corruption theme earned the votes of many Republican Mugwumps in 1884.