Note 1 — Chapter XIX · THE BUNDLE OF STICKS.

“We have been requested to give a definition of this term, ‘Old Hunkers.’ Party nicknames are not often logically justified; and we can only say that that section of the late dominant party in this State (the democratic) which claims to be the more radical, progressive, reformatory, &c., bestowed the appellation of ‘Old Hunker’ on the other section, to indicate that it was distinguished by opposite qualities from those claimed for itself. We believe the title was also intended to indicate that those on whom it was conferred had an appetite for a large ‘hunk’ of the spoils, though we never could discover that they were peculiar in that. On the other hand, the opposite school was termed ‘Barnburners,’ in allusion to the story of an old Dutchman, who relieved himself of rats by burning his barns, which they infested—just like exterminating all banks and corporations to root out the abuses connected therewith. The fitness or unfitness of these family terms of endearment is none of our business.”—NEW YORK TRIBUNE.