The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-13
,ae 8utland daily Globe.
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1876.
CAUCUS DICTATION.

O6CSOS INV ~
Time brings its own revenues, and gene
rally affords an unerring test of the sound
ness of political principles and party policy
The truth should ever be advocated with
out regard to policy, and il misrepresenta-
ton flows therefrom, it should be met fear
lessly. Time will inevitably set the matter
Alright and vindicate the truth. To some,
that time may not come until after long
and patient waiting, while to others it is
permitted to come with a suddeness as
gratifying as it is unexpected. We have
ever advocated the right, aye, the duty of
boiling improper nominations, and the re-
fusal to support improper measures, no
matter by whom advocated or by what
caucus dictated. We have urged that the
right or wrong of political question did
not depend upon the man or party who in
troduced, advocated, supported or opposed
it. We have claimed that in af1lliatng
ones self with political party, the right
of private judgment was not thereby sur
rendered that the behests Of conscience,
the good of the country, were surer and
safer criterions of political action, on a
given measure, than any dictation of cau-
Gus that the right or wrong, the policy or
impolicy of question depended not upon
the fact that it was favored or opposed by
this or that political party or this or that
man. We hold that it is the bounden duty
of every man to judge for himself, of the
right or wrong of measure, of the proNrs-
ETY. or improperly of nomination. We
never could believe in that other doctrine
50 frequently announced in Vermont and
elsewhere, that "every honest member OF a
''party will believe that the measures his
"party supports is righ', or he will at once
withdraw from tor in other words,
than an Honest man must surrender the
right of rvate j gment, and think and
act, not Tor himself, but at the dictation of
others, or must leave the party, give in
his adherence to another party, and sup.
port measures still more obnoxious than
those to which he could not, in the first
instance, honestly give his assent. All
who have refused 10 assent to s" mOnstrous
q doctrine have been termed "politiCal free
booters"-a term, in our judgment, far
more honorable - those to whom it is APP
piled. for such cause, than to those using
it.
But time sets all things Alright To us
and other political freebooters, who
obey conscience rather than caucus, the
time of waiting was not long. In less than
twelve months after the quoted words were
used, the republican party has spoken au-
thoritotively..upo the subject. The repub-
lcan senators in congress have defined the
partys belief, principles and actions on
this subject. 1t came up in this wise.
William Sprague, senator from Rhode
Island, who had been always republican
and participant in senatorial caucuscs,
stated that he could not approve OF the
currency bill, or attend the caucus thereon,
vate convictions on public questions, and
repudiate his past political acts when ma
iority vote of the caucus antagonizes
them" At the request of the other repub.
llcan senators, Henry b. Anthony, the
other senator from Rhode Island, of fifteen
years experience in the senate and many
times its temporary presiding officer, re-
piled to his colleague. His reply, which
was endorsed by the caucus, is thus sum-
married. "The question Of obligation
"was raised by new senator, who asked,
"whiie the same bill,was before the caucus,
"if he should be expected to vote for it in
1.-THE senate, Notwithstanding he had voted
''against it in the caucus. The immediate
'reply from several voices was No. The
senator in charge of the bill explained
"that it never had been the practice of the
republican caucus to require the subordi-
'nation of individual opinion to that Of
"the majority. The presiding officer reit-
'erated this for the better understanding
''of new senators, adding that no senator
twas expected to surrender even his judg'
''ment upon matters of expediency." This,
certainly, ought to be decisive of the mat
ter. Even in "matters of eXpediency,
the republican senators hold, man is moi
expected to surrender his own judgment
By refusing to so surrender, he does moi
become political freebooter" We be-
lieve that this authoritative statement Of
the non-binding force of caucus action will
commend itself to the conscience and judg
ment of every honest republican, of every
thoughtful man, The senatorial doctrine
is far better than the Vermont doctrine.