The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-12-08
The Forfy.Fourfh Congress

The Forty Fourth Congress will assem-.
BILE to-day at noon and after the admission
of the new members will proceed to the
organization. The action of the Democratic
caucus last night has settled that matter.
The vote in the House will simply resfirm
the choice of the Democratic members in
their own council. That choice, made
on the third BALLOT, shows that
the Democratic members of congress have
had in view the integrity of the party in
their action, to the end that the triumph for
reform before the people should not be sac
rifced by dissension in the ranks of those
the people had selected to represent that re-
form. It was evident, pending the Ohio
election, that there was difference in the
ranks OF the Democracy, East and West, on
the financial question, and it was feared by
some that this difference would become so
intense that even the common desire
and earnest purpose to inaugurate an
era of reform would not hold
the Democracy together. But subsequent
elections, the failure of the Eastern Democ-
rscy, especially of New York, to achieve so
grand victory as they hoped, toned down
the spirit of dictation, and it was evident
that the only road to unity and power
against corrupt administration was in a
spirit of compromise of differences on this
subject to achieve the higher good, the
Selling of the reins of government from the
hands that have managed them so badly,
and placing them in better hands.
Just how far that spirit has pre-
vailed in the preliminary proceed
ipgs toward this organization of the
House can not yet be determined,
though it is evident that there was conces-
sion on both sides. Neither vote given in
dictated the exact strength of the different
wings of the party on the money question.
While the speech Of Mr.. Lamar indicated
sympathy with the Eastern sentiment, yet
there was no effort to organize the House
upon that basis, even ifthere was majority
of that sentiment. 1t would have been peril
Gus and fatal to the party in the
coming presidential contest if either
side that happened to belin the majority
had attempted it. Mr.. Kerr hsd the adysn-
tage over Mr.. Randall, to.say nothing OF
the financial question. His well known
views and able advocacy of the doctrines OF
free trade, while Mr.. Randall was a pro-
tectionist, gave him an advantage in a
purely Democratic view OF the case. Nor
was Mr.. Randsll's greenback proclivities
so pronounced as to secure for him very
earnest support on that account. There
was, indeed, no decided and I'M
questioned representative of the West
ern sentiment on finance before the caucus
for speaker. Though Randall assented to
the Pennsylvania platform, it was with no
special enthusiasm, and Cox was rather be-
twlxt and between with leaning toward
hard money. The choice of the other
officers to be elected was decidedly favorable
to the greenbsck view, at least we may so
conclude when the sergeant alarms, being
the chairman of the Democratic Central
Committee OF Ohio, may be considered to
represent the very EXTREMIST views on the
paper money chute, and the clerk desig-
mated is also in favor of the greenbsck
policy, Taking the nominations altogether,
it is an indication to the party in New
York that their policy should be changed
toward the West, and it is an indication tC
the West that they should be satisfied with
the repeal Of the resumption law and the