The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-17
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

fROM OUK KEGULAR CORRESPONDENT
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THE CURRENCY
Observation-Disclosures OF THE COMMITTEE
TO PREPARE A POLICY FOR THE DEMoCRATs-
THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE SITUATION.
The democratic tomorrow night is likely to
be the scene of warm, II not exciting, contest be-
tween the hard money and soft money democratic
representatives, in Congress In fact the currency
question is looming up again as the overshadowng
issue before the country in the coming Presidential
campaign. little while ago tho Cuban question
seemed to be the which would enlist popular In
terest most largely but the President felt the
public pulse upon that subject, and soon ascer-
tanned that the country was not desirous OF going
to again in n hurry. Then the school
and church question precpitated in a formal
way by Mr.. Blaines proposed amendment to the
constitution, but that issue has power Of stir
ring the public mind, it, indeed, 1t not become
odious and unpopular, evidenced in two States
viz, New Jersey and Rhode Island-where several re-
ligous secs have already protested against existing
local laws in the spirit of the Blaine amendment But
within the past month, and quite noticeably within
week two, the currency question has reasserted
itself aresh and is the most prominent topic in the
public mind far may be judged by the indications
on the floor OF Congress-
tendency toward imitation, the nrst result OF this
revival Of the subject and the under OF feeling
in favor OF repeal of the resumption law strong
to startle the friends OF specie payments Nor is
the heresy confined to the democratic side OF the
House in its new departure. II is gaming converts
among the republicans but not in any way to the
extent The vote in favor OF Mr. Hae's resolution day
before yesterday only eghty-six and there
probably ono hundred republicans at least upon the
floor. The sudden secession Of OF the republican
organs here thewashngton Chronicle the soft money
wing Of the party within few days. is another sign
Of the big stride imitation has recently taken Again.
the composition OF the committee the part OF the
House appointed by the chairman OF the pre-
pare currency policy for the meeting tomorrow
night has greatly alarmed the Eastern hard money
democrats.
The committee is as follows, being made up OF five
soft money and only four hard money men, -
Messrs Bright, OF Tennessee Holman, of Indiana;
Southland, of Ohio; Sheakley, OF Pennsylvania and
Walker OF Virginia, soft money men; and Messrs
Morrison, of Illinois; Barnum, Of Connecticut; Gibson
of louisiana and Payne of Ohio, the four hard money
| men,
1t may be said that OF the four who are to
form the joint committee only Mr.. Merrimon, OF North
Carolina, is an n1atonist, and that the joint COM
mittee has really minority Of one for hard money
But the remark made to-day that the caucus is
members in this committee 1t will be noticed that
with the exception of Mr. Barnum of Connecticut the
committee does not number another Congressman
from the country east OF the Allegheny Mountains
1t IS the West and the South in combination again.
An Eastern democrat, in speaking of this fea-
ture Of the committees formation, said the demo-
cratic party going to the dogs and would
pc whipped in 1876 surely as 1t had been
in 1868 and 1872. He thought the Eastern and hard
money democrats ought to Presidential ticket of
their own with Seymour Tilden at its head, in
order carry such States New York, Connecticut
New Jersey and California and thus throw the election
into the House. With any but hard money candi-
date the democracy would lose New York.
The suggestion made TO him that election by
the House would get around the trouble of
ton President constituted II is at present and this
view matter seemed to plunge him hopeless
disgust
The situation may be summed up follows:-A
strong party avors the repeal OF the resumption law
without any measure to take its place. The hard
money democrats fear they too weak force the
adoption of any such compromise as that OF
Mr. Payne of Ohio providing for a gradual accumula-
ton OF specie and resumption in the far future.
TEMPORARY ABSENCE OF SPEAKER KERR-MR.
COX TO FILL HIS PLACE.
Speaker Kerr to-day asked brief leave OF absence
which was granted After the Clerk calls the House to
order to morrow Mr. Morrison will move that Mr. Cox
be acting Speaker and Mr. Cox will hold this place
until Mr. Kerr resumes his duties, which will be next
week.
THE SUCCESSOR OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY cowEs.
The successor Of General Cowen, who has resigned
the Assistant secrctaryship Of the INTERIOR has been
selected but his the present withheld from
the public
RESIGNATION OF GENERAL scHENcK.
General Schcnck has sent his resignation again
and the President has accepted IL