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

fROM OUK REGULAR COMMISSION ENT.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND THE CURRENCY
Observation-Disclosures OF THE COMMITTEE
TO PREPARE POLICY FOR THE DEMocRATs-
THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE SITUATION.
The democratic caucus tomorrow night is likely to
be the scene of warm, II not exciting 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 not DESTROYS OF going
to war again in hurry. Then tho school
and church question precpitated in a formal
way by Mr. Blaine's proposed amendment to the
constitution but that issue has its power Of stir
ring the public mind IT, indeed, 1t become
odious and unpopular evidenced in two States
viz, New Jersey and Rhode Island-whero several re-
ligous secs have already protested against existing
local laws in the spirit of the Blaine amendment But
within the past month, and quito notceaby within
week or two, the currency question has reasserted
itself aresh and is the most prominent topic the
public mind, far may be judged by the indications
on the floor Of Congress.
tendency toward in1aton the first result OF this
revival Of the subject and the 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 departure II is gaming converts
among the republicans, but not in any way the
extent The vote in favor OF Mr. Hales resolution day
before yesterday only elghty-sx, and there
probably one hundred republicans at least upon the
floor. The sudden secession Of one OF the republican
organs here thewashngton Chronicle 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 caucus pre-
pare currency policy for the meeting tomorrow
night has greatly alarmed the Eastern hard money
democrats.
Tho committee is as follows, being made up OF five
soft money and only four hard money men, viz
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,
may be said that OF the four Senators who arc to
form the joint committee only Mr. Merrimon, OF North
Carolina, is innatonist and that the joint CON-
mittee has really minority Of 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 fca-
ture Of the committees formation, said the demo-
cratic party going TO the dogs and would
DO whipped in 1876 as 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 to carry such States New York. Connecticut
New Jersey and California and thus throw election
into the House With any but hard money candi-
date the democracy would lose New York.
The suggestion was made TO him that an election by
the House would get around the trouble OF an ina
ton President constituted II is at present and this
view Of the matter seemed plunge him hopeless
disgust
The situation may be summed up as 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 to force the
adoption of any such compromise measure that OF
Mr. Payne, OF Ohio, providing for a gradual accumua-
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 that Mr. Cox
be acting Speaker, and Mr.. Cox will hold this place
until Mr Kerr his duties which will be
week.
THE SUCCESSOR OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY cowEN.
The successor Of General Cowen, who has resigned
the Assistant secretaryshp OF the Interior has been
selected, but his tor the present withheld from
the public.
RESIGNATION OF GENERAL scHENcK
General schcnck has sent his resignation again
and the President has accepted IL