Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-09-07
The Caucus.


Aessrs. Eds.-In your account of the re-
suit of the primary meeting given in your
last issue, there are some things that seem
to require a little correction, SO far as the
young men" of the party are concerned.
The young men do not desire to usurp
any authority. or do anything to mar the
harmony existing in the Republican ranks;
neither do they wish to detract for one mo-
ment an iota Of respect and Difference due
IN the bonored. 'smore active and promi-
nent Renublicans." whose lead they have
so LONG and so Ioyally followed, but sim
ply wish to have it understood, that mas
much as intelligent action and hearty Co
oneration is expected of them, they wish to
Ia nIaced in position to act intelligently;
to he taken into the councils of the ''promi-
nent and more active" and be treated as
members of the same family, having COM
mon interest in the welfare of all party
interests and activities. Had this been
done more fully in the past, the article re-
ferred to would never have been written.
If the soundness of the foregoing conclu-
siOns are admitted, what shall be said Of
the process by which they are reached? 1t
may be pertinent to ask, were any advances
ever made, with an earnest desire for har-
moniOus-common actiOn-in the party,
without discrimination fo age, length OF
service, or priority in any way, and such
advances repulsed? If so, we have never
beeh made acquainted with the fact. So
far from that having been the fact, we are
fully aware that it has for sometime, been
a source of regret, and matter OF frequent
comment. with the wheel horses OF the
party here, that there was not greater
willingness among the younger members
of the party to identify themselves with its
labors. and to share to greater extent In
bearing the burdens of the organization.
We are authorized in saying, that num-
Der of the older members have for years
wished TO be relieved of such labors, al
though they do not desire to shrink from
contributing to bear its burdens. The
opinion. we think, is scarcely to be contro-
verted. that the idea Of separate and ad-
verse action by our young men was not
thought of, until it was suggested by the
candidate for the Legislature. This, at
least, is true. that the thought came to us
from him before any steps had been taken
towards caucus. We have the best reason
for believing that he was father TO the
thought. His shrewdness and disinterost-
edness, of course, are not to be called i'll
question. 1t would not be difficult to show
If polite to do so-that this was not the
only issue raised in the county, with the
object of securing delegations, or that
pledges were not more or lesA commonly
given prominent members Of the party in
many if not most of the towns in the coun-
ty. and that these were mercantile-or Of
a trade nature. It is further susceptible of
proof. we think, that these trades were not
confined to either young or Old members Of
the party, and all for the purpose Of secur-
ing delegations, and ultimately, nomina-
ton. The fact is not only patent that is
sues were raised in certain localities where
the young men were not only not consult
ed, but that any issue was raised, with
ANYBODY, without bOggle. where it could
be made subservient to the main end-that
of securing delegation. Nor was the par
ty to these tricks at all scrupulOus whether
the end was wrought out of this party or
that, the end -suecess-sanctifying the
means. This was evident in the uneasiness
shown about giving too much time between
| the caucUses and the convention, lest these
things might suffer from exposure. Does
anybody doubt now that this consideration
suggested the shortening of the time, and
the putting of the convention back to Mon
day? These are some of the points we
would urge in meeting the criticisms OF
the foregoing article. This draft does not,
by any means, exhaust the store. Perhaps
however, this is enough for present pur-
poses, and anything further will await
further provoeation.