The Portland daily press., 1879-05-02
That Caucus.
What the Democrats Didn't Do-A Diaer.
enee of Opioion-Hesifafing between the
Devil and the Deep Sea.

The history Of modern politics presents no
parallel to the demoralized condition of the
Democrats. Confusion and indecision mark
all their utterancss The result of the formal
consultations in the House aud in the Senate
was reference of all questions to a Joint eau,
Gus committee for consideration aud report TO
oint caucus to be called as soon as the report Ia
ready.
The Senate Democratic caucus had most In.
harmonious session, In which no definite result
was reached beyond an agreement to request
joint caucus committee to take the whole sit.
uston into consideration, to consult freely with
senators and other prominent men in the party
aud report at as early day as possible The
real character of tie proceedings is best ipdi.
Gated by the fact that the most solemn obliga.
tions of secrecy were imposed upon all present
and especially in regard to using the names OF
any OF the speakers. Some details have, how.
ever. leaked out in spite of these precautions.
and it is known that at least four senators were
in favor of abandoning the present contest. so
isr as continuing the attempt TO force political
legislation in connection with APPROPRIATION
bills. Their position was that a continu alton
of the contest would only bs a losing game in
the end for the Democrats, and that it would
be better policy to yield where they are. In
answer TO these Suggestions some most bitter
aud extreme replies were made by 8. s.nators
whose names cauUot be ascertaiGed, but their
utterances were of such revolutionary tendency
as 10 make it nothing less than a crimr against
the party to divulge their exact char 4cter. Ooe
senator, in speaking on the matter, declared
that he would never sit in caucus again with
suy senator who would divulge the exact ma
ture OF the declarations ID question. Another
lid that in the interests of the party be would
rather pay one thousand dollars individually
than to see the stAtemeDts in print. IL ia
III dersto0d that Senator Withers of Virginia.
who had charge of the army bill, declared
that there was only one way left for the De-
mOcracy, and that was to fight the present
battle to the bitter end; that it would be-
party suicide to abandon the fsld now; that
the Democratic party was tho great party, aud
that it should have known the nsturs Of tho
task it bad undertaken b fore tt announced its
policy so decidedly 10 the country. Tbers were
several who favored esentiDg the var GUS
political measures in separate oils and send
lug them IN succession 70 tue President. in the
meantime holding the appropriation bills until
bis action uDOO all separate measures had been
ascerlaiDed. The indications seem to be that
III the end M jorty Of the Senators would
favor the passage OF appropriation bills pure
aud simple. There was also stroug disposi-
ton manifested on tie part of few to bes,n
general legislation, for the purpose of dividing
the attention of the country between pending
measures and others of general interest 1t Is
factory to the party managers, aud that the
difficulties appeared greater to them when the
caucus adjourned than when it, assembled.
There is report that one thing above all
others that Senators are trying to cover up is a
resolution OF most extreme. If not positively
revolutionary, character, offered by Senator
Butler of South Carolina.
The House caucus was as far from harmo-
nious as the Senate There were good many
harsh passages between Southern aud North
ern men, and broad intim ations on the part of
the former that this fight after ALL was more
for the benefit of New York than Of the South.
The subject uuder discussion was whether to
refer the Presidents message to the iud iciary
committee in.otder to answer theiaw points, or
whether to vote directly on the motion to pass
the bill over the veto. Nearly all the speak
ers took the ground that the Presidents mes
sage was temptuous,-the evident result OF
a weak surrender to the stslwarts, and in vio-
laton of his own belief and former action. The
majority coutended that there was not point
in the message that had not been raised and
refated during the debate; that the message
really seemed to be a patchwork of objections
which had been made during the debate by diff
ferent Republican members, simply strung to-
gether, that to refer it to the judiciary commit
Tee would give it q weight which IL did not
possess, and that the House was amply pre-
pared to vote. This view prevailed and was
adopted by large majority. Nearly all the
members participated IN the debate. Future
policy was left untouched. The tone Of the
caucus was evident that nothing further would
be done about the appropriation bills q. pres
ant, and the evident effect of The veto will be
to SET the House at work on general legisla.
ton. The repeating laws may be passed In
| separate bills. The caucus was evidently de-
termtned To draw the line between the parties
| sharply on this issue, but It was evident from
| the tone of tine debate that no uDusual parli-
| mentsry expedients would be adopted TO carry
| out these ends. 1t is quite probable that the
| whole subject of appropriations will be dropped
until toward the end of this fiscal year, and the
silver question. currency question, army reor.
| ganizstion and other general legislation be
brought up.