Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-24
From the Boston Traveller.
The House Caucus.

The democratic House caucus. held
at Washington yesterday affords Us
the first definite ntimation of the tenn
per of the majority. since the open
ing of Congress. Apparently, the coun-
try will have to bear, with what fort-
tude and patience it may, the worry and
vexation of long special session. The
caucus commenced business by substitute
ing as its permanent chairman Mr. House
OF Tennessee, in place of Mr.. Clymer.
The South allowed its desires to be regi-
lated by its fears so far as to permit Il
Northern democrat to take the Speaker
ship, but when it comes to the chair of the
caucus it insists upon filing il with one of
its own trusted men. As Mr. Garfield
freely told the last House during the de-
bate on the repeal amendments, the demo
cratic Speaker is expected TO merely reg
lister the decisions of the democratic eau
Gus. Mr.. Randall's hand will hold the
gavel, and his nod will give the floor to
whom he wills, but the caucus will hold
the hand that holds the gavel, and as its
head inclines the nod Of the Speaker will
be expected to follow.
The caucus is the real master of the sit
uation, especially with mechanical ma
jority that blindly, and with the automatic
regularity of so many marionctte>, obcys
its edicts. And in the democratic party
as we all know, the nfallibiity of the eau
Gus has long been accepted rs a dogma
not to be doubted, or called in uucs-
ton. The craftsmanship of the caucus
becomes, in such docile organization.
the real voice of authority The
Delphic Oracle of the Bourbon Restora-
ton is Tennesseean. When Mr.. House
informs Mr.. Randall the will of the eau
Gus. the latter will rap, and rule, and nod
accordingly. Tennessee will wave her
baton, and Pennsylvania will forthwith
fiddle. 1t is worth noting, too, that Mr..
House is a soft-money man. So was
Mr.. Blackburn, whom the majority
of the majority really wanted for
Speaker. Both are in accord with
the largest fraction of their party, but that
is fact that the managers have been mov-
ing heaven and earth to conceal. There
is financial fire in the hold of the demo
cratic vessel, but the officers think they
can batten down the matches, keep the
pumps working, and reach port and the
Presidency in 1880, before the flames lean
over the deck. The election of Mr. House,
rabid infationist, shows the haZardou,
nature of the voyage under these inilam
matory circumstances. The whole subse-
qnent course of the caucus emphasized tn,
perils OF the situation. On motion of Mr.
Carlisle, of Kentucky, it was voted to have
the regular standing committee at one,
appointed. The short session men were
few and feeble. Alexander II. stephen,
Vice President Stephens, perhaps ",
ought to say-wants long session. in or
der to tinker the tariff laws. and SPOKE
long and vehemently for - per cent.
reduction of all duties Then came the
erratic Ewing, Of Ohio, every pocket
crammed with financial bill, and spoke
as earnestly as Stephens for a long term
Mr.. Stephens thought Congress certainly
ought not to adjourn without issuing a
trife of five hundred millions money
greenbacks, of course. Buckner of Mis-
souri, and Bright of Tcnnessee-all
Southern voices these. by the way-urgcd
the caucus to the same effect We are
booked for long session. The tariff is
10 be tinkered, the currency fooled with.
nostrums Of every sort are to be aired
and all this as pleasing prologue to the
final piece of the >e>son-the coercion Of
the Executive, aud the Stopping of fine
governmental machine All of which
means that the democracy is setting itself
deliberately TO work 10 harrass and emba,-
rass every industrial and business interest
in the land. The nation must grin. if il
can, and bear it anyhow In 1880 there
will be political Day of Judgment.