Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-01-11
Caucus In England.

The English people cling stoutly to
old customs, and closely follow old
ways of doing things. They dislike
and distrust what is new, and even
when long established institutions have
become ont of place, hesitate to change
them.
Yet, within recent years, we have
seen the English adopting many Ameri-
Can improvemen and customs. At
first there was great deal of OPPOSE
ton to the introduction of horse cars
into London and other cities; and it
was only with great effort that enter
prisiug met we're able to get charters
for tins purpose. Another instance Is
that of the ballot, or secret voting
which was only adopted by the Eng
lish after the subj ct had been agitated
in Parliament Tor more than thirty
wears.
We now hear that the ancient system
Nv which candidates for the House of
Commons have been selected by the
different par ties, is to he abandoned. at
least 10y the Liberals, and that the
American system of choosing candi-
dates by caucus is to take its place.
Hitherto, candidates have usually
been presented to the voters in one of
four ways. They have either been in
vited to stand by few leading party
men of the locality they aimed to rep
resent; or they have been proposed 10y
one If he great London political clubs;
or they have offered themselves, indie
pendent of any invitation; or they have
been named 10 the voters by some great
nobleman or landlord, whose influence
alone has been lurge enough to secure
their election.
All of these methods, however, have,
as will be seen, excluded the great body
of party from choosing its candidate.
az is done in the United States. They
have enabled few leaders, and even
one powerful person, to dictate to the
party for whom it should vote.
The advanced Liberals have at last
revoltad, and have resolved that no CAN
didate shall be supported who does not
submit himself to the decision of
large portion of the party to which he
owes allegiance.
The first step in this direction was
taken by the Liberals, at Birmingham,
town which is the center of the most
radical political thought in England.
A committee of five hundred Liberals
was formed; it framed rules and under
took the management OF the party; and
to this committee was given the power
to lay down the principles, or ~ we
say, the platform" to which candi-
dates must agree, and also the power to
select the candidate themselves. The
example Of Birmingham was quickly
followed by Liberals in other towns.
Committees, i'll some cases OF five huu-
dred, i'll others of thee hundred, in
two hundred and fifty, and two hun.
dred, were formed in Southwark,
Greenwich, Leeds, Manchester. Brad
ford, London City, aud other boroughs;
uniil now the system is pretty well
scatteied over England.
1t will be seen that this is not entire
ly our caucus system, Which enables
"U the members of party to meet, or
ect delegates, to lay down platforms,
aud nominate candidates. But it is an
approach towards it; and the end will
doubtless be that before very long the
iull caucus will be established IN Eng
land.
There is II great cutlery against the
new party committees from many of
the Liberals themselves; and more
than one prominent Literal statesman
has refused to subscribe to their plat
forms, or accept II domination under
The conditions they impose.
But the movement has gone TOO far
to be checked, even by men like Foster,
GOschen, and locke; and thouotl if
may work effectively ut first. it must
dnally govern party action in England.
-lo"MS CoDpanioD.