Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-04-28
KING CAUCUS.

The fight at Washington has been last
narrowing down to collision between
factions of the Republican party-a kind
OF family muss-a Kilkenny cat catas-
trophe, as indicated by the fight in eau
Gus yesterday.
The Republican party seems to have
no policy except the division OF the
spoils.
This administration has shown no
other.
The Republican Senate subordinates
everything to the possession OF the few
petty offices.
The most dignifed and distinguished
statesmen (?) Of the Republican party
the leaders Of the party in the U. S.
Senate and in all the great conventions
OF the party-are now the leaders OF the
party still in dissraceful scramble for
insignificant offices to the detriment OF
the interests OF the whole country.
From day to day for the last six weeks
the Democratic members OF the Senate
have proposed to take up the business
for which that body was called to meet
in special session, and as often il has
been refused by the Republicans, who
have foolishly maintained that no bust
ness shall be done until Senator Ma
HOMES friends have been provided for.
The Democrats have as persistently held
that the first duty OF the Senate OF the
United States was not to provide main
tenance for representatives OF the party
OF reputation in Virginia, but to trans
act the public business coming before it.
1t has been evident from the first that
the Democrats would compel their oppo-
nents to proceed to business il they only
held out quietly and firmly, and they
have now reached that point where Ell
Their partial or full surrender by the
Republicans must be made. 1t is Bit
ter pill and hard to swallow, as evinced
by the length of the caucus yesterday,
and the tenacity with which members
held out
1t is still a little difficult to determine
from the dispatches exactly what the
practical result Of the caucus will be.
We have but little hope that it will
bring more than partial relief from the
disgraceful deadlock. To confirm the
undisputed nominations will be bene-
tit 10 the public service, which is now
embarrassed by the want Of properly
qualified officials in various depart
ments. But it will not put an end to
the disturbing influence OF the great
national jawing match that has now
lasted for nearly two months. 1t will |
not give the countrys rest from political
agitation, nor settle the question as to
whether the administration or the |
machine is to run the gov
ernment. Neither do the pro-
posed limited executive sessions az |
ford hope of an adjournment. The |
Democrats will still resist the election of |
officers, and the Republican malcontents
will make this pretext for continuing
the session. They know that if an ad- |
journment were had, after confirming
the uncontested nominations, the Presi.
dent could then appoint Robertson and |
the Others to their positions pro tenn,
and gain the advantage OF possession
from now unit! December. And so the
whole jsngle turns upon two petty
offices in the Senate, and struggle for
advantage between the President and |
the bosses.
This, as we have said above, is what
comes from conducting an ADMINISTRATION
with no policy except the division OF
the spoils, and from having Senate
that subordinates everything to the pos
session and control of the Offices.