New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-25

A Republican caucus ought tO be a caucus OF
members faithful To the Republican party. If
there are members of the Legislature who mean
TO defeat and destroy that party, and who
therefore seek the election of Senators whose
malignant hatred of the President has been
formally and publicly announced III their letter
of resignation, what right have such members
in a Republican caucusi Why should any so
called Republican caucus be held, to which such
members are to be admitted
Mr.. Conklings sole hope of success is that he
may be able to control d part Of the Republican
members of the Legislature through a so-caled
Republican caucus. But he will not pledge
himself, if reelected, to support the Republican
Administration. or TO act In harmony with the
Republicans of the Senate. On the contrary, lac
asks reelection in order to make a desperate
fight against the Administration and against
the Republicans of the Senate who refused 10
submit to his dictatiOn. The intention and
spirit of the man cannot now bc disguised
They are plainly shown in his letter of rcsigna-
ton. Having declared his hostility to the
President 1fsd to the majority of the Senate, in
this formal declaration of his position and pur-
poses, Mr. Conkling has no business to ask the
support Of a caucus of Republicans The only
logical and consistent course for him is to APP
peal to such members Of the Democratic and
Republican parties as are willing to break away
from all old party ties.
The Republican members of the Legislature
who support the Administration and are true to
the party have no right to call or to attend a
caucus which the friends of Mr.. Conklng may
possibly control. 1t is their duty to give ex-
90 fba u:ll If Aiuparn and Rgnullt-
cans. They have no occasion to consult with
men who are ready to cOnsOrt with Democrats
in order to promote the election of a man
hostile to the Administration. If a Republican
caucus could be called by the regular commit
tees of both houses of the Legislature, such
members would have a right to refuse to at
tend if persons should be admitted who would
not pledge themselves TO support the Admins
tratiOn. Mr.. COnkling's friends applied this
test, i'll 1870 against those who dissented from
the course of President Grant, and they cannot
object if the same rule is applied to those who
are fighting against the Administration Of
President Garfield. But if a caucus is called,
not by the regular committees of both houses,
but by those who sympathize with hostility to
the President, the supporters of the Admins
tration have a right to treat it as in no respect
q caucus of the Republican party.
1t is probable that this will prove to be the
situation at Albany. Mr.. Conkling hopes TO
bully some Republican members into support
ing him by securing majority of such MEM
bers as may attend caucus rregularly called.
Yet his friends, who call and who meon to con-
troll the so-called caucus, will not pledge them
selves to support the Administration, or to vote
against any candidates who will not support
tho Administration. They know that the
people are not with them. But they hope to
brighten men with the pretence of regularity
for their nomination of candidates hostile to
the party. The better course for Republican
members is to consider what their constituents
desire. They know that their Republican con-
sttuents do not wish to elect men by Demo-
cratic votes, or to elect men hostile to Republic
can unity. Therefore they have no business in
any gathering which such men control. IL
there is to be Republican caucus, it must be
one composed of men faithful to the Republican
party, and called in strict accordance with the
rules OF the party. II it is not to be Republi-
can caucus. but merely a caucus Of the snbordi-