The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-10-07
KING CAUCUS.

As
'Weewant every Democrat to un-
derstand in the future, as we thought
they did ill the past, when they accept
the nomination for the Legislature,
they pledge themselves to go into eau
Gus, vote for their choice, and when a
majority selects a man they abide by
the action Of the caucus. ~ Standard.
When the Standard with its accus-
toned dictetorial style makes the as
founding declarations contained in the
tabove paragraph, it undertakes to pro-
: mulgate new tenet, not found in the
writings Of Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe, Jackson or any ottor great ex-
FOUNDERS of pure Democratic princi-
pies, and which exists as written law
only in the chimera Of the editors i'm
.agination. The caucas system, with
Its kingly, absolute and dictatorial
! power, is purely of Radical origin, and
is diametrically opposed to true Demo
fcratic principles. Through the instru-
mentality of the caucus, under the plea
of party necessity, the worst laws that
ever disgraced our statute books have
,been passed and the most aagrant
frauds known to history perpetrated
upon free people.
AS bedrock Democrat we cannot
admit that any such canon was ever
adopted in the councils of the party of
the people. A caucus, in the Demo-
cratic sense, is consultation of mem
bers Of any representative body for the
purpose of consultation as to the best
interests of the party, and to devise the
proper methods to secure unity of ac-
.tion to carry the same into effect. It's
decision was binding upon every mem
Der Of the caucus, as matter Of henor,
and so long as the same was in accord
-'ance with the principles Of the party
so long was it regarded. Every rep
resentative member of the party owes
his primary allegiance to his constitu-
ents, whose will he was selected to car
ry ont, and he has no right to transfer
that obligation to the caucus, or any
other body. The idea that majority
of party could in caucus assembled,
absolve any member from this obliga-
tion, is pnrely Of Republican origin.
Whatever benefit tho Republicans can
derive from the caucus system, Mr..
Mitchell is welcome to, but we en-
phatically object to any such system
being engrafted upon the doctrines o
Jefferson, Madison and jackson.
: The Standard, in its high sounding
praise of the great bigamist, has per-
sistently tried to create the impression
that the railroad magnates are not
making Mitchell's fight. Now, is this
honest stupidity of the Standard OF
downright knavery, that impels it to
try and create this false sentiment
amongst the peoplel 1t must be very
stupid indeed not to know that moth
ing short of self-interest would prompt
the corporation to send special train
at lightning speed to Southern Oregon
for Senator Stearns, to get him to Sa
lem In time to vote for Mitchell, or o
special to carry the redoubtable Stark
weather for the same purpose. Yet
with all these open demonstrations the
Standard asserts that the company are
taking no hand in the disgraceful af
fair of trying to force Mitchell on the
State, that the monopoly may have
their greatest lobbyist in the United
States Senate Which is it, stupidity
or dishonesty that prompts the Sand
ard to make the denial?