Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-12-13
KING CAUCUS.
SUGGESTION FOR HIS Alb.
DICATEON.
Which May Bring About u
Union of Republican Fac
ti0is-An Old Republic
cans View ON the
Present STU.
SiIOsi.

alton.
To the Editors of the Commercial Gazette.
If an honest intention exists to bring
about, on an honorable basis, salts
factory union of the conflicting elements
of the Republican party, some fair line
| of policy should be adopted at once, as
it is we'll known that the more prompt
the action of leading men of both fac
tions the more certain will success be
attained. 1t will not do to keep up
feud in tie party, and at the same
time expect or even remotely hope for
success Bdt mere talk will avail lit
tie. Some sure remedy must be ap-
piled to secure union and harmony il
time for the great political contest of
1884. Perhaps no less sacrifice than
the death of King Caucus will satisfac-
torilv adjust our difficulties. II so
let the sacrifice be made. The system
of caucuses did not exist during the
early days of the Government, In the
time of Washington, Adams, Jefferson,
Madison AID Monroe and extending
throughout the first term of General
Jackson, the people at large indicated
the policy of Government and their
Representatives in Congress, as we'll
as in State Legislatures, transacted
all business in open session, and that
dexterity of management of the few
was enable to stife the voice of the
people. Wherein consists the wisdom
or Justice in the representatives of the
people, whether in political convention
or in the halls of legislation, being
forced by party discipline to vote for
men or measures contrary to their
honest convictions And yet such is
the demand of the caucus system. A
few leaders and master spirits, perhaps
from the worst of selfish purposes,
succeed in getting a majority, and
knowing they have it compel the mi
nority-not unfrequently the best ele-
ment of the party-to meet in caucus,
and thus bind them in open conven-
tion to cast their votes against their
own honest convictions and the well
known sentiments of their constituents.
Such system is necessarily vicious
and should be abandoned, especially in
Pennsylvania, where it has been one
of the sources of dividing the party.
1t is thought, too, by many to have
been the power used to make raids
upon the Treasury. The caucus sys-
TEN, it is believed, Was started in New
York, aDd was controlled by the AL
bany Regency, which was crushed out
for time by party under the lead Of
John Van Buren and Silas Wright.
But never did the party fight braver
for its existence, and oulv yielded when
completely whipped Should it be de-
termined by our cool headed, wise and
conservative statesmen to kill King
Caucus, there would be few mourners
at the funeral, bu. general rejoicing.
It is the machine Of all others the
most potent for mischief. L.
BUTLER, Pa, Dee. ;, 1882.
The above we ind in the Pittsburgh
Coamerc al GdzcHc Of the 9th inst.
1t is fronl tue pen Of General Purvi-
ance of this place, and is timely and to
the point. OF the many articles Mr..
Purviance has recently communicated
to the press this one we deem the most
important, and we cordially and strong
ly endorse his argument against "King
Caucus" Reforms in the manage
ment of the Republican party of this
State have and are progressing favora =
bly,. The delegates to the next State
Convention have to be chosen by the
party at large in each county. This
is under the new rules approved and
agreed upon by each of the Republi-
can State Conventions that met in
May last. This will secure delegates
from the people and not from Com
mittees as heretofore. But is this all
that was needed? No, because liking
Caucus" may still be enthroned at
Harrisburg and the delegates may
still be entrapped Dhea they get TO Har-
risburg. The orerthro,o of the Caucus
system in vogue is then the only thing
to be done. This General Purviance
and all disinterested Republicans now
see, and hence the matter now claims
attention. He bases his protest
against it mainly on the ground of the
delegates being forced, when they
reach Harrisburg, "to vote for men
aud measures contrary to their hon
sest convictions" This is true. Del
egates under the caucus system have
frequently, in honor, to vote in Concen-
tion for men they knew neither worthy
or fit to be the candidates oe the party.
Having gone into Caucus they virtu-
ally agree to abide by the decision OF
that caucus. In its Operation it is q
trap; and the invitation to enter it is
with the same intent that the spider
makes to the fly When the spider
asks the fly to "walk into its parlor''
it knows that it has power to eat it up
when once in. And the fly would not
have been asked in--only for this
knowledge on the part Of the spider.
Just so with those who originate and
favor Caucus" to determine who
shall be United States Senators, State
Tressurers, etc. The stronger party,