Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-04-17
THE CAUCUS,

HE |
Very contradictory differences are
being drawn from the proceedings Of
the late Congressional caucus.
On the one hand, it is asserted,
that similar respect must be paid to
its conclusions, as to those of ordi-
nary nominating caucuses, and that
hereafter Free Trade must be accept
ed as o plank in the Democratic ma
tional platform. On the other, how
ever, it is held that the recent caucus
settled nothing. Nearly t%wo-thirds
of the Democratic Congressional rep
resentatives gave expression to deter
mination to reduce taxation this ses-
sion but such action, it is said, can
not be construed as meaning that the
Morrison bill, that satisfies nobody,
will increase the evenue and cannot
be championed by its author ever as
setting forth his Individual convie-
tons Of duty, must pass, with or
without amendment.
The most significant thing that
transpil ed in the caucus vas the
adoption Of Mr.. Carlisle's motion to
repeal the excise On tobacco and re-
duce the duty on fruit-brandy to ten
per cent. Both Of these are meas
ures which have been heretofore per-
sistently opposed by the Free Traders,
whose special representative Mr.. Car
Isle is supposed to be.
Previously to the u there had
been no authorized expression of
Tariff or Internal Revenue sentiment
on the part Of any considerable num-
Der Of prominent Democrats. Only
individual opinions had been voiced
by the press and these were not al
ways announced with discretion and
wisdom. 1t was therefore eminently
proper for Congressman to meet and
ascertain what was in the minds of a.
majority of them concerning the
crisis that was upon them. This con-
ference, however, revealed great di-
versity of opinion. and it would be
al unfortunate conclusion to come to
that the majority Of any number Of
Congressman could do either of those
two inseperable things, construct a
national platform or make a president.
Since the days of Jackson, when the
Democracy resorted to conventions,
as q means of escaping congressional
folly, there has been no precedent
for anything of that sort, and such q
departure from modern democratic
idea is not to be thoght of.
But in point Of fact, the caucu
did not in anyway commit itself to
the doctrine of Free Trade, and the
trumpet notes, that have resounded
IN the corridors Of the capital, and in
the organs Of that faction, o~stracis-
ing democrats opposed to 1t, should
be heard no more. Any suitable
amendment of the Morrison bill, and
even the substitute therefor of one
embracing the adjustment CT the In
ternal Revenue system or any por-
ton Of it in connection with such
Tariff reform, as shall correspond to
the convictions of those in%troduciny
it, will be permissible under the ac-
ton taken by the caucus. The lash
has been eliminated from the whip,
the Free Traders designed to grasp
and handle, and every representa-
tive left to act as judgment or the ia
structions or requests of his consti-
tuency shall demand.
Let the Democrats in Congress
therefore, do the best they can to-
wards relieving tax payers, and let a
Republican senate or executive nullify
their actions if either is disposed to
assume snehresponsibility bit let
congressman leave the settling of
party measures and the nomination
of o president to the convention that
shall assemble in Chicago, fresh from
the people and fully advised of their
wishes.