Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-04-03
The Democratic Caucus.

The much talked of and long expect
ed Democratic Congressional caucus has
been held at last. In no sense of the
word was it success. Both the free
trade and protective wings of the party
acted slyly, doubtless with a view to
preventing disruption which must
come sooner or later. Carlisle, Morrison.
and others of their way of thinking
mildly urged the necessity of reducing
what they were pleased to term war
taxes, while Mr.. Randall counseled
gested an unexcited conference. So far
as lip expressions went all we're in ia
vor of harmony, but the vote upon GER
tain propositions plainly indicates that
the fires of faction are merely smould
eriDg, and are likely to be kindled into
co1fagration when the Morrison bill
is once fairly before the House. That
the so-called revenue reformers are bent
upon passing bill reducing duties to
the extent of 20 per cent. or more is as
certain as that two and two make four.
They must do it or surrender control of
the party organization to those who,
like Randall and Eaton, stand out for
protection. The free traders have boast
ed of what they intended to accomplish
with view to give the cue to the ap-
preaching national Democratic conven-
tiOn, hence it becomes necessity that
they should adhere firmly to the plat
form npon which they elected a full
hedged free trade Speaker. On the other
hand, the Democrats favoring protection
are forced by their constituencies to
stand irm. Democratic Representatives
from New York, New Jersey, PennJyl
vania, Ohio, and Virginia know that it
would be political death to themselves
to favor any further reduction of the
tariff. With these inharmonious ele-
ments facing each other there can be no
harmony if there is to be any tariff leg
islation during the. present session. MIR.
Watterson, who is the mere mouthpiece
of the Carlisle Morrison wing, says
through the columns of his journal:
Harmony in great party is most de-
sirable, but even harmony may be pur
chased at too great sacrifice. The ma
jurity in any organization must control
its actions and define its policy, but a
majority must be both atient and tol-
Grant. 1t should not act precipitately;
every means should be taken to secure
unity in spirit and in purpose. 1t is
N, al to ,fu ri
ty. A minority is usually unreasonable
and exacting, because it believes the
balance of power remains with it, and
is, therefore, difficult to satisfy. Yet
even unreasonable Democrats must be
listened to and considered. If the ques-
tions at stake relate to mere formal
matters, to unimpUrtant issues, they
may be abandoned; but when they are
fundaLaental, when minority controll--
ed by local and selfish interests demand
a total surrender of every distinctive
principle of the organization, the time
has come for the majority to determine
what is the value Of the organization
itself"
In plain terms, Mr.. Watterson insists
that the minority must submit their own
convictions upon what is considered by
the free traders fundamental issue. but,
as we have said, submission means po-
litical death to the minority. Consent
to tariff reduction would be good cause
for their constituencies to bury them
beyond all hope of resurrection. The
caucus determined by a majority vote
that the Morrison bill should be taken
up at an early day and passed, but that
no Democrat should surrender his right
TO individual action except in so far "aS
he may feel that he ought to be inhuen-
ced by the expressed opinions of a ma
jority of his associates" Fifty-seven
Democrats voted against the resolution,
and these, it is thought, can be relied
upon to oppose the passage of the bill.
Thus matters now stand. The real
factional fight is yet to come.-Cleveland
Leader.