The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-27
The Democratic Caucus.

The DemOcra of the House of Represen-
tative have determined by two-thirds ma
1ority in caucus to press the Morrison tariff
bill to vote in the House, after debate and
opportunity for amendment. The surprise
Is not that so many voted to do so but that
so many voted against the proposition.
minority of one-third O the party, led as this
minority is, is much too large to be read
out, or 10 be safely threatened. 1t must be
treated with Cancellation. 1t is too much to
expect that all of the fifty-seven who voted
against the caucus resolution will stand firm
against the Morrison bill to the end, but the
chances are that a sufficient number will do
30 either 10 defeat it, or to compel substan-
tial amendments which will leave it wreck
and scandal to legislation. There was
nothing in the proceedings of the caucus to
suggest the vigorous measures OF rule or ru-
in which Mr.. Watterson has been promulga-
ting. The talk was all of harmony and the
sentiment was all of irreconcilable division.
Mr.. Carlisle made proposition intended
to induce Southern protectionists to support
the bill. 1t is to do away simultaneously
with the larger part of the internal revenue
taxation; but only on condition that the
Morrison bill in some shape is passed. This
proposition is not at all ag' eeable to large
number of the more earnest supporters of
the Morrison bill, and it is doubtful if it
does not prove an element of more weakness
than strength. The vote on this point was
o1x, all
having left the caucus. The action taken
| with regard to The binding effect of the deci-
| sion of the caucus is almost grotesque. The
members are not bound except in so far as
| they may consider themselves obliged to re-
| spect an opinion of majority of the party.
1t was distinctly asserted by Mr.. Randall
that it was contrary to Democra tic prece-
dents to bud individuals by the will of the
majority touching economical questions in
which members were bound to consult the
interests and will of their constituents.
| What is tn upshot of this great Democrat
ic effort 10 unite the party? Simply that the
| party is rather more divided and distracted
than before. 1t is now shown that at least
one-third of the party is hostile to any at
tempt to change the tariff, which is larger
proportion than had before been openly
claimed. They cannot unite and the more
| union is forced the more disgust and dissat-
isfaction will be outcropping all over the
land. Nobody now expects anything to be
! accomplished. The chances are that the
| Morrison bill will die of sunstroke some time
next summer. 1t is contemplated to call it
up after the bonded whiskey bill is disposed
| of. Mr.. Randall has nearly all the appro-
| priations back ready for Use in antagonizing
the tariff bill. At every attempt to consider
| the latter he will bring the House to vote
whether they will not consider an appropri-
alton bill instead, and the chances are that
a majority will vote TO consider the
appropriation bill every time. AS the
session gets longer and the days warm
er the necessity of considering the appro-
| priation bills will increase. They will occupy
| the House until summer and the anxieties to
get at work in the Presidential campaign
make members cross. Whenever the bill is
taken up long debate will begin, which
will accomplish nothing but the gradual ex-
haustion of the Democratic party.
In view of the developments of the caucus
it may be taken for granted that the position
of the national Democratic convention on
the tariff will be straddle.