The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-25
'rHE CAUCUS.

=
"A hack of fmrGness On the part of the
dispulmts. \ lttIe clear tin king,
whilst 1t woudnot likely change any
opinion already formed, might a:
least tempe, The asperlly OF those
who are as quick to make chUges in
volVing the teAty Of other people to
the democratic party. The Avalanche
knows Of one paper that sits by the
roadside, with lis eyes tightly shut,
yelling out that everybody who does
not favor II caucus is republican III
disguise, or that he wants some one
elected to the senate who is not IL real
democrat. Such twaidle rs this iS,Ut
course, no argument, aud there Is no
way of meeting it, Whe thinks the
cap will fit him and who finds it to
his liking can wear it. But this still
leaves the question exactly where it
was found, with this difference, that
the vituperatOrs have had an i'm
mense relief in the utterauce. 1t
would be well to start from the begin
ming and follow frankly some line OF
logic, and having taken all reasonable
precautions to be accurate, abide by
the result. In the first place a eau
Gus is not question of principle, but
it is question of party expediency.
1t does not form part Of the party's
policy, but II part Of the party's or
ganizalion. 1t is a matter of disci,
pline. Its not that for which an
army fights, but il is the drilling Of
the men and an arrangement Of them
into companies, battalions, regiments
and corps. La other words, the great
fundamental principles upon which
democracy attempts to rear the su-
perstructure of government are ELL
tirely independent OF the custom Of
holding caucus, for the selection Of
candidates who are to receive the
party vote IN representative bodies.
This being the case, man can either
advocate or oppose caucus without
yielding to any one in his firm advo>
cacy of the principles which are II
part of the democratic creed. He
may not be a wise man in taking any
particular course, judged from the
point Of view of the mau who takes
the opposite side. But he can still be
a simon.pure democrat. This con.
clusion is confirmed by the custom
which obtains in this state. The
election of the first president fro q
this state was rebuke to the caucus
idea, and this man was as good q
democrat as any of the wise men OIL
the press who, at this day, are KEEP,
SO busy reading out Of the party
those who doubt their ecumeniCa
promulgations. The general assembly
Of tennessee, shortly before Jackson''
election to the presidency, adopted q
joint resolution cOndemUing in thu
strongest terms all caucus nominations
As yet no senator from Tennessee
from BlOunt to Harris, has ever beef
nominated by a eau ;us. The fair in
ference is, those who attack the de
mccracy of anti-csucus men mus
also attack the democracy of thus,
poorly disguised republicans whit
have taken advantage of the demo
crotic party to slip into the senate
The Avalanche is anxious to ses VIII,
will first rise to his feet, in order t,
say that Senator Harris is not u tru
democrat aud that he was elected Il
the senate by dicker with republi
cans. There cAn be no doubt tina
the caucus Is not necessary adjunc
of democracy. But To look at til,
question from fhe standpoint OF part,
expectancy. Is it un-democralic 4
hold u caucusf The Avalanche think
not. On the contrary, when tw
parties are almost evenly balanced
it is all absolute ne :essiIy, in Orde
To Insure party supremacy. 1t is
weapon Of warfare to be uRed whel
the exigency of battle demands; /,
be Discarded when that exigenc
passes. When the question Of part
supremacy is not involved, but whtl
the democratic majority is so gEeAt d
TO insure The elecIlon Of demucra.
IL then Ceases TO he party question
aud becomes ii personal issue 1t i
then war Of factions or struggi
among leaders. Those who thinI
their friends strongest in caucus viii
advocate a caucus. Those who thiuI
their friends weakest in Il caucus vii
oppose a Caucus. In caucus II
easier to crush out minority. tn:
brlug the Case, it becomes rldiculuu
tor the advocates of candidate VIII
will he very strong in . caucus to al
tack The democracy of the friends u