Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-09-16
For THE HERALD.
tsCaw-cusses, y


The word at the head OF this article
may be suggestive, but in order to avoid
a misunderstanding it may be well to
remark at the outset that ii is not the
most approved method of spelling the
plural of "caucus" even according TO the
latest revised edition of coloquial lexic-
ology. 1t might very properly have
been the parent of the word caucus, 2
considering the propensities of the men
who sometimes try to manifest them, but
it cannot boast even of This doubtful
honor as an excuse for its existence.
The word .'caucus" originated as the
result of a quarrel, the sequel of which
was the American Revolution, and it has
very consistently maintained its early
reputation by always causing more or
less excitement wherever eabal of wire
pulling politicians quite equitably divide
their attention between using it and a
cigar, or something with q handle to it,
as a mouth-piece. Everybody no doubt
has heard of the so-called Boston Mass
acre of 1770 but it is possible that every
body doesn't know that the immediate
aggressors We're a company Of caukers
Chose who made cauks or calks for
horses and oxen's shoes), ard that after
the red-coats succeeded in forever silenc-
ing a few of them the remainder held in
dignation meetings which were called
caukerS' meetings. These BOSTON meet
ings attracted considerable attention on
account of their violently radical resolu-
tons and intensely inflammatory speech
es, and in the course of time the word
''caukers' beca ne corrupted, the as
semblages were denominated caucus
meetings, and the word WIS handed
down to succeeding generations Us a
name for political primaries.
Time makes wonderful chlnges, and
while the number of caueuses has in
creased with the population, corruption
in politics is supposed toh;@e increased
in u corresponding proportion. A
trained raven becomes an adept in devil
try without the least assistance in that
direction, and will cunningly and sur
reptitiously appropriate silver spoons,
and by means of his peculiae crow-like
intonations with Notwithstanding
look upon his feathery eountenance, be-
come a seemingly innocent caw-cuss.
So it is with the average modern local
politician who is after silver spoon in
the shape of Il remunerativd public of
flee. He, perhaps unthipkingly, apes
the cunningness of the crow, quietly
drums up his friends and packs the
caucus, attends himself with an appar-
emily disinterested smile upon his coun-
tenance, and if successful in his raven
like Vaccinations he very naturally boil
sters up on little iire-water, just to
strengthen his lungs, and becomes a
rather boisterous ''caw-cuss
There seems to be quite general inn
preston that the numbe.of these "caw-
cusses" is quite numerous and that the
caucus was expressly instituted for their
benefit and qualification. As a matter
of fact these obstreperous fellows are
really in II very small minority compared
with the great mass of voters, and if the
friends of an honest, fairly represented
convention will take sufficient interest
in the general welfare of the people and
will do their duty as American citizens
and attend the caucuses, there will be
no reason for doubling that every NOM
inee-Republcan or Democrat not
the honest choice of majority of the
rank and file of his party. Inarepresent-
alive government like ours the caucus
is an absolute necessity and as every
voter has the privilege of going to some
caucus or other, it must be taken for
granted that the nominees for public Of
flee are the choices of the majority of the
people. If they are not it is the fault of
the people themselves, and if they grum-
BILE it is about what they either assisted
in accomplishing or about what they
could have prevented had they done
their duty. BoETHIUs.
September II, 1886.
An enterprising reporter of the st.
Louis Globe Democrat. attended the
Republican State Convention at Madi-
son and published interviews with the
leading Republicans of the state. A
number of Grant County men were in
terviewed. Ex-senator Ryland when
asked his opinion concerning the Presi-
dency said: II have not thought much
on tho subject, but if were asked to
vote Immediately for President of the
United States, | could think of no more
competent and able man than James
g. Blaine Senator Kidd thought
''about the best thing we could do
would be to take Blaine. The old cam
paign lies have been exploded, and any
body would be booted to call them up
again" Hon. r. M. Day enthusiastic
cally said: II am for James G.. Blaine.
you betrn Judge Carter said: II would
prefer Logan" John H. Sarles said
why, Blaine, of course. y
The Car is reported to be favorable
to the grand Duke of Oldenburg as Alex
ander of Battenberg's successor to the
Bulgarian throne; but the trouble is that
if the fellow from Oldenburg consents to
seat himself upon the frail Bulgarian
throne, Bismarck wants to annex his
duchy TO Prussia. The bigwig Of Olden-
burg may think that the uncertainty of
royal rule in Bulgaria is an offset to
the pettiness of ducal rule in Oldenburg.
The agricultural Wheel party in
Arkansas does not seem to have been
overwhelmed exactly at last weeks cleo
ton. Although the straight Democratic
ticket was elected, the Wheel carried
two counties, and rolled up several thou
sand votes in the state. This is good
beginning of the breaking np of the
Democratic solidarity of Arkansas. 1t
viii take some time to establish a robust