Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-26

tions and sent them to the Governors
of the various States, for the purpose
of bringing about concert OF action
against tho practice, the whole coun..
try was shocked by the use OF
the baleful word Caucus" in
the resolutions. A half-dozen
State Legislatures took immediate
action in the mater. Governor
Throop, of Georgia, thought it OF
enough moment for special mention
in his next annual message, in
which he recommended that the Leg
islature take eatly action to discour-
age and prevent the use OF q term so
Objectionable to the refined and cul-
tured ear. In alluding to the Ten
nessee resolution he said: "This
paper purports to be formal act OF
the Legislature of Tennessee, and its
object is the denunciation of what it
pleases to call Caucus which may
possibly be held in the city of WASH
ington by members Of Congress for
election purposes. What precise and
definite meaning the Legislature OF
Tennessee designs to attach to the
word caucus l cannot conceive 1t
is not an English word. 1t is not to
be found in our dictionary, and. being
an uncouth word and of harsh sound,
l hope it never may"
The political institutions Of this
country had given it birth, but the
universal horror of the word was
none the less for that. The Tennes-
see resolution provoked an agitation
of it which lasted for months, and
during that time the United States
Senate took a turn at the discussion
and waxed warmer over it than
over the most important national
question before the session. 1t was
introduced by the following remark
of Senator King OF New York: "My
attention has been most powerfully
attracted by power which has
risen up, which appears to me to be
go terrific that I dare hardly to con.
template the effect it may produce. 1
mean the power which members OF
Congress have assumed of nominat-
ing President of the United States. :"
Senator Haynes made a violent on
slaught on the system, and after sew
eral other Senators had denounced it
aseminently dap gerous, Senator Smith
Of Maryland, replied: IT am not sur
prised at the opposition of the gen
tleman Of New York. That gentle
man was leading chief of the Federal
party, and no doubt thinks, what l
know, that owing to this much de-
nounced system, his party was pros
trated and the political party into
power. Iadhere to the system which
rendered such essential services.
Upon this / act as party man, and
have no hesitation in saying that /
wish to keep my party in power, and
| believe the caucus system the most
efficient means therefor"
The effect of the venerable ,Sena-
tors defense OF the system, and al
lowing the awful word, caucus" to
fall from his lips, was terrific. The
whole Senate was on its feet to protest
against the use of the word in the
hall, and q scene of wild confusion
reigned for several inmates. Finally,
Senator Holmes was recognised, and
he began an attack on Senator King
with: "The first use of the word
came from the Senator from New
York" Senator King became highly
indignant and denied the charge with
great warmth. The next speaker
traced the introduction Of the
word to the venerable Senator Smith.
He was unwilling to admit
making the breach, and replied hotly.
" am illing that the discussion
of subject to unprofitable that am
mortified at its being introduced, and
SO little comporting with the dignity
of the Senate, should be attributed to
me. l regret that the honorable
Senator from New York should have
deemed it proper to introduce it. It
is true he qualified it by a new name,
central power However, either
my ears have deceived me or heard
him use the word caucus and one
member opposite me took it down.
But whether he did or not, his mean
ing was perfectly understood, and if I
used it l used it because l wished to
give its known name. | wished to
call spade spade"
The general adherence of the word
continued several years, but it finally
went into public use. When the
manner of electing President and
Vice-President was changed, National
Conventions became necessary, and
with them the caucus came into gen.
eral use, and the odium formerly sur
rounding it disappeared rapidly. For
several years the leading public men
were not proud of their participation
in caucus meetings, but they had no
fear of calling them by their "known
name.-[ Missouri Republican.