The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-04
TBE QUESTION or CAUCUS.

date Tor state Offices and United states scnnloT' u |
undcmocnuic aud against Democratic precedent
The truth H. that cuucusing ior tue nomination "l
such ollie, O.. o. almost the universal custom In all |
the states of The Union In both parties aud j. al
ways r.orcd To In bo.li Houses Of Congress There
was never au officer elected by the votes Of either
party Ia either House OF Congress that he was not
first selected In caucus u Is always safe rule
aud the only safe rule Of party government IN
political Offices the argument h especially strong
80 man should be- elected 10 sich an office who Is
not the cholcc OF a majority Of his party no Demo
era, ought 10 have an ONCE II majority Of his party
do not want him To ha,eiL etWilhoui a caucus
such result might easily be brought about and
We should have the spectacle Ola legislature
largely Democratic elcctinR man whom the He
pubIicnns nrticrrd aud d,i,adng q man whom
majority Of the democrats wanted. The Re
publican members OF tho Legislature might ana
natumlly would vote against m0n preferred ny
majority of the DrmuCn nuts aud n i well known
fact that two year Gvo the Rcpubllcnn members
nf the Legislature met nightly In caucus With
view 10 throwing their votes 10 some man whom
majority OF the Dcmocmu did not want
but who could secure enough Democratic
Votes n elect htn when united with the
Republican vote. II il also true that many
| of those who were ~ bitterly lighting caucus
we've nightly ln caucus themselves. trying 10 con
| ccntmic thclr .trvugih. II this purpose had not
| been defeated by n caucus nomination OF pcmo-
| cmt. We should aaye had United states Senator
whose election was determined b. the action Of
| Republican caucus The plain and simple CUES
| ton Involved IN tic caucus proposition " Just
| this shnll We have officers who ar the choice OF
a majority oi ihr pcmocut, or oniccr who are
dsinsiciul ~ majority II the Democrats shall
a minority Ut the parry have the power 10y caucus
! Ing among themselves o. defeat the WISHES Of a
a.. IL I'm .HHH "a
/ caucus themselves. permit Republican caucus 10
become the powerful factor In the election Of Of
nccns- Na.lrile lmc0iotH
our esteemed contemporary does THE
ArrE,rhJpsiiee. we'did not indulge In
sophisth but dealt in facts, citing the case
Of caurus boy a majority Of the Democrats
Of the last House Of the State Legislature
as being influenced, not as The Amor,cdn
says 10 prevent the election Of n candidate
TO the United States Senate, hut by de-
sire TO prevent the election Of Speaker
influenced 10y Republican votes, OF which
the friends ~ the caucus, those who urged
II most, proicsscd TO bc afraid. There
should MT be any fear Of this sort
INDUCED at any time, and would not
be u the Democrats were true 10 the
party, and preferred It's ascondancy To that
of particular individuals. No party should
ever encourage an organization within an
organization. NJ q caucus certainly IA.
Unity aud concord with men OF the
same faith ought 10 be rs easy OF accom-.
plshmrnt outside ~ inside Of caucus.
n Democracy means anything il mean.
M opon tcli and free light. II the eau.
Gus means anything Il means Gag law in
a., interest Of some ono Who has some
advantage Of strength or management,
which can be- manipulated 10 his adyantag,
against all others. This is the caucus In q
nutshell Every Democrat should
therefore. bc opposed to II, an,
especially should every candidate fo
Office The plain aud simple question
involved in the caucus is the success 81
NfNhf NhN hAAiAs w hh'l'f " h"'ihk wv
meeting Of the Legislature will be N,
case, the success OF several men who maj
combine. aud. In the case Of one or NOR,
or al, elect minority Democrats, aud thu
q defeat majority Democrats There Ia. a,
+ THr Arrr,L showed la the article which
d m IBdrolH uniusily complains is u
) logical. no necessity ior q caucus 10y III,
Democrats oi thc Legislature which meet
/ on Monday ncNt. Nincty.two Democrat
p uugh, 10 h. able toiakc cane Of themselves
] - against forty Republicans. Tnr ArrrAI
has faith In the ability aud partisan rca
3 Of thc Democrats In the legislature. an
% believes that Il would be- impossible lo I'm
= a minority among ,hcm or 10 make on
i that would lend itself 10 Republican pun
o poses or avail itself Of Republican votes ,
j. sccuW an advantage over the majority, ,
:, tha,anyoi them are aiding Democratic cat
j. didaics 10 Office who would deliberately iur
l. their backs ON their party aud make q
n alliance with their opponents Tor the pa
y posc o. defeating the will OF the part
II a. represented by a majority Of the Dom
al craft, mcmbcts OF the Legislature.
-