The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-16
LETTER OF Mr.. DOUGLAS.
REfS OPPOSED TO 4 JOINT CAUCUS
oFREPUBLICANS AND P0PULIS7S:
essh Party, lie ssys. should Act fndspen-
Gently 81 the Coming Session ofths
Legislature.

GREENSBORO. y. c.. Dec. 6.-The
following ia an open letter from Colonel
Robert NJ Douglas, OF this city. TO Ma
tional Committeeman II. {. Cowles, OF
Statewide. y. G.. Colonel Douglas is
son OF the late Hon. stephen a. Douglas
and one OF the most prominent Repuoh-
cans IN this State. The letter reads as
follows: .,.
,.oloncI Henry G. Cowles. Statesville,
NV Dear Sir.-Your letter OF the Sth
ultimo was duly received. As you Know
/ have always favored cooperation OF
fair and honorable basis but nave
etrongly opposed fusion or coalition. Inc
celebrated Coalition Ministry IN England
fastened 10 that word an unsavory mean
Ing, and the rise and fall OF the Mahoie
movement In Virginia shows us the effect
OF fusion upon the Republican party For
this reason / am unalterably opposed 10
q Joint or fusion caucus.
We have obtained our present victory
BY cooperating as independent orRahiza-
tions. and a joint caucus now would de-
stroy the independence OF our parry or
ganization. and endanger the autonomy
OF the party Itself.
IT, as is claimed. the Populists wouln
have a majority in a joint caucus. the
measures that did not meet the approVai
of a single Republican member.
II as some assert, we would nave "
majority Of one. that one member, hoiu-
ing the balance Of power. would control
the dcstlnios OF the Republican party.
We must not lose sight OF the wonder
ful perfection OF the Populist orgahiZd-
ton, in which all individual WIZ anu az
zion have apparently been subordinate
20 the governing power. Neither shouId
,,e for,et that while we thoroughly agree
mon the great principles OF fair elec-
fions and home rule, there are olnt'
measures vitality affecting our coInmerciai
and industrial prosperity upon when We
widely diner. a.. ...,,,o
We must fully accord TO them inc SAINT
honesty of belief and integrity OF puf-
nose that we claim for ourselves, anu,
Therefore. We must expect them 10 use
every effort 10 carry into effect those
,grear underlying measures that brought
,boir Marty into existence. While we deep
" deplore the evils II seeks 10 remedy
we cannot subscribe 10 the oldid Pld'
form. which. we believe. would ne I'M
practicable in it's operation ana udnbe'
GUS in It's tendencies. ,, I.,,
In my opinion. each party shouiH hoiu
its own Independent caucus anu ueC.Ne
for itself upon every measure OF cO-opera-
ton. - ..
As 10 the scnatorshps my views are
equally fixed. There was every reason
why Republicans and Populists shouiu
co-operate in State matters, as all eise
was overshadowed by the two great meas
ures. TO which they were mu'ualiy
plt dyed. and which could not be carIleu
out without mutual help.
PM neither election laws nor county
government can come before Congress;
and there is apparently no national meas
IRE upon which a PopuliSt senator truly
representing the views of his party could
cooperate with a Republican administra-
tion.
The senatorial question therefore. is
more in the nature of division of spoils.
In all wars the nation furnishing the
most troops takes the lions share.
OF the 1894 votes east for Chief JUS
tice. the Republicans furnished certainly
over two-thirds and probably three
fourths. which would be only H. 5S.
In 1888 Harrison received l3i.1H votes,
md over 10000 votes in 1892, In spite OF
the decentralization then existing in our
marty. If In this election the Republicans
cast the Harrison vote OF 1888. IL would
leave only 1850 votes to be cast by the
Popul!sts Then. why should they claim
the long term? The argument that Ran
SONS term belongs to the East has no
weight whatever. as the East now has
both senatorships, and had when Ransom
was first elected in 1872, namely, he and
Pool.
As a matter OF justice and necessary
party policy, the Republican caucus should
insist upon naming the long-term senator
ANY Populst accepting the short term
could feel assured Of Republican support
for reelection; and the mere fact that he
was a candidate for reelection In 1896
would be our best assurance OF the con-
tlnued support of the Populist vote. II
cannot be denied that we have been very
liberal to the Populist leaders. They have
four congressman 10 our two. and three
out OF the five State officers. | readily
admit the high qualifications OF these gen
tlcmen. for whom | cheerfully voted; but
there were Republicans also competent.
| favor a nOn-partisan Supreme Court,
but cannot see why a court must have
a majority OF Democratic members 10
be partisan.
7 greatly fear that a Joint caucus, II
held will lead to so much dissatisfaction.
and even bitterness, as 90 cause an open
rupture between the parties and thus
endanger all legislation. our only safe
way lies through an independent Repub-
lcan caucus.
Very truly yours,
no NJ DOUGLAS