The sun., 1901-01-03

Il
yania Legislature at Harriburg lie
said;
The Republican force comprises fully
1870 Senators and Representatives, elected
by the entire Republican party, ana
elected for the purpose of abiding BY Its
counsels.
Whatever portion of this overwhelming
total fail in this, at least great part
of those who elected them will stand
stripped of representation. l can see
how gentlemen can refuse to abide
caucus upon principle, but the right OF
refusal never goes to personal pre-
ference as to party candidate. When
that becomes the rule chaos will have
come, and we will be unfit Tor self-gov-
ernment.
If the major party wish has not been
shown in the election of 1S0 Republicans
out of a gross total of 254, pray what Will
ever shown it? Ii they who quarrel with
such a result We're each to hold an
individual caucus of his own, that caucus
would still never become unanimous.
1t is but Il subtraction from political
knowledge to consider the reasons cited
in support of such conduct. Congress
man Acheson and others plead that they
are resisting the unit rule, something
not cited by them when Quay Republi-
cans were asked to aid their election
ne unit rule which Hon. Edward Me
Pherson rejected in the National Coii-
yention of 1876 never had such an appli-
cation. 1t applied to the attempt of II
majority of i; delegation to vote as Al
unit the entire delegation, whereas we,
| in Legislative caucus, know no delega-
| tiOns and never seek TO coerce. NO sec
| ton need vote as unit in this body, for
| it has no units in the conventional sense
and never had. Only the individual
choice obtains, and that is holly free.
This is Il caucus of the Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES of the Republican party,
chosen by the people to faithfully per
form every political duty. II the same
party. with Il view to nominate candi-
date, were to choose delegates to city,
county or State convention. and some of
these delegates discovered that they
could not enter the convention, 1t would
he their pleasure to follow the custom
ana resign, but with Il salary here and
lnow in view such an intmution goes en-
tirely too far. There is, however q
party honor as there is u personal. and
lii ought to be even better observed III onl
legally appointed than in our voluntary
lnsSemhies. all called for the purpose OF
lscertaning the will Of the majority
Our outliS first call for support 70 tht
General Government next that of the
State, and finally we are pledged to dis
charge our duties with fidelity. We can
mot manifest fidelity to our Office by at
tempts to block an election or deadlock
the Legislature; we are not faithful whcl
we bargain away the voice Of the people
ither aS to measures or man.
The present Delaware legislature ha'
die most important question to decide
How is it to lie decided! The Repnbli
, cans are i'll the majority in that body
1t follows that the Republicans shoult
decide it. but how: Clearly il should b
t A caucus Of portion of the Republi
cams cannot decide il for the whole bod
, lof Republicans III the Assembly. IN
I The minority could not decide it for tn
i imajirity, ana the majority could not dc
i eide it acceptable for Il minority not pre-,
4 ent and taking part i'll the proceedings
Z \ general caucus is therefore necessar
. for the making of an acceptable dccisio
4, Of the question, and for the making of
Il decision according to acceptable theorie
. In this case the proffer of the unio
e Republicans makes the caucus Il sur
e method of just and generous divisio
D of the spoils Of the common victory
s They have offered to divide equally wit
il the minority. The organization of til
II House and senate was effected upo
f that plan and the Union Republican
Il having Il majority in both Houses, krI
q their pledges. This is assurance thn
e the pledges made will lie kept ana tha
! fair play ANA honor will charactcriz
z nll the Union Republican proceedings
# We suggest to the members who :r
reported 10 be finally committed 10 tn
anti-caucns idea and to the defeat q
Alr. Addicks without regard to part
rules. or the rules Of fair play III polite,
that the danger to their own side d
" this contention is in rejecting the proffp
= Of the Union Republicans to settle til
Senatorial question i'll caucus. A caucu
that decides according to tile will Of in
y people and that binds, will secure all iii
u interests oncprned-without that tn
minority interests are in jeopardy.