Year: 1877

committee. .,


THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.


WHAT SENATORS CONKLING AND EDMUNDs SAID


THOROUGH pIsrRUsT OF THE DEMOCRATS kE-


yRAIED-THE COMMITTEE TO CALL ON Ihh


PRESIDENT.


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


w,surNGroY. Nov 11.-No one fact has been
moro apparent to every intelligent observer III
Washington since Congress met, than that the
President and the leaders of the Republican party,
esrecially in the Senate. were drifting apart, and
that unless some measures were promptly adopted
10 bring about an understanding between the Ad-
miuistration and the party which elected it, and
.owhchit must look for support an opcnrupture was
sure sooner or later to come The President
has had no desire TO quarrel with the party leaders.
He has repeatedly said in conversation with thoSe
who called upon him that there were absolutely no
causes for a misunderstanding. His interests IN the
preservation and upbuldug Of the Republican
marty is as great as it ever was, and he ylelus
10 no one in his anxiety that nothing shal
occur during his Administration to weaken
its influence in the present or TO endanger
its success in the future; but some OF the fTesl-
dents ideas are not those entertained by lniuentaI
pepublIcan Senators and Representatives,. This
was demonstrated in his first official act after his
uaurur9tion-in the selection of his Cabinet of Com
stitutloDal advisors Not only did he invite life
long Democrat and n supporter in the last PreSl-
dantiaI campaign of Mr.. Tildcn to seat az his
council fable but he also called TO important places
+, his Administration at least two in whom the he
publican leaders of Congress had very little CONN
dence. Those men were Mcssrs. Evarts and schurz.
The hesitation with which the Senate confirmed the
Presidents Cabinet has not been forgotten, ana the
distrust which then began TO show itself has been
increased bv many subsequent events and has at
length grown to very formidable proportions.


It's true that during the past month representa-
five men. i'm the Republican party, have been very
careful about their public utteraHces. They have
not thought it wise to proclaim their differences with
the Presid nt from the house-tops, nor 10 give to
their political opponents the advantage winch they
woull certainly derive should the Republican party.
in Congress present a divided front. This self
control. which has not been an easy matter with


many Senators and Representatives has been consid-
cred the more important, because 1t was
feared that any open dssens.on in the party preyl-
ous TO tie Fall elections might have an unayortbie
fleet on the votes Of those States which it was de-
sirablc though at no time hardly probable, that the
Republican party should hold. The cleo ions over,
there 10 longer remained any reason why perfect
understanding should not be arrived at at least
among the Republicans IN Congress nor that the
party leaders should remain any longer in doubt as
u the relations which TO exist between the Pres
idcut and hs party in Congress and IN the country
at large


The causes that have lead to differences Of opinion
and to fhc distrust between the administration and
the party leaders need not be enumerated here.
Some Of them have arisen from the adoption of ideas
and methods Of administration not in harmony with
those previously received by the majority Of the
party but more from doubts to the wisdom Of the
methods selected for carrying into operation the
ideas Of the President and Of his Cabinet. The
discussion Of these differences was the object
for which the caucus of Republican Senators was
called Yesterday afternoon. 1t not convened
as has been reported to-day, at the suggestion of
Mr. Conlliug Notice of it was distributed to Sena-
tors before his return from Ncw-YOrk; but it was
called in accordance with the desire oi majority Of
the Seuate, composing those who are known as the
supporters Of the President well as those who are
opposed 10 his methods Of administration.


The caucus met at about noon and continued in
session until D. m. 1t may be said in advance that
there was no open conflict between Senators. Very
little angry feeling was exhibited, and few harsh
words were used. Senator Edmuds was the first
speaker Upon him seems to have dey0lved the
duty Of setting forth the object of the meeting
and he did it at considerable length and with
much skill and earnestness He did not attempt
to conceal his own sentiments, it uudcrs TODD
that any one who followed him did so. The object
Of the caucus was to ascertain the exact feeling Of
every Republican Senator, and all spoke without re-
ecrfT. with the explicit understanding that what
ever was said within those closed doors should be
considered strictly confidential by every one
present. Senator Edmuud's feelings have been
much wounded by the Presidents course, and yet
hc is reported not to have placed himself in ir-
recOncilabe position 10 the Administration. He
advised moderation, but he also advised frmness.
Ills remarks are said to have encouraged those who
were in accord with him, and yet to have been so
ekillfuliY made as not to exasperate the special
alhcreuts Of the President.


After Senator Edmunds had announced the OBJ
jects Of the caucus. the discussion became general
and was participated in by almost every one pres
cut. All did not make set speeches, and many of the
most important remarks came from Senators sitting
in their places, and were delivered IN half
conversational manner. One of the great events
of tie day was the speech Of Senator COnk-
ling. Those who beard it, aud who sympathise
will the Senator speak of it in the highest terms Of
praise They say he spoke eloquently Of the Repub-
ican party, its history, its good name its fame,
and its principles-it was something 10 revere and
preserve. He spoke of the Democratic party in
terms Of bitterness, and asserted with great force
that its past was black and its future
bghtlng. Gradually, and without display Of
anger he turned TO the questions for the
consideration of which the called. this
parof his speech he is said not to have minced words
He expressed his opinions in severe but not unciv
terms He did not insist that the President should
surrender but he indicated very clearly that so far
ne was personally concerned, he would accept
nothing else. Mr. Conklng believes in the theory
shat il man il right he cannot be too radical but