ABSTRACT
Introduced with the intention of making the government of the historic parties more democratic, the Caucus has succeeded, especially in the destructive portion of its work. Falling upon the leadership, which it regarded as oligarchical, it dismantled it and dealt a heavy blow at the old parties which were grouped around it; it powerfully contributed to overthrow Whiggism; it pressed the last life-breath out of expiring classic Radicalism, and helped to drive back old-fashioned Toryism. The development of the organization of the Caucus, however, presents yet another aspect, which tones down that which has just been described. The deterioration of the men in charge of public affairs can be clearly discerned already; the people have seen it break out more strongly in municipal life since the Caucus introduced party orthodoxy into it and placed its machinery at its disposal.
