The caucus is a sort of representative meeting which sits voting and voting till they have cut out all the known men against whom much is to be said, and agreed on some unknown man against whom there is nothing known, and therefore nothing to be alleged.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Caucuses often eliminate known critics by voting them out and settle on unknown candidates with no record to criticize.
- In plain terms
- Voting groups tend to reject familiar opponents and pick strangers instead.
- What can you take from it?
- Political selection often favors obscurity over known merit.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you evaluate unknown candidates?
- Is safety better than merit?
Another view
This view may overlook cases where unknown candidates bring needed change.
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