The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-05

THR ABOLITION or Primary MEErINcs.--Two |
or three days ago we -adverted to the bribery, |
corruption, and fraud that VIGOROUSLY control the
primary meetings and nominations OF both wings |
and democrats, in this city, and in the other large
cities of the Union There are thousands Of honest
patriots who would gladly get rid Of the monster
evil If they could only see the way. They would
reform it if they could; but they find insurmount-
able obstacles in their path 1t is not reform, how
ever, that the case demands, but destruction. The
corrupt and unclean system is past mending, and
it must be RACED to its foundations. Primary meet
ings are unknown to the constitution, and nothing
would be, therefore, lost, but everything gained, by
their abandonment. The only good object that
primary meetings could possibly serve, namely,
the securing of the best men as the candidates of
the party to which they belong, is now not only
lost sight of altogether, but it may be safe
ly affirmed, as a general rule, that the
practical result is the choice of the worst
men. DR.. johnson, in some of his writings,
has observed, that the marriages Of mankind
could not be worse assorted and more unhappy, II
the partners in the matrimonial alliance were uni
ted by lot instead of by their own free choice.
The observation is far more just when applied to
the representatives of the people of this city. If
they were appointed by lot, they would, on the
whole, be decidedly truer opponents of the peoples
will, and more faithful servants to carry it into
execution. We should then have as fair chance
of good men as bad. Now, the chances are ten to
one against good man; and when we happen to
get him, he is rendered powerless by a corrupt
majority
Bat the leaders and the wire psllers will ex-
claim, "What would you abolish the cherished
usages of our party, and leave us to be whipped by
our political opponents!" To this we reply, that
what is sauce. for the goose is sauce for the gan
der and that, if the party usages were abolished on
both sides, there would be no loss to either, while
the community would derive great advantage from
the change. At all events, the people would have
the satisfaction of choosing their own repre- senta
tives, whether good, bad, or Indifferent, which is
more than can be said under the present system,
which practically deprves them oft the first right of
free others In the name of liberty, therefore, and
Of the constitution, let primary meetings be over
thrown, and the stump system take their place,
Any alteration must be for the better. Things
cannot be in worse state than.they are, under the
guidance of Tammany Hall, and the Broadway
House.
Bnt hew is the change to be brought about
Will the leaders consent to il? Never. They
would not abandon the spoils of conquest Fol-
lowing democracy, or whiggery, not for the prin-
ciple, but for the "loaves and fishes" they
never would agree to any innovation that
would strip them of their chance of the
public plumber. There is but one way of
accomplishing revolution in the "party usages,"
and that is by the people taking the power into
their own hands, and obstinately refusing to vote
for whole tickets. Let the democrats vote for
the best men on the ticket of the wings, and let
the wings follow the same example; or, If there
should not be enough Of good men on both tickets
10 fill the vacant Offices, let honest and intelligent
stump candidates be started in opposition to the
worthless and the corrupt.
If this simple course were resolutey followed for
two years. it would infallbly put an end to primary
elections. The people have the power, and If they
do not exert it the fault lies with themselves. The
day is gone by when the stale stereotyped gam
mon about principles, measured out by the yard at
elections like so much tape for a cent, can have
any weight with the great body Of the electors.
They do not believe in it. They have only, there
fore, to take another step in advance emancpatc
the mseiyes from the thraldom Of leading. strings
We are glad to perceive symptoms Of this ten
dency beginning to manifest themselves. At the
great Union meeting on Wednesday evening, both
wings and democrats declared, in the presence of
the assembled thousands, and with their full ap.
probation, that there were higher reasons which
would influence them to vote for or against a man
han because he belonged to their party or was one
OF the other side. 1t is clear, therefore, that
old party ties are fast breaking up, and that new
combinations are being formed out Of the ruins.
There could not be a more favorable moment to
demolish the whole OF the rotten fabric of primary
elections.