Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-04-24
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION AND
THE CANDIDATES.

can be but one object amongst honest men OF
all parties in nominating candidates for the
Presidency. Particularly at the present time,
at all events, is the Democratic party bound
to place before the country candidate of high
character, spotless integrity, and who shall
possess the confidence of the country. The
latter qualification is embraced within the
range of the term availability, and Just now
that word seems horribly distasteful to certain
Presidential aspirants. We pass this point,
with the remark, that men who really possess
public confidence do not feel themselves Sc
riously impeached by being regarded as avail
able. But there is kind of avaiability-a
species of policy which looks solely to the mat
ter of obtaining notes.-the adoption Of rule
by which the weakest man is presumed to be
the strongest, because least known ; and this
is precisely what nominated General Pierce,
and what has made his Administration so ut
terly distastef,l to the American people. In
condemniug such policy, we should not run into
the opposite extreme of setting aside man
because he is strong.
But to make a short story Of this, it is well
to consider, and enough to consider, that a
cause is not worth sustaining which cannot
bear at its head strong, consistent, expert
enced well known, and honest man. 1t is not
cause at all that is sustained by trickery, that
is sought to be carried ont and perpetuated by
the mere management of men. The Demo
cratic party, with all its integrity, its fidelity
to the Consttution-with all the faith of its in
dividual supporters, its principles is worth
less association when its powers are applied
primarily to personal advancements. The
Democracy Of the Union base their action
upon the covenants of the organic law, which
they seek TO have enforced in the administra
ton Of the government In this work they
employ individual agencies; but they do not
admit the doctrine that the person acquires
precedence over the principle, and is FIRST to be
cared for and disposed of.
Precisely at this point we are enabled to see
the cause of our weakness at the present mo-
ment. We have too much sought the accom-
plishment of selfish, personal ends, in conduct
ing the affairs Of the party in past years. If
it was not to advance General Pierce in 1882
it was to circumvent special purposes by lead
ing men of the party, that his nomination was
effected at Baltimore. The cause was second
airy. The goo f the party in after time-the
good of the y at all times-were made
to give way {. &c present interests of promi-
de- soft II
No party, however great, is able to bear per-
sonal weakness and individual sel6shness on
the part of its prominent supporters without
serious harm. Our experience is surely enough
to prove this. The masses are honest, and it
is as honest to protest against weak and treach-
erous men-it is as much the duty Of true
Democrats it is to support the principles
upon which the party is based. No Democrat,
whose patriotism rises above the influence of
public Office and the dictation of official pre-
sumption, can do his duty to the Constitution
and his party without giving weight and force
to availability. Other things being equal, we
have no hesitation in saying, especially in the
present critical condition Of public affairs, that
il should control the action and determine the
choice Of the Cincinnati Convention. In this
sense availability becomes another expression.
describing the ablest and the fttest man for
the Presidency. By no other line of action
can the representatives Of the Democratic
party redeem themselves from the imputation
of placing the interests of individuals in oppo-
sition to the interests Of that party.
We are aware that personal agencies must
be employed 10 effect the purposes we all have
in view but to make these agencies an object
Of primary interest, to promote them at the
expense Of the cause we would employ them
to execute and enforce, to give them prece-
dence, would be to build up political hierarchy
by party which avows the principle Of popu-
lar sovereignty and the absolute equality OF
the whole people.
Now, let US look to the position and attri.
butes Of General Pierce and the other candi.
dates in the field. Is it denied that the Presi-
dent has lost, irrevocably lost, the confidence
of the Northern Democracy? We admit that
the President is not convinced of this fact
but we aver that he is the only man in the
free States, who shares his confidence, that
such is not the truth. The case, in reality.
is plain one. With General Pierce in the
field, the contest becomes purely sectional.
He has no friends in the North with him as
the candidate, the Northern Democracy is in
evitaby sacrificed. For what end7 To bene-
ut nobody, and only to crafty weak man
who IS determined to see political events
through the ballot box alone. General Pierce,
we admit, is in no condition to see the truth.
and in this we sincerely condole with him
But his friends about him, his friends in the
South who prefer his countenance to that Of the
great Democracy Of the North--to BUcu,N.v
and DICKINSON, and CAss, and DoucLAs-
they are committing fatal and an irreparable
mistake: they are urging General Pierce at
Cincinnati, in the face Of testimony which
ought 70 be overwhelming, that he has only
Southern support IL he has purchased that