The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-12-23
4lQGtiral.
=
pne prestdentlal On astion.
From re \. 7. Tribune Of Dec. 1871.

thereby accorded to the People? We
wiSs those who object to opr suggestion
Qf q means for securing this cud would
lIect this question: sqQarcly. They start
difficulties which are really no difficulties
when once you assent that there should
be some mcaus devised Whereby \, B,
and G. plain farmers and mechanics in
the rural districts, might be at Liberty to
sustain for President the man OF their
choice respectively without throwing their
votes in effect under the table Now,
they have practically no choice but to suo
1s,Et one of two candidates presented BY
two rival assemblages Of active and prom
inent politicians, e2ch intent on party
pr personal advantage The candidates
thus nominated moy be the very men
that they should be, and may pot; the
People have no alternative but TO take one
pr the other Of them, knowing we'll that
each was nqmipated, got because he was
deemed most capable or deserving, but
because he vas judged most available
There are exceptions, of course, but such
j. Eotoriously the rule.
4he prevailing system is Objectionable
in that it involves great temptations to
personal dctracton aud slandcr. A can
didatc for President has been nominated
by this or that party, which must stand
or fall with him in the ensuing election.
1t IS thence the interest Of the opposite
party to prove the eagdidate unfit or un-
worthy, as a means Of dafeatinT his party.
The iucessant warfare ON Col. + emunJ n
Roman Catholic, and with respect to
fls nativity. &c, are recent instances OF
this. Who now pretends to believe Col.
>. Roman Catholic? WHO cares one
brass button whether he is Or not? Vino
believes he was born in Canada, or else
where out ofthis country! Yet tue Jour
nails hostile 10 his election biazed for
weeks in 1856 with certificates, letters,
ahidaylts even, intended to make the sim
pie believe the lies which the kuayish
bad invented to raise against him the cry
of torcl gner and Catholic. Had he been
but ore among several persons whom the
Republicans were sgFRqrting for the Pres
for, no temptation to, this wretcned clec
tioneering slang, Yet in fact the last
canvass was half given over TO just such
appeals to popular ignorance and stupid
ity Whatever tends to preclude such
appeals hereafter, by rendering them un-
profitable, will be positive gain 20 the
whole country, in giving dignity to any
political discussions and cOnhniug them
Sithtn legitimate channels
again: There are several among our
statesmen for whom many citizens would
gladly vote, but they are not permitted
or enabled to 10 so under the Convention
eystem. Judge NJ Lean may be cited as
an example of this class. So long ago as
1882 there were many who desired to
support him for President So late as
1856 twenty four years later--he was
warmly and formldably pressed for the
Republican EuEination. We do not say
that he woula IN auy case have been a
strong or = weak candidate, nor that he is
more or less capable aud worthy than
those who have from time to time been
preferred out We 40 say thaJ the tact o.
such preference proves neither that ne
was less deserving or less available than
those who have from time 70 time been
nominated over him, but onIy that ma
)ority OF this or that Convention nave
thought so. " hat oPinion was heid oy
the great body OF the People ~ the sub
Jeet, our current political machinery was
not calculated to discover Ana what
was true OF 'nls machinery IN 'ne E''9' 5
true OF 1t IN the future as wen,
t1eI US suppose .'r one moment 'l!a'
fqe managing p'ht'c'anS OF all parties
were really deslrou' that the fGoPIe should
select SG we'll as elect the ETGSlGent-.-