Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-04
EOy.C0MMIrTAIIsM
The Alexandria Sentinel concludes late
cditorial rs follows:

The Alexandria Sentinel concludes lat
editorial as follows:
"!: orr iuls"o,' tia, the party vii! thrive be-,
and be-, meet the circumstances OF its position b;
:ciii>iu- - recognizes the question 0! ntcrvcm,iui
and Popular Sovereignty, br!ongin: 70 the Canvass
and pass!r. !; By, J.t As i viii pass 10y hUndtc,
v;hcr ah>'rHc' I!,'>t"G> o. each Of which we might
get rr quarrel j. We choose. Il is deeply 20 Toe
crcttrd ;:n; DISTINGUISHED men of UUr party should
have :Icr, fed themselves, on the one side or tho
other v!.h III, Issue. BIZ: the party cunnot afford
10 siii"r ~. Iisac, or 20 adopt their ULMccc,.
sary wrl'.ly-: ."d II they choose thus - render
Themselves unavailable rs leaders and incapable o!
Larnoa.H!.. .r l,.ces, II Will Fortunately ye. leave
Us y la7:" selection among those whose course In,
been re gclioc't and consdcrate, and under whom
We ~, H. rci "I.Cdly 10 u certain VICTORY
The >uos;aucr Of which is a Mum platform;
silent - death and non.committal upon the
only question aow agitating the country.
Fortunately, TIC country is not without cx.
pclicnrc III nor r"mmittal candidates and plat.
form,. Each Of tie great parties have within
their history tested the policy of noncommt-
taism. In i,l1 the Wig party was non.
ccmmitta! upon every subject there was no
phase Of party politics which did not number
its jr"s and r,., It's advocates and assailants
Snch policy won the temporary success of
Office, but The result upon the party was no,
Such Il, to recommend its imitation.
Within or. month the President was dead,
within ;wo 'nc i':ce President was damned and
the parry horclsEs!y split into factions. In
1915 the Democracy tried virtual noncom-
INITIAL pU!icy Gen. Cass was represented differ.
emily in carn section of the Union and defeat
was the portion Of the party. And yet with
the experience Of both parties, n matter Of
history, tli" "Scn,incl' advises the Democra-
cy to pass by" the great disturbing question
that now aZi.a;2s the country.
The 2r.a! mass o; the Democracy belong to
its organization because Of the principles they
presume the party 10 hold, and not because Of
its superior prospects of success; and when
oncc il i known that the platform Of the party
mas passed hv 4 great question without
ahirg any position with regard TO it, hun
lrcd> Yea, thousands Of the honest masses will
discover i'S hollow professions, and visit upon
Is candidate he r'i:>es Of the deceived upon /
he Gcccivcr..
But the "S"m,iuci'' advises the party not |
'nly 10 pass by the only question that now d.
'idcs al parties, but that distinguished men !
houd also &c laid aside, Both principles and .
lcu are to l." abandoned, and candidate as
eyo:d Of prominence as the Platform would be
+ principles. is expected TO rally the great
arty Of the nation. The unknown hero OF
ONE Congressional District, the man as equal
V destitute Of The abilities as he must be Of
he l"rUtsti"n ot statesman, could never
cad ~" nc!aocFacy 20 victory. \ shout Of /
erisom from the Atlantic to the Pacific would .
lal suc., nomination, and contempt and !
idiculc woG'i follow the party through. !
mt the canvass. Let the Sentinel then aban- |
lon il idea II passing by abstract questions !
nd distinguished men"
most distinguished men, ',nc vnc vrs,'n"O =" !
or integrity and >tatcsmanship; let it appeal .
0 the corutry upon an open avowa. OF primer /
les upon AZ! questions, and upon the national
,mc Of Is candidates. Popular intelligence,
he foundation of popular governments de
nard- platform OF broad and well defined
rinci;,lcs ai,d can,,ilatc whose reputation Is I
with the country, and limited
ot BY States mach less by Congressional Dis Z
ric,S. Ger only hope of success is through
he Intelligence Of the people. Let US not throw
way or he, rcyommcnda.on-a platform I
f Open prjuc,:.',, and = candidate Of we'll /
,nov,!l fame.