The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-08
ity, or at least plurality of those who

ity, or at least a plurality of those who
choose to vote. Very true; but who are
they? Certainly among them are some of
the most faithful and intelligent Demo-
Gratis in the county; but is it not equally
true that the system gives undue advan-
tageto idlers about villages? Is itnot true
that many who live some distance from
the place of voting, Industrious men, who
are unwilling or unable to attend so many
elections during the year, are compelled
to leave the choosing of candidates to
others more fortunate or less Industrious?
While admitting that number of the
most intelligent members of the party at
tend these conventions, we ask, is the
average intelligence of the party repre-
sented in them? In all sincerity we sub.
nit that it is not. How would this be in
delegate conventions !? The delegates
would be selected from the most active,
honest and best informed, and would rep
resent more than the average intelligence
of the party.
Are the opportunities less in popular
vote convention for the tricks of design
ing men? If it is true that more than the
average intelligence of the party would
be found in delegate convention, and
less in a popular vote convention, this
would seem to be sufficient answer.
But there are other reasons equally con-
elusive The frauds generally practiced
in popular vote conventions would be OBJ
Waited by the delegate system, and those
common to both systems would be much
less effective in the latter. A falsebood
circulated derogatory to mans charac-
ter--,hat he was the favorite Of some
faction or clique--that he was unfit for
the oflice--that he was dishonest-o. any
Of the thousand stories against candi-
dates which often damage the candidate,
and the party also, at the eiectioD-while
these get circulation and credit where it
I is almost impossible to correct them in
popular vote convention, in the other they
could be investigated and corrected. On
the other hand, if the candidate should be
grossly immoral, dishonest, or otherwise un
fitted for the Office, charge to this effect
would not be set down as an "electioneering
story" and disbelieved, but could be much
more easily proven to convention of
delegates than to the masses of the par
ty scattered over all The hills and valleys
of the county.
III popular vote convention modest
merit too often has to yield to brawling
impudence. Many of the most upright
and capable men of the party are scarcely
known to the masses outside of their own
township, and are overlooked; while 9TH
ers with more assurance, and fewer scru-
dies, who possess the faculty Of "good
electioneerers." are vastly overratsd, and
too often succeed over better men. Dele
| gate conventions could to great extent
correct this evil, and bring out good men
who under the present system never can
be successful.
| Delegate conventions, by voting for
candidates for single office at time,
can prevent too many candidates from be.
ing selected from one portion of the coun-
ty to the exclusion of others; and thus
avoid the discomfort which often arises
from this cause. This will add strength
to the ticket, and draw out the voters in
all parts of the county.
Our senatorial district conventions, our
congressional district conventions, our
judicial district conventions, our State
conventions and our national conventions
are based upon tine delegate system. and
why not the county conventions?
This subject is by no means exhausted;
and we request Democrats from all parts
Of the county, whichever side of the ques-
tion they may take, to make their views
known, and have fair and full discussion
before the next meeting of the central
committee. Let the subject be thorough
ly Investigated and when one side is clear
ly shown to be in the right, the other will
submit without murmur.
For the Spirit of Democracy.
The Law of the Road.