The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1861-08-22
The Progress of the Canvass.

The Progress of the Canvass.
Trials and fluctuations have come upon our
democratic leaders But few weeks ago
they came out of our old Court House, hush-
ed with The honors of victory: now, they
NOPE about as though something had Bit them
and not friend remained to bid them good
cheer. Then the adoption of Delegate
System was triumph which spread a-smlle
of sweet complaisance over their rotund
counienances: now, dark clouds oyershadow
their brows, and they look upon the creature
of their own creating as a suspicious thing
a sort of internal machine, which may con-
tain the material to blow them sky high
Then the assurance was repeatedly, and with
the greatest hardihood, given, that in future
no man need expect county Office unless
nominated by so-called Democratic Conven-
tiun: now, the very grand masters in the
plot to fasten that CALLING yoke upon the
necks of The people walk along in dire trep-
idation, lest the system be made the means
ofcrushing all their best laid plans to fatten
at the public crib. 1t is sad to contemplate
the disappointment which popular opposition
TO the Delegate System has stamped upon the
counlena2ces of the leaders; and yet an outsi-
der cannot but laugh at the great difference
between their conduct then and noW; it is so
truly settler of the fact that circumstances
alter cases."
A casual glance at our advertising columns
will show something of the existence of this
state of things. Even the pleasant organ
grinder Of the democracy-the veritable
Squire hmself-the head and front of the at
tempted niquity-hesitates, in bis card, to
trust his aspirations for the Judicial En-
mine to the tender meTcies of a Delegate
Convention, as is customary in those coun-
lies where the system is sa i'd to work so beau
tlfully. We naturally look to see him offer
himself" subject to the decision of the Dem
ccrauc Convention butthere is no such thing
IN the card. Instead Of the open brrsqueness
which characterised his walk ard converse
ton about the time of the holding of our Nav |
Court, we have now exhibitions of corner
caucussings and button-hole conversations.-t
These tell. palmer than words could express
1t, that doubts as to the feasibility Of the |
plan are forcing themselves before his ewes. |
Whether the nomination could be secured |
Goes not appear to be the question; but wheth- |
a nomination would insure an election is |
question which looms up as Stumbling block
in the way.
There is moral in this state of things
which it would be well for the honest men
OF all parties to draw for themselves. They
VIII readily see that the leaders of the de-
mocracy only adopted the delegate system as
an easier stepping stone to place, and be-
ca ise 1t promised more ready control of the
official patronage Of the county if successful.
III was not TO promote principle, or to ad-
vance public interest, but simply to line the
pockets and minister to the ambition of those
who feel themselves born 10 rule, that the
measure was adopted at the May Court IF
this was not the case we should now have the
Democrat grinding most Justify for regular
nominations But as a nomination gives
most certain promise of defeat, and as our
nelgkbor S interests lies not in that way. the
system is tacltly admitted to be inexpedient
for the present, because the chances for the
jodgship are infinitely better # the people
are left untrammeled by tight party reins.
The conclusion is sensible one, and, at
the same time, establishes the fact that there
is some difference whether it is our own or
ouF heIghbor's OK that is to be gored.