Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-07-06
Political Conventions.

N~A.~ ~ ~tAaNHHN NAaAAtN go rH'
the selection Of candidates ior of5ce. Usage.
IN this part Of the Couniry las sanciioaci
Conventions. IS a means % attain this end.
Mass conventions for this purposc in
sparsely settled country. or in The rurai dis
tricis. does not seem 20 be fair vay of
settling the claims Of rival candidates. FOR
tie resson. that there csn BE- bot Eitic
equality in representation. This Is, Jed 90
What = called delegated couvcniios-s. 4
convention based upon equal rcrresentr-
ton. through a certain nurnler OF dcleraics.
fairly apPortioned among the diaercni
cities. touns and piantafioas IN the District.
a The proceedings. prehminary Ard subse-
quent are all free from irregularities AMI
fraud a. a practical method of selecting
candidates. But lake almost e,crs thing
else. the convention system - liable TO b.
abGsed and Prosiituied % tie ,ilest pur-
poses. and vhcn this Is done. 70 becomes
gigantic engine Of fraud. 20 the hands OF
demsgoGues and political fortune hunters.
When political conventions cease honcsf-
y % rgseof re seHfirae1sts q tie pecpie. they
lose their potency With honorable men.
The basis 81 al nominating coavcntions are
the primary meetings. Tor tie cicytion Of
delegates. When the people take an in-
teress IN these meetings. ard attend them.
delegates - a general rule are chosen ~ho
viii correctly represent their constituents.
The tTouble Is. the people iu too NAM
cases are comparatively Indifferent and a.
a Necessary rcsuii, a few designing mcn
take the business into tbcir own hai,ti-. and
slaPc things to prono:c their own interests
and not that Of the peor,c. The cousc-
quences are seen IN delegations in our Goa
yeutions, eutrrely unisrrp presenting IRE mu-
inequalities. from whom they held ticir crc-
deuiials. and setting thc viu ofthe people
they orgf truly 20 rrprrscat az defiance
These are not solitary cases but aif--c'Lcr
too common IN al or convcrfi.rs.
Thea agsin. there Is a sysie-a af .ats,ita-
tion Of delegates grown % uriin f.v
years. which thoush Originally irae-ersf-I
wnh the bet Intentions las been u.c.t
shamefaiiy abused. A. ~ have ODD t.acs
past bad OCCASION 20 remark. tac romiaa-
ton for Governor in the rvpubiican Stafe
Convention in IS6e Wa cEr.fel lv Ole ia-
trodociion az bogus. paper delegates Who
Appeared with credentials. from tosns ard
plantation. which bal never bad any prima-
~ neetirgs, had never chosen lc.r-afcs.
or autborizel any one % appear from them.
The convention - Bangor. che other day
ieu Of 20 The other extreme and By vote
forced through ~ very doabtiul manage
ment. Prohit tied al town. vho hsd ty vote
specially autbor.zcd their delegation Co GO
vacancies from rcprcscufaiion. unless iLcir
substitutes lived IN the county. There is
another evil abou; iLis matter. Which TIE
people only can recfily; ucy pernii too
many ctfoe holleTs 90 ct their names into
our nominating couveniions More cspec-
tally IN these times should tlis thins be
guarted against. when vc reject that
l.rre portion az this class s-e holding their
places under Andrew johnson. OE---
holders arc q sort 81 class b. fheuseive..
(makir- az doc allowance for honorable ex-
cepiions.) ard they are linked Together %
look oct for ti-aseires. L,aos '. rfv ral,-g~
comes FRS anl tie reor'cs Interests afrr-
wards They are iast al ml.A Interested
90 keep fi-1ss-lres cyl. a. they are to keep
erey to,fy e,s> ouf. Takiar tLe rrrutIcaa
party 9TH be- over~heini-- majority in
Name and a no-ninatian 81 tarfamolnf CO.
az eiectiou. voting is "a neie CEREMONY. a
nominal raiifeation q conventional pro-
ccedings This fact shows OBJ vital iu-ar-
tlnce of keeping o1r convention free from
all tricks. frauds ard dema-or.sn. And
no nan IN the party oarh' to D. afraid Dol
spesk out upon tli- sahirct Every BODY
knows there b. too mlcl political dishonesty
abroad IN fhc Lard and there is no place
where 90 10 more likely fo creep in. iaan az
o1r nominating convention. There is h-f
one remedy f1r irreg1iar. f-aal1i-nf nom
inations. end fhaf b. fo hoif fhen af che
polls. Tbs destroyed o. Oh lrmnc-a'i-
party IN Maine. lisa dcsnrrafc resort.
Doe thc terrible nafarc of tte disease .or.r-
times makes &C. Necessary 'o apply Gle rene
d. We make these rcrarks ri fhe abstract
uifh no special reference to a-s r1riruiar
conreniion. ard ue believe tiev -ere,f tie
seni.menfs of a large majority of fie r,rld-
lican party ia Name.
A rrrerf comes f-r-- oil. V.f r.t