The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-12
Conventions and Caucuses.


lowing editorial on the usual way of
nominating candidates:
We arc on the eve of q great
change in that important part of our
political machinery, the nomination
of men for the Presidency. Candi-
dates who are merely the results of
party bargains-who owe their promi-
nence to the greater or less strength
of this or that clique in some set
assemblage of huckstering politi-
cians-who are the accidents of a
political condition, and represent
only the compromises and cheats of
party strife-such men can no LONGER
be accepted by the country, rs rally
ing points for the expression of the
popular purpose on great questions.
or as the deliberate selections of the
national will for the highest place in
the gift of the people.
Washington was nominated for
first President by the acclamation of
the country-the spontaneous express
sion OF every part of the people; and
that was case in which there could
be no doubt who should be advanced
to the first political dignity. But in
subsequent elections, as no man was
SO definitely the representative of the
national ideas-as differences on
points of policy began to originate
parties, tho parties were put to choos
ing from their leaders the best tvpe
OF themselves and ablest defender of
their principles. Caucuses of Con
gressmen were the first machinery
for thus settling n party choice; and
these caucuses acted with compare
tive honesty; for the men they put in
nomination-all our early Presidents
were strictly typical of the great
divisions of national thought, and
were also men of high character
men who had achieved distinction for
ability and worth.
But from the caucuses this work Of
organizing the people for elections
fell into the hands of conventions as
they exist at the present time. In
these bodies originated the corrup-
tlon OF the country that now appals
the people. Decentralization, begin
ming there, spread into all parts of
our political system, until honor and
honesty are no longer regarded rs
having any association with politics,
and votes and Offices are bought as
openly and unblushingly, with rs
little sense Of shame in the transac-
ton, rs though they were fish in the
market. Conventions began by cheat
ing the people they We're chosen to
act for-putting up second and third
rate men, with whom they could
make terms, rather than great lead
ers, who would not stoop to tread tho
devious ways of corruption. Thus
some of the great men of our history
have been shut out of the Presi-
dency, and that high place has been
filled by others absolutely unworthy
such honor. How large share this
fact has had i'll causing our present
troubles, every man who will think
can see for himself. Finding how
complete was their party control,
these conventions ran riot with their
trading, and this degraded the per-
Sonnel Of tho conventions. They are
now made up of men to whom the
places arc accorded rs so much pro-
perty. Every vote is sold, if not for
money, for office. and no politician
dare so insult common sense as to
pretend that these bodies represent
any respectable l,ortion of the people.
VIII the people, then, any longer
consent to be disgraccd by tho exist
encc of these self-constituted bodies
of political buyers and sellers? Evi-
IDENTITY not. Conventions are repu-
dated by the national intelligence.
Such organization Of the people,
good enough in its origin, is no longer
necessary. Through the press, the
telegraph and the railroad, commune
cation is now so rapid and constant,
the transmission of ideas is so easy,
that the people can come to an under
Standing without any such interme-
diarv bodies. If mass meeting of
the respectable men of New York
express their preference for Grant,
the fact will be known over the whole
country the next day, and other
cities will take action for or against,
as their Judgment may dictate. Choice
by the mass of the people, not by
representatives, must determine for
the future the great question Of nomi-
nations. Time is ripe for it; the
press affords the means of intercom-
munication, and by this means the
people must throw of the yoke of
so-called leaders and cease to be the
property, the political chattels, of
Sclf-cOnStitutoQ conventions