The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-09-23
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| TYorH eleetioHis chosoS 81 sno p9Sans
golldHs that spch is alyaSe ideHof q
Rfin>ary eiectiSn. IT ifs tine baf every
|Dopt tlar election is or shonfd 81 fAH Axefs
|nise the popular ehoiue3 hra III Rep
llresentative goyernmentj In tkS6ty nt
least, implies both freedom Sahd latitude
Of selection. This, iioysyers sesns 90
be the aim Of party mActinefy tos OBJ
strnct, defeat, restrict within the harrow:
est possible bounds, If not to exclude al
together. In France, the freedom OF
eleotinns. signi6ed, antiivery lately, the
liberty, of voting for the candidate whom
the Government thought proper to no.
minater With US; it generally signifies
the liberty Of voting for the candidates
whom the politicians sec proper TO nomi-
nate. When the present French Empe-
ror thought it desirable that his title to
the purple should be confirmed by the
popular voice, the ballots were inscribed
rally the privilege Of choice between
two candidates. But the privilege ordi-
narily extends no further. Neither can
didate may be to the voters liking; both
may be positively objectionable to him.
There is no alternative, however, but
that OF not voting at all, or OF .'throw-
ing away" his vote by casting it for some
thiro person who has no earthly chance
of being elected. His freedom of elec-
tion is, therefore, narrowed down to q
choice of evils. This is the result of
that party despotism which practically
restricts the popular choice to the candi-
dates put forward by the party conven-
tions. This, however, would not be 80
bad if the conventions themselves were
free and untrammeled in their action; if
they were in fact the deliberative bodies
that in theory they are supposed to be.
Like the electoral colleges, which, in the
Constitution of the United States, were
designed to be deliberative assemblages,
but whose functions have grown to be
merely ministerial, the nominating con-
ventions, made up for the most part Of
pledged delegates, merely meet to record
the result of the primary elections. 1t
has been doubted whether, under present
circumstances, the electoral college might
not as we'll be abolished. With much
greater reason may the machinery of
party conventions, in many instances,
especially of local Offices, be dispensed
with. If the people voted directly for
the candidates whom they wished nomi-
mated, instead of for delegates, there
would be far less room for manage
ueEc hnu AutIt6uo' 1uSIe Wouiu DC
no packing of conventions if there were
no conventions held. AS it is, voters
who attend the primary meetings of their
party usually find their choice as much
restricted as at the more formal public
election subsequently held. The tickets,
with the delegates names inscribed, are
prepared beforehand by the politicians,
who assume to forestall the action of the
party and to parcel out the Offices to be
filled at their own good pleasure. The
people are merely called in to give to
what is done the semblance of being
done by their consent. It is the politi-
cians, after all, and those of the smaller
and baser sort, who delight and take
pride in the successful manipulation of
ward meetings, who WELD the power
which in theory belongs to the people.
Hence follows most Of the corruptions
which disgrace our politics, the nomina-
ton of bad men for Office, and the inevi-
table consequences which flow from hav-
ing bad, weak, or incompetent men in
office. How shall the evil be remedied?
Only by resolutely resisting and rebuk-
ing the attempts of professional" at
dictation..
These remarks are general, and apply
to all future time. >+Aslong as the CON
vention System Is resorted to; the only
possible chance of avoiding or even mo-
difying the evil results is for every voter
to attend the primary meetings, as it is
both his interest and. duty to do He
will thus take part in making the tickets,
and not merely endorse when the prima.
ry election comes land which all should
attend) the action of self.constituted
managers by accepting, without q pro-
test, the candidates whom they may pre-
sent If then he doesn't like the tickets
which he will find printed ready to his
hand, let him make one to suit himself
If he is opposed to pledged delegates,
let him vote for those who are un-
pledged, But the more practicable and
efficient mode appears to be that de-
scribed in the article headed Purifying
Nominations" which we published yes
terday, from q Pennsylvania paper,
showing how successful has been the
system of "those belonging to party
voting at stated polls directly for the
candidates, instead of voting for dele
gates in convention to nominate for
them the candidates.. In Crawford,
Lancaster and other Counties, full
tickets, entirely in accordance with the
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