Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-06-22

ganixasion. Apprcciating the sitaatior.-
a1d the uumistxkablc demands Of the pop
uiar voice, the Central COMMITTEES of this
county acted promptly. and Il win not be
denied that they acted in strict conformi-
sytoparty preccdenrand Democraticusaye.
Their call has already been for four weeks
before the people. action under it has made
considerable progress. and the democracy
Of every district in the county hare mani
tested an earnest disposition to obey its
demsnds and respect its recommendations.
If harmony and unity. therefore. are the
objects to be sought. Why disturb MS with
this Crawford SYSTEM Is IL. Is you sug-
gest in your excellent article Of last week,
that the larger districts seek more porer !;
and. to that end. would emasculate the
smaller by new system" Of representa-
ton ? Or is it that the particular inseress
Of seine particular indiridsal demands that
this ill-timcd innovation should be made
upon the established usage Of the party ?
Some such unworthy motive is logical
sequiter to the position Of your correspou-
dents. and the people Of this and the 9th
er small districts will never consent to be
shorn Of moiety Of their representative
strength. to sustain = system which is ev-
identity the offspring ofilliberality and sell
6shuess. and whose only hopes for success
rest upon unbccoming appeals to the
thoughtless and unwary.
But there are more immediate obicc-
tons to the position Of your correspondents
and which are conclusive to the writer
against the views they advance. Their
proposition makes . direct issue with the
call Of the Central Committee of the coun-
ty. and comes in direct conflict with the
ancient and accepted usages Of our party.
1t divides and distracts our forces in the
face Of a we'll organized and vigilant enc
my. and must necessarily diminish our
chances for success. 1t diverts US from a
common cause aud common banner to
narrower and less material issues, and
cannot fail to disturb that general harmo-
ny of action which shielded US from de-
feat in our last political contest 1t will
create temporary division. at least,
among party leaders and their followers,
and engender feuds which will survive the
legitimate subject of their origin, and be-
come dangerous barriers to our final sue
cess. 1t encourages decentralization. by
providing a pro.racted period for active
elcctioncering. and compells candidates
for Office to devote their time and energies
to a canvass rithin the party. instead Of
uniting them. to man, against the COM
mon enemy. 1t forces candidates for Of
fee to undergo the labor and expense Of
seeking 'co instead Of one popular cleo
ton, and demands that the defeated and
impoverished aspirant, at the close of Sum-
mer. shall labor zcalously through the
Fall for his more fortunate competitor.
To my mind. therefore, Mr.. Editor,
this Crawford plan cmbodies no new elc-
mcnt Of strength. but many of weakness,
and 1 discard it as inequitable in its
conception and demoralizing in its ten
dency. and as likely to lead to the
most damaging results to the Demo-
cratic party. 1t aims n direct blow
at the representative strength of the
smaller districts. whose voters have ever
been faithful. if few. to the cause Of de-
mocracy. The ungenerous spirit which
prompted the proposition Of your corrcs-
pondents may fnt its reward in personal
aggrandizement and increased centralized
power, but it will do so under the solemn
protest Of the democratic voters Of the
smaller districts. We shall not surren-
der what has been given US BY immemo-
rial usage. without struggle. and we shall
remember those for and against us in the
coming time.