Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-04-06

Ii continue not 10 matter Can any thing
pc more certain than that the republican
barty, fnding that it holds the balance Of
bower between two democrats ccntesting
br the same Office, win demand condi-
ions as the price Of its favor If this is
britain, is it unlikely that more than one
the eontesting democrats aforesaid will
Indignantly refuse to accept these condi-
lons ? Ts it not likely that both viii con-
der them or pretend to consider them
I'D that each will end by making the best
lrgain he can for himself or for his fac
TN? Hdman nature is very much the
SINE all ttN world over. and II would be
dacaIt TO shAx that the human nature rep
Scnted by pohlcians is less accessible to
I4'ga'ning and co,rurting influences than
'n' human nature Of the mass ofmankind.
Lead us not into .a..---a- 49, O--..'ssv auu
Keep as an overwhelming amulet in our
hearts and on our lips. The situation
have pictured above--a situation which
leaves the candidate without the support
or protection of his party and free in
large measure to shape his courses accord
ing to his personal intcrest-can. in my
Judgment. eventuatc only in the democrat
isation of the party and consequently in
its ultimate defeat in our county Be
sides, is it improbable that the Republic
cans, manipulating the secret leagues still
in our midst, and in view of the inevitable
divisions that viii result from the absence
of party action on our part, may sprfng at
the eleventh hour certain candidates Of
their ouH upon the county and carry them
to victory in consequence of our divis-
ions Is il unlikely that secret treaties,
offensive and defensive, may be formed
between the Republicans and some dem
ocratic candidates for public Office who
may thisk they have gloomy prospects Of
an election, the conditions being, that you
shall aid me and shall help youf II
we do not bold convention, win not the
republicans be in a condition to dictate
terms to almost every democratic eandi-
date who has democratic brother for an
But Conventions don't represent the
wishes Of democrats and aye managed by
a few wire ullors! Let us look this ae-
ensaton in the face. Under our present
convention system, each Of the six districts
into which the county is divided is cnti-
tied TO cast and casts ten votes in our
county Conventions. Each district Sc
lects by ballot, after due notice given,
the ten persons it wishes to represent il
IN the county Convention. Judges are
appointed to receive and count the ballots,
the polls are opened at 8 O'Clock in the
morning aad are closed at late hour in
the evening. and every democrat. resident
in the district, is eligible TO vote at this
election Can any party machinery be
imagined faircr than this to obtain true
representation Of democratic wishesl ]
think not But the wire-pullers will com
bine, drum up their friends and secure
the ten delegates they waut7 Unless they
arc coBnteraeted, what Is to prevent tho
same people from electing their candidate
by the same means at the election author.
ICED by law, and is it not as easy 10 coun-
teract them. so far as democrats are con-
cernod at the one election as at the other 7
The truth is. an active popular man who
makes a study and business of politics
is always in 4 position TO combine and
drum up with effect. whether it be at
party or at an election fixed by law. II
is idle, therefore, to object to Conventions
because they are IN large measure control
led by politiciaus--politicians also control
at other popular elections--and the instru-
ments Of their power in both cases are the
people themselves.
But sappose you nominate, what secur-
ity have you that sn influential section Of
your party viii not fly off. make contracts
with the Republicans as the Boilers few
off in 80 and made common cause with
the Know Nothings to defeat the nominees
of your party? | regard this as the weak
point IN the situation and | am satisfied
that ii rs the reason why some Of our poll
iticians, who imagine that they have sor-
ry prospects of success TitHiH the demo-
cratic lines, have been talking off" on
the subject of a Convention. | take it
that the remedy for this prospective dieser-
ton is to be found I'm the hands Of demo
Gratis themselves. Let every democrat
who has the integrity aud future welfare
of his party at heart attend at the primary
district elections and cast his vote with
the determination to stand by the choice
of his party, whoever it may be, and to
make bitter war upon every recusant pol.