The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-09-09
PRIMARY MEETINGS.

PRIMARY MEETINGS.
1t is unfortunate, perhaps, that in the
machinery of our political system, primary
meetings and nominating conventions
should be necessary, but we seem to DC I'M
able to rid ourselves of them. 1t is deemed
necessary to produce concert OF action IN
some way, that the complete voting strength
of the party may be concentrated on one
man as representing the party Inc ola
system of congressional and legislative
caucuses, to certain extent, answered the
purposc better than our present different
GRADES of primary meetings, but they were
Objectionable, both because il was placing
100 much power in their hands and because
they acted away and distant from the inllu-
cncc of their immediate constituents. 1t
conferred too much power, for ii not only
placed in the hands of our Legislators the
duty of making our laws. but, also. entrtst-
M them with the power of naming all of
our officers. Looking back to those days.
il will be seen that the members of the
state legislature virtually nominated every
state and town officer, except themselves.
"a well as the representatives in both branch.
- of Congress, while the latter delegation
nominated the President and Nicc-PrcSi-
dent, for whom the people. in accordance
with their several political proclivitieS. were
expected dutifully to vote. As AT present
arranged, the voters are supposed to have
something more 10 say about it, but the
truth would, probably. he found to he they
have less These caucus"s and conventions
might lie disposed of lay = general election
held by authority of law, hut nj which no
election should actually be made at this
Time, however certain number oil cand-
dates receiving the larger number of votes
10 BE- the only persons to be voted for at the
second and final election. We formerly
had laws in some of the states, in refer
cncc to the election Of members Of Con-
gross. which were somewhat similar to this.
and in our presidential elections. where the
people fail to make a choice. only limited
number of candidates can be presented TO
Congress from whom to select. such a
course, however, probably never can
or will be adopted. II would take too
much time, and be too expensive, and might
not, after all, prevent caucusng, concert
of action and corrupt combinations
But we must take things as they are.
These caucuses and primary meetings are
ar cpa,,, 10 Ia a fxnd ;potitrt;n, url,,,. q, .,
supposed to-and should, in fact-repie
sent the views of the majority of the party
in whose interests they are called. If they
fail to do this they are sham and fraud
This subject has been brought into prom
nence at this time, not only by the Butler
campaign in Massachusetts, but, also, 10y
the action of the republican state commit
tee of New York. Who have the right t.
attend and participate in republican eau
-'---- 'r-'-~~~.r -'." TIA oirosiion-- qnA ti.'
the primary meetings of any and all othc
parties. The answer would seem, clearly
to be republicans, and only republicans
The New York state committee, however
declare that no man shall participate unles
he voted the republican ticket at the las
election. Is the party, then, close cor
poration to which no new members ar,
to be admitted? Are we to say to thosc
gentlemen who, having seen the errcrs OF
their ways, desire to act and vote with tht
republican party hereafter, gentlemen yor
may vote for our candidates, but YOU ca,
take no part in nominating the candidates
Ii our memory does not greatly fail us
this same committee, less than year ago
joyfully received recruits to full fellow
ship and without probation. To the othel
extreme have the Butler men Of Massa
chusetts gone. In many cases, they have
declared that all residents without regard tt
politics-and without much regard to arc
even-could and should come in, partic
pate and vote. 1t requires no argument &c
show that both of these extremes arc
wrong. Who then shall participate in a
republican caucus? The answer is. as VIC
have said, only republicans. But what is
the test? 1t seems to us that Mr.. HYDE.
IN one of the Springfield, Massachusetts.
caucuses, put this right when he said the
mans own conscience was the test. and if
resident citizen offered his vote with the
declaration that he was a republican, that
ended the matter. So long az we have eau
cuses this can be the only test. With this
test, very few persons will be found vot-
ing after challenge, unless they have the
moral right so to do. Better so, than shut
out all new corners by the one rule and
open the fioodgate by the other.