Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-08-21

stdnuards oil orthodoxy, anu eApeNe " ~
turn to it. place in the larger machine an
other year without injury to its own WORK
ing. ur to that of the national organization
| And those who recognize the duty OF sus-
tanning the national party as a means 10
the welfare and prosperity Of the nation'
must (within the limitations which we nave
/ often stated and need not repeaD recog-
nize the duty of sustaining the component
part Of the great party, to which they oeions
Voter supposes the proper province Oh
the primary meeting to be to emoodY the
prevailing opinions of the party. True
The theory of the primary meeting Is, that
it j. composed solely OF members oil
the party, who are members OF the meeting
by virtue Of their membership of the
PARTY; that it is TO select men who embody
the principles of the party; and
that. a between two or more men
representing those principles. who NAV
be proposed, the fair choice OF the
majority shall govern the selection. This
theory, of course, supposes that when pre-
ferences differ, the majority will be on hand
to show that they are majority. If they
are too listlcss and neglecttul TO attend
the primary meeting. or if, like our CORES
pondent, they recognize no duty of attend
ing the primaries, those who do attend
have the power. and will commonly claim
the hight. To control the nomination. We
eco not say that this is the best possible sys-
ten. But it j. our present system; and TIL
some other Is adopted, it must be sus-
tair,d, or We drop into political chaos.
1t ia system which requires the presence
OF tine voters Of the party at the party
caucu~es and that attendance is douby
important in the Republican party of this
State. where anom.nation Is prOyerbially an
election. Hence We 80 often and so earnest
ly Lr.e the,otors to attend the caucuses,
10 ord,1 to give us the prevailing opinions
OF the party. expressed by the nomination
Of candidates wLoare the fair choice of the
majority Had there been such attendance
Of Republicans throughout this county, this
year. "Notcr" and those who agree with him
wound PERHAPS have had no desire to bolt
y t. the matter Of fact alluded to, our cor
respondent is in error No Democrat was
utnbar of or permitted to vote in the
Burlington convention. Plainly county
caucuSc~, ou the theory We have described,
are impracticable The nominations of a
county primary, such IL Voter considers
tie Essex convention q have been, would
be binding ON the party, only if all mem
berS OF the party were invited to it. OF
cour-, IL al. oranv where near all did their
duty and attended it., it would be too bulky
tor business. The Essex convention was
not meeting Of the Republican party
The success OF il, nominees would be a
serious blow to the Republican party The
bolt Enthusiastically gives life and hope to
the Democracy OF our county.
y To- the rest of d" Voters '' communica-
tiou. it seems hardly necessary to argue the
question whether or Eo support of the
prohihit1ry law constitutes all. OF all
worth saving or regarding, ui the Eepub-
lican platform We simply ask our cores
pordeut. if he would exclude from the
Republican party all who are not in favor
of that lax? Il aye. Dc is net "A Republican,
but something else lie would practically
destroy tine Republican party. II no-if
men OF varying ,ieH~ au HAT point are still,
as heretofore, 20 be permitted to vote
together at tie p,I,-. in support of Repub-
lica1~ principles and candidates, they must
also Doe permitted To- meet together in the
caucus. the Vote OF one must be as good as
of Tire uth,-. 10 thr selection Of candidates;
and the maj.rtS must rule. On no other
pIincip.r rin any party be sustained in this
country, And that the Republican party
be Sustained, Ne consider a. important to
the cause of temperance, a. of good govern
m,It 40 general.