The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-04-03
Political

we had the power of making the one,
upon which we are about to enter, "short,
sharp and decisive we would gladly
do it. How to go about this in a man
ner that will give US a short canvass and
at the same time keep US we'll up with
the radicals, is the question to which the
anti>radical element in Tennessee has
at present to address itself There is
enough of this element in the State to
overwhelm the radicals in the November
election, if properly organized. If we
are to spend the precious days of the
canvass, be it long or short, in quarrel>
ling about minor points of candidates
from a personal stand point, it will be
no hard matter for a we'll organized OPP
position, although in the minority, to
reap success at the polls. We shall labor
to avoid the experience of 1872 as one
Of folly and madness. How is this to
be done2 We answer, that thorough orr
ganization from the civil districts up is
the only road to success. We do not
advise that immediate active steps be
taken towards this for the present, but
when the people are disposed to do it,
and think it best, We cannot see that
any harm can be done by it. Our obs
iect, then, is to elicit discussion in quiet
way among the people in order that
they may feel the better prepared to act
at the proper time. Quiet and thought
full consideration of any subject, politi-
cal or otherwise, is the first step that
leads to co operation that is to be fruit
full of good results. When the people
think proper, let them come together
in each civil district'and dispassionately
talk over among til emselVes the merits
of suitable candidates and the questions
that are likely to come up in the cars
vass. They can then select proper ex-
ponents of their sentiments to represent
them IN q county convention to be held
at some suitable time. At this conven4
ton, composed as it would be Of men
from every district in the county, and
good men too, whose duty it would be
to see that nothing of the "cut and
dried order be tolerated, good man
could be selected to represent the county
in the Legislature. At the same time
delegates could be chosen to represent
the county in a convention to select &
candidate for State Senator, and alec
delegates to a congressional convention
We are aware that many of our people
are opposed to conventions, aud we fire.
quently hear good men express an op'
position to them, but we have neVe
heard them suggest better method
We see from our exchanges that some o
the counties in this State propose to holC
primary elections for the purpose O
determining the claims of candidates
As to the two methods we think tn
convention system is far preferable an,
of the two the less likely to be abused
There were many things said in regar,
to conventions during the canvass Q
1872 and it is, therefore, no new ques
ton with the voters. With all the oh
ever urged against it, they were neve
: able to suggest one that could accom-
plish the object in view, viz; The de
feat of well organized opposition tha
= compassed every thing with a CONVEX
tion-an example from which the demo
o cratic or conservative, Tor whatever 20
t, choose to call it), element might learn
useful lesson. Admitting, then, its OF
jectlonable features, is the absence c
anything better, we are in favor of til
g convention system, properly and homes
, ly constituted And as intimated in thes
columns heretofore, even a convention
> If in our judgement it were manipulate
adversely to the interest of the real pee
h pie, could never secure our support.
B. We sometimes hear it said by thos
st who doubtless mean well, that there
: little difference in parties now and q
p things considered we are getting alor
r very we'll" Do those who entertai
D. such sentiments ever reflect upon ii
s. pitiable condition of the good people
= South Carolina, Louisiana and Mississi
pi? Let them consider the followi'
facts which cannot be controver te
: Taxable property in South Carolina h
fallen from S5OO,OOO,OO0 to sI75, 200. 90
and taxation has been increased fro
, 100000 to S2,500,OOo. The Peep
have to pay about twenty times as mut
y for the support of the State government
s. before the war. 1t has been shown
ID Charles Gayarre, the well known auth
sr of the history of Louisiana, that if Il
whole Of the property IN the State We