Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-10-31
ICOMMUNICATED.

PARTY UsAGE.-lt is not we'll for an aspl-
rant to abandon the usage which has made his
party powerful and victorious IN many contests,
10 crafty the imaginary wounds OF Il olsap-
pointed merit Each member Of party who
deems himself worthy Of the honor or capable
of fulfilling the duties of the office which he de-
sres to obtain, has indlspulable rlgh, to offer
his services to his fellow. citizens in such time
and manner as the fitness of surrounding cir
cumstances may meet the indications OF pro-
pricty. This, OF course, Is a personal and legal
privilege common 10 every citizen; but wheo
the name of member of party has been, by
his own consent, associated over and again
with given place of honor and trust. and his
claims 10 SUCH position, have been, by fair
and just examination, decided not preferable to
those of an equally worthy competitor. all the
feeling OF a vrtuous sense of true pride would
rot oUly prevent him from au attempt to show
opposition to such a preference on the part OF
his party but give him the impulse OF duty to
endorse or espUuse that choice As heartily as II
he had been himself the recipient OF the pref
erence. This is Il common clproclty whlcn
competitors OF the same party tor office before
the people owe 10 each other; aud II this mu.
tuaI submission Of the claims OF respective as
pirauts for Office did not obtain, party organi-
z.tion would be impossible Of either maintain
auce or endurance. The nomination OF can
didate by convention is the selection OF one
man' 5 name from the many that are proposed,
without desire to reflect demerit upon any
candidate, aud the delegates of the party who
make this selection have every reasonable
right to expect that such selection will be Gu
dorsed aud supported by the mass oflhe party
| which they We're appointed to represent. The
concentration OF votes OF the members of a
party in favor Of one candidate, is for the sole
purpose of sustaining identity aud individuality
! of party, and uulcSs this is done by deternn-
ed effort to support the nominee, the hopes OF
inducing an organization OF party tor the lucul-
cation aud maiDtaluance Of principles OF spcc-
fc and honorable action, Iaulsh, and dlsntc-
grafton Of the party is the result; and its dis
menberment not only entails destruction to the
ambition Of those who foster or Introduce a
want Of party, tca,y; but dimnutiou OF the
chances Of ever again uniting the party in Wig
orous efforts for the restoration ct former pres
tige and preduuinance. Nothing is so sure to
pll>h the defeat and subsequent democrat
IL lton OF party, as Tor portion OF Its mcln-
Lers to unite with an opposite party with the
express intention Of breaking down the noml-
nation of the party whose delegates III couvcu-
ton assembled, were entrusted with the high
duty of making that nomination. Therefore,
every member of the Conservative party is
bound by all the honorable usage of his party
to support Geu Hutton the nominee OF the
Alexandria Convention. There is no reason
why this should not be douc. There is not one
charge against him that is not ridiculous and
candidate who houors himself is worthy Of
the honor of his party. j.