Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-07
TIE RrrHERroRD MOVE.

control their own affairs they must
emulate the industry of the ofice-seek-
ers. Speaking of the primary election
proposed by the candidates meeting
mentioned in these columns yesterday,
he states that all qualified voters under
State laws are expected to participate.
whether they be Radicals or Democrats.
His presentation Of thereasons for thus
allowing the enemy voice in selecting
our candidates, shows the difficulties of
the primary election plan in the
absence of preliminary organization.
1t seems to us that the plan portrayed
would practically give the choice of
candidates to the enemy. They are
wei organized. and by massing their
votes on the least available candidate,
could force the weakest man on our
party, making odious both the Democ-
racy and the primary election plan.
1t may be difficult to draw the line
with regard to the floating vote and
contingent converts" but we think it
plain enough that open and we'll
known Radicals should be permitted
no voice IN the selection of opposing
candidates. But this is not the most
serious feature Of it. The people are
presumed to be at liberty to vote for
other and entirely new men, if none Of
the candidates agreeing to this
primary election suit them. Of
course the candidates meeting
Of last Monday could not declare the
entries for the race closed, and they did
not do SO. We noted yesterday that
there were eighteen aspirants for sim
gle Office, and our correspondent assures
us they are all Democrats. Now, if
all the Radicals have a voice, while the
Democratic vote is scattered among
eighteen aspirants, we do not see what
Is to prevent the Radicals from concen-
trating on a new candidate of their
own, and forcing him on the Democracy
as beingselected overwhelmingly by our
own proposed method of selection! We
are told that the vote between the two
parties in Rutherford is rather close,
and hence the greater risk of such I'M
fortunate contingencies. We suggest
these possibilities for the consideration
! of other counties as well as Ruther-
ford, believing that the people of each
are the most capable Of determining
their own modes Of action. We fully
appreciate how it may be argued in
favor of a primary election open to all.
that it would secure minority repre-
sentation. But minority representa-
ton has not yet been Incorporated into
our State Constitution. We live under
the rule of the majority, unquali-
fed. Our political organization
should assimilate to the organic law.
As we have seen above, the minority
may conspire to beat the divided ma
jority in a primary election, just as they
can in a regular election. But the prop
osition of the candidates is not a final.
ity. They submit it to the people. A
mass convention has been called, and
our correspondent assures Us that the
people are Determined Uu the question
Of organizing for the enforcement OF
their wishes.
Since writing the above, the Muir.
.ireeSboro NelrS of March is to hand
The Nelc8 thinks thecandidatesfelt they
were doing the best they could, but pro-
tests in conciliatory way against any
action on their part. From converse
tons with candidates it is satisfied
they intended no infringement Of the
peoples rights, but the question of the
mode of selection belongs exclusively
to the people. The contrariety Of opin-
ion about the feasibility of a primary
election must be decided by the people
alone. 1t argues that candidates, above
all others, should desire harmony, as,
withoutit, not oneof them can beelected
The grand army of defeated aspirants,
who must proponderate on any plan Of
selection, should abide whatever mode
the people settle on. 1t promises its
hearty support of the primary election
plan and its resultant standard bear
ers, if adopted, but remarks:
"For ourselves, we decidedly prefer
a convention, believing it to be less
trouble to the people, that it gets a
fairer expression of the people, pro-
vided it is honestly conducted, and the
same proviso viii apply with equal
force to a primary election, and that
it secures better organization and har-
mony in the party. We make no pre-
tentions to infallibility, nor do we
mean to be dictatOrial, but We shall
continue to urge it upon the people
that the convention system is the bet
ter plan, and that the people mot the
candidates shall settle the question.
Politics are very lively in the ad-
joining county of Rutherford just now.
And the best sign of healthy reaction
4 Il II !