The Van Buren press., 1874-03-10
VAN BuREN, ARxs., Feb %, ~.

carefully watched the course OF events, for the
past two or thee campaigns, can fail to have
noted one prominent fact and that is the per-
fec. organization of the Radical party. and
the utter want Of it in the Conservative party.
With their Leagues they have been enabled
to send information throughout the State
with telcgraphic speed. True. it may be said.
they had money and We were poor. but this
will not account for their success in distrb-
uting information altogether. Ii was their
thorough organization and unwavering obe-
diencc to the commands oftheir State Contra
Comiaittcc. They shrcwdly availed them
selves of the fact that many OF their voters
had Just emerged from condition In which
obedience was a chief characteristic. Having
already secured their affections, by an un-
warrantabe claim to having waged war sole
ly for their liberation. they changed their
subn,issiveness from former masters to party
leaders. and exacted the most implicit o5e-
dience. We should not forget that. it is wise
to learn from the enemy. and those who
would join In the coming crusade against cor
ruption and dishonesty In Office, mast make
up their minds to obey orders or experience
disaster. The best laid plan of battle must
come to naught, IL the rank and file and sub
ordinate officers refuse obedience. In war.
obedience and scipline often compensate for
disparity Of numbers; In politics. we must
have numbers also but their force may DO dis
sipated by Generalization and want Of
thorough discipline. The most approved plans
| lAfa ntx,st sts,, "a. Il
those who compose 1t, all desire to lead. Some
must pl,n while others must execute. And
while these who execute may not always
know. at once the ultimate object of the par
ticular movement requiring execution, yet
those who plan, must be men In whom the
people coniide implicitly, ana their recon-
men''a;0ns showla lie acted on without hesita-
tion or question. The pride Of Temporary sub
altcrns, in the political army. need not be
wounded by being called upon to act without
being fully advised ofthe object ofsuch action
The men who are put forward to lead the
campaign may attract more general atten.
ton and have their vanity gratificd by news
paper mention. but their respensi bility is in
| proportion To thctr eiera,ian and they alone
suffer the shame and ignominy OF failure.
There ia no more honor due their position.
than Is due to the workers in the ranks when
we view them from the stand point ofthe gen
eral good of the State. We have attempted
organization In Arkansas at the opening OF
all campaigns. Ii Is to be feared on good
and dcfcn.ble grounds, that we have nva-
riably begun at the wrong end. We have adj
vocated due obedience to the will of the peo-
pie. and yet we have always organized our
State Central Committee without consulting
the people. State Conventions, composed OF
delegates chosen to nomnally represent the
people. meet and select candidates upon " hose
fitness the people cannot pass, rs they do not
even know them, and assume the authority
to appoint Central Executive Committee
Now while it may be true, that no plan can
be hit upon to .obvatc the fret named diff
Guilty. yet 1t does seem to me, that we can get
a Central Executive Committee coming from
the people and not from large Conventions.
We all know that the committee is appointed
after the nominations are made and on the
eve of adjournment. when all Is confusion
and uproar, and the minds Of delegates, by
IDENTIFY az they should, upon such aD important
matter. 1t occurs to me that if we will be-
gin by taking the sense OF the people in the
first instance. as we profess 10 do. our COM
mittecs could bo composed of men in whom
the people would nnhesitatingly eonfde and
whose directions would be followed without
question Let me propose: First, that In
aar N in In nfA
a meeting be called. to be composed of all
who desire a change from corrupt to honest
officials whether formerly Democrats or for
mcrly Republicans. and that these meetings
choose three men IF the township. in whom
they can safely rely as honest, upright men,
to b. q Township Committee. Those who
compose these Township meetings are the
best judges in tn,o matter "a they are well ac-
qua!ntcd with each other. This cS.nmttee to
choose its chairman from its own number,
this chairman to be member of the Coun-
ty Central Committee. The County Central
Committee 10 choose its chairman, ((rom its
number,>. who shall be er-ogIcio member Of
the State Central Committee. This State
Genital Committee to organize by choosing
NS o"SN'o iiNi' no oNh uoug' cNCtHt lUc Sec
retary-the chairman and secretary to reside
at the State Capital And also select five per-
sons OF their number, the chairman of the
State Committee to be one, to be II Sub -Ex.
eciltive Committec-one to reside in South
ern, one In Eastern, one In Western and one
In Northern Arkansas rs near rs practicable
to the railroad lines communicating with Lit
tie Rock. Ordinary business could be trans
acted by this Sub Executive Committee,
each member OF which, outside Of Little Rock
or Pulaski county, should conhnc his field of
action to a designated number of Counties
1t may be objected. that this Is placing too
much power In the hands of a limited NUM-
ber, but let it be remembered that power
must be delegated as we caanot act en- r,asss
and the people have an eye to the fitness OF
the men who are to compose these commit
tees. when they choose the Township Conn
mittce. Let them elect no man unle,, they
can fully and entirely trust him, and In whom
they can conllde the right to select chairmen.
Ii this plan Is adopted. the Town. hips will be
promptly iniermed of any action of the state
Central Committee. through the member of
1t who Is chairman of the County Central
Committee, as that committee l., composed of
the chairman Of their Township Committees.
We have all felt the want of promptness in
communicating information, and it seems to