The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-05-22
a Few Political Notions

We believe that the anti~radicals Of
Tennessee have seen the folly of creating
divisions in their ranks by personal
preferences for men, and will henceforth
unite 10 conventions for the purpose of
electing only those. men to Office who
entertain real conservative views We
think that this is we'll, and shall advo-
cato the convention system until some
other plan is suggested, which we think
better to accomplish the end in view
viz: to prevent more than one candi~
dates rur ming for the same Office when
it would result in the election Of rad
zeal. Other methods have been tried
| by some Of the counties with not very
| satisfactory results, and the present is
no time for US to introduce novelties,
or plans to which our people are un-
accustomed. There are objections to the
manner in which conventions are some-
| times conducted, but this even can be
no argument against the system, if the
! people would take more interest in them
and attend them in large numbers, for
! they would thus be able to correct the
abuses practiced sometimes by q few
selfish maniPuiators We should like
for those, who so persistently object to
conventions, to attend those of their
party which will be held within
the next few months and make
such suggestions as will tend to remove
the evils complained of If there are
faults in the system or in the manage
ment of conventions, the only true way
to remove the faults is, for the people
TO be largely represented in them by
delegates whose duty it is to pro-
test against anything therein which they
think will not be acceptable to the great
body Of their party. We presume that
there will be conventions to nominate
candidates for all the Offices to be filed
at the November election, and we shall
perhaps have individual preferences
among the aspirants for the various POI
sitions, but we shall ever be ready to
adhere to the action of a properly cons
stituted assembly of the party, and shall
oheerfulIy support ITS nominees. All
personal considerations must be sunk
in the n ovember elections if we expect to
ront the radicals at the polls. 1t is their
policy to divide US on minor questions
in order to secure an easy victory for
themselves. Ia fact we might learn q
valuable lesson by studying the tactics
Ofthe radicals in this regard for thci Z
success in Tennessee, since the franchi sc
was restored to the white people of the
State, can only be accounted for in this
way. They have, with few exceptions,
only succeeded in conservative districts
by watching the chances of striking al
} a divided opposition. If our exchanges
J from which we get our information, are
not at fault, the districts and localities
which have heretofore elected radicals
by having more than one conservative
or democratic candidate, are the very
foremost in taking STEPS for the thorough
organization Of the democratic and con-
sentative elements upon such basis al
will enable them 70 present a solid front &
their opponents in the coming elections
This is a hopeful sign and We shall d.
all in our power to have cur people
parsue the same methods. ." In unior
there is strength" no less in politics
! than in war. We must act upon thi:
principle, if we expect to succeed in the
campaign OF this year, without regard to
the welfare Of individual aspiran.s