The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-05-21

l O1ANcuNAOn or NO convention.
The only objection we have heard
urged against holding a convention the
Isl Monday in june is that the people
are opposed to it. Now we think this
isa mistake. We have assurances from
/ the country that twO-thirds Of the peo-
pie are in favor of it. If a majority of
the conservative party in the county is
not in favor Of making nominations for
the various county offices, of course no
true democrat VIII force It upon them.
A convention unsupported and INSANE
toned by the masses would be undemO-
cratic, arbitrary. Conventions are held
for the purpose OF harmonizing and
uniting conflicting elements and Opin-
ions, and unless It has the moral eOun-
tenanee and support of a majority, it
/ certainly fails to accomplish its pur-
pose. A Convention held against the
wishes of the people can have no har-
monizing effect, and the convention to
be held here the LIST of June viii be an
utter failure without the support of the
people. Its nominations will amount
to nothing unless they come forth as
the known and acknowledged choice of
majority. We therefore insist upon
an overwhelming expression at the pri-
mary meetings in favor of q united and
concentrated effort. Let delegates be
armed with instructions TO favor nOmi-
nations and who to support for each Of
flee. We learn that there win be a
powerful effort made by the opponents
of conventions to rally their fun
strength at the district meetings and
vote against nominations by the county
convention We do not believe they
can master sufficient strength to do this
if the friends of the party will rally as
they should do and exclude negroes and
radicals from the meetings. We think
it Important that the friends of the con-
ventiOn should meet at these primary
meetings and give unequivocal express
sion as to their wishes, not because
there is any doubt as to their wishes, |
but to deprive their Opponets of the on
ly argument they urge against the |
that "the people are OPP
posed to it." Let the convention be |
held and the nominations made under
this full and fair and upeauivOoal en-
dorsement of the people, and it at once |
disarms opposition and silenees erOak-
ers. But let the nominations be made |
without this expression from the peo-
pie, and what will be the result? The |
all remain-On the track, the |
cry still is, "the people are opposed to
it," and no good is accomplished. Our /
opinion is there had better be do con-
Yention than that there should be any
doubt as to the wishes of the majority
of the party. We should certainly OPP
pose the convention if held upon amy
other than a majority basis, and we be-
lieYe the friends of the convention all
agree with us on this point. We here
sqRiqin our suggestions made last week
as to the manner ia which the district
should be conducted, and we
guarantee that if all the districts will
adopt them in the right spirit, and
show that they mean to have nothing
bat a fair convention, and nominate no
body except he be the choice of ma
ority, that fopr-fifths of the party viii
endorse the action of the convention
and supprot the nominees. The fol-
lowing are the suggestions made by us
ast week:
District meetings should be held by
.he people of each district of the county
prior to the LIST Monday in June, to give
expression TO their choice for the va
-ious offices TO be filled. They should
meet and give expression to their wish
IS, whether they favor the convention
Or not. Should majority of the dis
riots oppose the convention then none
should be held, or at least no nominal
ions should be made. The wishes of
he majority should rule. However,
ct the primary meetings be held in
each district Saturday before the first
in June. The claims of each
lspirant should be fairly presented and
and then a fair election
should be held, each voter present be- 1
ng entitled tO-a ballot for each Office to
be filled-a majority vote of all present
being necessary to a choice. If there
should be no election the first ballot, let
the hindmOst man for each Office be
dropped, and so with the second and
third until an election is effected. By
his means a fair expression of the will
Of the people may be obtained. After
the result has been announced, the
Chair shOlld be empowered to appoint
delegates to the county convention with
to support the ticket adopt
Ell without regard to personal preference
until each of the nominees have been
either elected or dropped under the rule
Of the CONVENTION. We make this brief
suggestion of the plan for conducting
these primary meetings, believing that
It twill work effectually and harmOni-
Ously In ascertaining the wishes of the
people, if adopted by the districts.