Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-07-02
The Primary Meetings Again.

we again remind the Democrats of the
Importance of attending the primary cleo
tions on the 10th instant If we wish that
our State should be free from the control
of rings-that bane of parties-thc people
must attend these elections. If they fail
In this few men in each district will reg
ulate things so that the subsequent action
ola Convention will be farce What is
wanted now is Convention composed of
delegates free and untrammelled, who,
consulting together, will SO act as to reflect
the general sentiment of the people of the
| county. If that sentiment is decidedly in
hyor of the nomination of any one of the
kcaMufates named then it is the right of the
Convention to express that preference, eth
er by resolution or by the selection of gen.
tlemen who will reflect the sentiments of the
body by which they are delegated. We have
generally been averse to the expression
of preference by resolution for the sim
pie reason that it was calculated to tram
mel the actions of the delegates, who ought
not to be entrusted with their delicate du-
ties unless every confidence is reposed in
them. In fact, ever since a scene which
transpired here some years since, we have
had decided prejudice to this mode of
expressing an opinion. On that occasion
the County Convention was almost, if not
entirely, unanimous in its preference for a
citizen of this county for distinguished
position and adopted resolution strong
ly expressing that preference. The gen.
tleman named being called on, returned
his thanks for the Partially thus manifest
ed. and asked as test of the sincerity of
the feeling expressed in the resolution
that he be allowed to name the three
delegates from this county to the nominal
ing Convention. This proposition startled
some of those to whom it was made and
was most strenuously objected to as being
bad in every way, besides making the body
appear very ridiculous. But the mass OF
the Convention could not or would not
escape from the logic of the proverb, that
Nthe proof of the pudding is in eating the
bag" so they swallowed the bag at one
big gulp and the aspirant presented three
names which were duly ratified by the
sympathetic, but we believe disguised
Convention. Now if the approaching as
semblage should adopt resolution ex-
pressing a preference for any one person,
doubtless some kind friend, acting in be-
half of his absent chief, would claim that
to be consistent and also to follow prece-
-a.-&s,- k1->- .11;-es hAes-ahanla -hA-asain
eaten, and as much as our party has been
purified be detection there might be some
trouble about it. So we think it best to
run no risk, but to select men who have
no personal ends to subserye, whether it
be to obtain office or retain it for them
selves or others. If we do this we will be
using very important precaution to-
wards preventing the Convention from be-
inc used in the interest of any one man or
set of men for selfish purposes. But all
this brings us back to where we started
from. and that is: that the only way to do
what ought to be done is for the people
to attend the primary meetings and send
down here delegates who will not ''eat
crow, at the behest Of anybody.