Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-04-29
CONFERENCES JUDGED BY THEIR RE
SUITS,

The Republican, sounding the note Of ptepa-
ration for the city election, i've months hence,
advises its readers that linen must meet to-
gether counsel together, after the manner of
= council OF war; before a battle 1t insists that
to go into the contest without plans well laid
and schemes well dgested is 'the grandest piece
of fool-hardiness. 1t argues that whether this
concert of action be ''called caucus, or the
meeting of Ring, or a conclaye OF wire-pul-
ers, it is still as needful. to party as the sun
shine, aud air, and dews of Heaven are to
growing plant
Barring the exuberance OF this last rhetoric,
and reserving the possibility that the injecting
of Ring" may not be sunshine to the public in
terests, nor the pulling of wires certain to bring
down the dews of Heaven on the community, it
is certain that all men, Republicans, Democrats,
Independents, Trimmers, men with no politics,
have the right to confer together-eyen to hold
political Council OF War. 1t is an inalienable
belonging OF their citizenship The right OF the
people peaceably to assemble ID guaranteed. in the
Constitution. The argument Of the Republican
in defence of its exercise Is superfuous. The
subject that interests the public in sucn connec-
ton is the result OF the caueusing. II it be to
put forward the best men for office, men whose
fitness has be EN- demonstrated and whose integ-
rity is known, then the caucus has been good
one it justifes itself. That conference Of eti-
zens which brings forth good fruit, in the true
service of the public interests, needs no de
fence.
But. on the other hand, conclaves and Rings
have been known to 'set up Jobs, to fix
'slates, to foresta the legitimate action of the
people. Corrupting the public service. they
have been the source of innumerable ills and
scandalous injuries. After they have been Sc
cretly at work for long period, it ls some
times discovered that their whole effort has been
to put men into place, who by the free exercise
OF the popular Judgment would never get
there to serve themselves and not the pub
lie; to promote private interests, to fill their
own purses, and feather thhir own nests at the
expense Of the community. Such things, We
say, have been seen. They are justly offensive.
They will not be endured by free, intelligent
community, and the caucus, or conclaYe, or Ring
that brings them forth will not be tolerated.
Public disgust in this country has never been
more strongly expressed than at the Infamous
corruptons Of municipal rings, and it will be
All evil day for popular government when such
corruptions cease to excite the peoples wrath.
To what result, then, does the ReI'bicais
advice tend What does it propose? Is its
conference, or caucus, or conclave, or Ring, to
bring forth the best candidates, or to set uE
candidates whom the people, OF their own mo-
ton, would not choose What sort of water
clear and limpid, or foul and odorous--is this
Jug to pour forth BY its outcome it ought tc
be and will be judged. The people are ready
to hear good suggestions, and the Republican
voters of Wilmington desire to harmonize and
unite but they will be disappointed and iudig-
nant If, after all the urgent calls to organize
and to confer together, the outcome is veal
and offensive ticket.