The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-03-22
WILL TUr DEnO,RsTIT SowARDs
OY ii.i.tN1s> TAKE NOrtGE:

should h" held this year. one for the
purpose OF saying nothing and the other
for the purpose of saying what II may be-
told to say by the II. Louis convention
we ask the attention OF Democrats of this
description to the late outrageous bold
ness OF the Democratic party Of Rhode
Island.
\ few days ago. the Democratic party
of that state met in convention. and act
ually adopted a platform. the first para
graph of which declares Us follow, ::
1.-The Democracy of Rhode Island. now
in convention assembled, m risiC ~ tie
approaching Presi5sa'ioi e'sct.ot fact II
dos to their .fohor-Dcnoclufg ot the
Union, to sceiars Hei, poi,'ical ottituic."
Aud accordingly tho Democrats OF
Rhode Island frankly and honestly made
declaration of their position upon the
several political issues now agItating the
public mind.
In Illinois, the Democratic managers
manage matters better. Here We are
never guilty OF the indiscrctjon of bold
ness. We always ,raif-wait until the
Republicans have met ia convention.
wait until the Republicans lave adopt,d
. platform, wait until the Republicans
have nominated Il ticket. wait until the
independents have met in convention,
wait until every other political party has
gone before the people. Then we get to-
gcthcr in "a sly manner. tmidly declare
our belief, timidly nominate our ticket,
timidly return to our homes. timidly con
duct the canvass and timidly submit to
defeat. The only canvass in this State
during many years past in which there
was any gallanlry was the canvass OF
1874. In that there was n dash of bold
ness, and it resulted in an anti-Ralical leg
stature. But all the good effects of this
victory were dissipatcd bv the revival of
the policy of cowardicc which elected
Mr.. Haines Speaker of the House.
Just at this moment the Democratic
managers are organizing for a cowardly
canvass. They propose TO call a state
convention sometime in May and restrict
it, action TO the appointment of delegates
TO the ST. Louis June convention. After
the ST. I.ouis convention has done its
work. our managers propose TO call an
other State convention, and permit ii to
say what the 81. Louis convention has
SAID, and 10 nominate a ticket. In fact.
our manager. have agreed among them
selves, that the Democrats of Illinois
should. IN view OF the approaching Presi-
Dental election, not declare their polti-
cal attitudc-that they should,in justice to
their acknowledgements OF the Union. de.
clare by silence that they have no polti-
cal opinions and are willing TO shout
whatever they are directed to shout by
their fellow.Democra,s OF the other
States
We hope this cowarlly scheme may
not be successful. II itshould be-, little
Rhode Island will have more moral
strength in the National convention than
the great State of Illinois. Rhode Island
will be at least respected, but Illinois will
be, as she should he, regarded with Kind
of contempt that will hunilate her, if a
State guilty Of the meanncss OF no opin-
ion can be Inundated But the scheme
cannot-surely it cannot-bc successful,
If public attention is attracted 10 the
despicabe mcanuess that distinguishes
it. II, al the first convention, delegate
should offer resolution declaring, tina,
the Democracy OF Illinois, now in con,
vention assembled, in view OF the ap
preaching Presidential election, feel il
due to their fellow Democrats OF the
Union TO declare their political attitude
would any gentleman who is now advo
eating the tWo-conventions dodge, arts,
and say: "Plcasc don't. lou are spelling
things. therefore move to amend st
'as to make the resolution read, tina
the Democracy OF Illinois, now in con
'vention assembled, in view of the ap
preaching national Democratic convcn
ton, are afraid to declare their politic;l
attitude, and hereby refuse 10 say any
thing. Resolved, that our delegates I,
| 'thc national convention are instructc,
to- represent in that convention
tho political views Of the DcmoC
tracy Of this State, it they kno'
lul,nt ~. a b..
do not to guess at them ' The ma
who would do thi., would be hootc
down; but il the two-conventiuns doda
means anything, it means that. at Il
first convention, nothing shall be ,a
about the latitude" Of the Illinois u
2 mocracy,
, Probably the gentleman vino la, tn
o matter in hand will not insist upon
Maybe Mr., Ell. l., Merritt, OF the STA
Register, who controls the State ccntr
, committee, AMI who i the suggester
. the "Iet us therefore wait" policy, wi
e not insist upon not permitting dccla
. alton OF Democratic opinion on an
/ question in Illinois until after the NEE
Ing OF the st, Louis convention. "
hope lac will reconsider hi, determine
ton to gag his party. We will submit
We believe we will--It he succeed in co,
Z. yeying Us over TO the kcwanccitc,, but |
must permit Us to be little restless N
der the policy Of enforced silence. 81
if Mr. Merritt will not take his hand o
the party's mouth, we beg Hon. Wn