The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-02
VOL. IT,.
THE TRUE DOCTRINE.

paign which will very soon be opened up, admonishes us that it is time to begin to arrange prelim- inaries and come to a full and far understanding. We do not know that we can express our senti ments any plainer to our readers, or more satisfactory to ourselves, or, that we can promulgate any sounder Democratic principles and accompany it with any better advice, than to give it in the words of the following article from the Monticellonian:
 There is no journal in the state that is more bitterly opposed to rings" than ours. We are down on them in whatever shape they may assume, and think that it is the duty of the people to dissolve all such formations by bold and persistent stand; but for the peo- ple to bolt the action of the Dem ocratic state nominating conven- tion would be ruinous in the ex treme. 1t would create breach in the party which would over whelm us in disastrous defeat. Suppose that every county in tho state were to send up delegation of it's best men to cast the party vote for a man for governor, could such counties afford to ig nore the action of said delegates or even question or impugn their motives in selecting particular man for the candidate? We think not. Our duty in the prem ises is clear. Wo must have our county conventions held and con ducted in spirit of fairness, we must give every democrat voter a chance to express his opinion and vote for his favorite man to rep. resent his views at the capital, in the state convention, and the people must see to it that none but good men and true, are sent to the convention, to nominate the state ticket; but when such ticket is put out there must be no bolting. We must, one and all, come squarely up and support the men selected by our delegates, otherwise conventions would be farce and the people treacherous to their own representatives. It is our duty to select men to attend the state convention who are above rcproach ana who cannot be swayed in their judgment by ring" at Little Rock or any where else-if any such exists, and this once done we must place implicit confidence in thelr acts ald uphold them in their choice.
 As to the adjustment of county conventions for nominating coun- ty officers we beg leave to offer a few suggestions for the benefit of all parties concerned. If the peo- pie determine to nominate their officers by convention, let every township hold q convention and every man in the township who possibly can, attend and vote for the man of tEeir choice, and then send good men to the county con vention, under instructions, to vote first for the man who received the largest number of votes in the primary or township convention; and if the vote of all the town ships is cast without electirg a man let the township delegates agree among themselves and vote for some good man whom they know to be all right and with a clear record. This being done the people must acquiesce in the nominations and not think for a moment of "bolting."
 This is the way in which a con vention can be managed without being run by "rings" and if the people of every county will adopt this plan or that of prima- " elections there will never be any grounds for complaint nor excuse for "bolting." It is one prime doctrines of the Democratic 7 party to stick to it's nominees and all those who wish to sustain that party, will never be found oppos- ing that policy. We trust that the people all over the State who love good government, will work together in harmony during the coming campaign.
 We will only add, that our party here in Pope must not loose sight of the importance of thorough or ganization and unanimity of ac- ton, nor neglect to take a lively interest in the campaign because we are so largely in the majority. Remember that eternal vigilance is the price ofliberty. And when it comes to making nominations let the test be honesty, competen- cy and efficiency. Remember that every good man does not make an efficient officer. To make an efficient officer, a man in addition to being qualified must have ener-