The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-09-15

the wishes of the Cecil Democrats, it
may be well just here to recall the fact
that although they had a majority of
several hundred in the county, vet so
unpopular was Carroll that he was
defeated in Cecil by l54 votes. Aside
from the fact then that large proper
ton of his party opposed Mr.. Knight S
denomination for the Senate on account
Of his unsatisfactory course in the Car
roll-Hamilton contest, and his identili-
cation with the German Ring, he seems
to have met very decided opposition in
his party as the representative of Mr.
Groome's interests in the Legislature.
In other words, the issue was distinctly
and squarely raised of Ring and anti
Ring candidates, between the respective
friends of Messrs Knight and Miller.
1t was so understood and accepted
throughout the county; and when the
unterritied hosts met in Primaries, on
the Sth inst, the result was decided
and emphatic victory for the anti-Ring
ticket in seven out of the nine districts
of the county.
Now ordinarily, SO emphatic an en-
preston Of party opinion would seem
to have settled the fact that the Demo-
Gratis of Cecil county did not desire Mr..
Knight as representative at Annapo-
lis. Not merely in his capacity as
Senator, but in no capacity whatever.
His defeat for the Senate could not be
accepted, so far as the desire of his
party found expression in the primaries,
as meaning anything other than his
defeat FOR THE LEGISLATURE And so
it was general understood up to the
day Of the assembling of the Conven-
ton. In other words, it was an en-
phatic refusal of the Democratic voters
of Cecil county to send Mr. Knight to
Annapolis in the interest of Mr.. Groomc
as a candidate for the United States
Senate. Pity It's was so; but still the
fact was plain. Now one would sup
pose that, ordinary political managers
would have accepted the result of the
primaries as tinality, so far as it indi-
Gated the party will. But now begins
the real game of politics, and which
does credit to the intellects of the rep
resenta,ive local managers. Napoleon
amused his subjects, while he riveted
the letters that bound them as slaves.
The Bonaparte of Cecil Democracy dis
plays similar genius. An accomplished
ex-Congressman, the hero of many party
contests, whose shrewdness as a mana
ger more than atones for his deficiencies
as an orator, and whose silverv crown
still covers more brains to conceive and
wit to execute the political plans that
seldom fail, than any half dozen other
seif-styled eaders,-although of late not
so universally successful in State con-
cerns,--comes to the front. History
repeats itself, and wit wins an easy
victory. Anomalous as it may seem,
the candidate beaten in party contest,
by a district vote of seven to two, for
one branch of the Legislature is readily
transformed into an eligible candidate
for the other branch by the skillfuI
manipulation of mastery hand Thus
victory is snatched from the very jaws
of defeat. 1t may be reasonably in
terred that the compromise" was
acceptable to the friends of the cx-Gov-
ernor. Indeed, when the relative polili-
cal value of the places on the ticket are
considered, should Mr. Knight be sue
essfuI,-hc will be in position much
more USEFUL than before We have no
comment to make upon the pliabilitv Of
the average Democratic delegate who
cuts such high fantastic tricks in the
face Of high heaven as make Reform >
Democrats weep; but the political les
son is a useful one, illustrating alike
the uncertain results Of politics, and
the unsartain" nature Of the white
man in general