Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-05-03
THE COMING PRIMARY.

The Conservative Executive Committee
having decided on primary election as
the farest mode, and they might have
added the only fair one, for nominating
candidates for tho party, there is nothing
for all Of us of that political organization
to do. but to accept the decision. The
committee is composed of prominent citi-
zens who are well known to and by the
people, and who, from their extensive &C
auaintance with them, are well qualified
to know what they desire. Some objec-
lions to primary have been urged OF
which we desire to speak.
One set of directors are the Republicans,
than which nothing could be more natural,
if it were question of whether their own
party should have primary, but who
can have nothing to do with the manage
ment of the Conservative party. Our
readers may rest assured that if primary
was unfair, or unpopular, OF Objectionable
to majority of the Conservative party,
nothing would please the Republicans bet
ter than to see it adopted. The downfall
of the Conservatives is too important
thing to the opposite party for it to dis
courage anything likely to bring about
such result. That a primary deprives
the Republicans of all influence in the Sc
lection of the city government and keeps
them in poWerless minority is their real
objection, and not that it is unpopular.
Another objection is that free fight"
is wanted. Now nothing can be 'freer
than the fight at primary. Every Con-
servative in Staunton qualified by law to
hold any of the offices to be filled, can be
voted for by any Conservative voter. Could
anything be wider or more open than that?
The voter at the primary can vote any
ticket he pleases so the names are those of
Conservatives. The active worker can be
as active for his friend at this as at the
regular election and with just as much
prospect of success. To our mind the
great recommendation of the primary is
that in addition to preserving the party
organ zation it does away with the hui
initiating sight of Conservatives canvassing
among the colored voters of the opposite
party for votes.
Another objection is that the sense of
the people ought to be taken in mass meet
ing as to primary before it is held. This
idea has been advanced with good faith,
bat bad memory. If those who think this
ought to be done, will refer to the election
of two years ago they will find that one Of
the largest Conservative meetings ever
held in the city, decided that primary
should be held aad from that moment the
opposition was greater than it had been
before the decision, nor did it end until
after the election ended. Those of our
friends who think favorably of mass
meeting may be assured that they are mis-
taken and that those gentlemen who are
not satisfied with primary will be satisfied
soith no Mode aohich continues the organiza..
ton Of the Conservative party with reference
to city elections. They want a contest in
which the colored vote may be used.
Last, there are some who don't want
the excitement of an election. We can't
see any earthly reason for any excitement
or ill feeling about an election in which
the opposite party does not present candl-
dates. There must be opposition to excite.
Who then is to raise the excitement? What
Conservatives are going to raise opposition
to ticket nominated by their own party
in free primary election? If there are
any such it will only show that the com
mittee deserve yet more fully our thanks
for being in time.
Some apprehend that a primary will be
used to elect OF defeat this or that man.
How can it be used in that way any more
that free fght?" The man who is de-
feated at the primary could only be elected
at the regular election by the negro vote,
and the man who is elected at the primary
could only be defeated at the regular cleo
ton by the same vote, So the reader sees
that the whole question is whether the
negro vote shall be allowed to name those
who are officers of, or lawmakers for the
city. We believe every Conservative would
give very prompt answer if asked wheth-
Ell this should be the case. 1t is only by
covering up this view Of it from their
sight that the canvasser for ''free fight
can gain even their temporary assent to his
proposition. The intelligent white Repub-
licans in Staunton are the merest handful
in numbers it is the ignorant negro vote
that is the power, and as a Conservative
citizen we shall never give our consent to
the most ignorant of the population of
city having virtually the selection of its
officers.
1t is no secret that there has been for
some time two factions in the Conserva-
tive party Of the city; about whose rights
and wrongs, their motives and their de-
signs, we do not propose to speak. for the
discussion of them would be interminable,
and, perhaps, fruitl4ss in the end But
this we know-that it is high time the
feud had ended. We hope it is ended, and
from the only ticket so far put forth in
print for the primary, we suppose it has.
In that ticket the names of gentlemen of
both factions are included. There is Meth
or sense, justice, nor policy in making re-
collections or acts of two years ago issues
for to-day. We have determined if there is
to be opposition it shall not have for false
excuse that the canvass is entered into to
crush out this or that man on account of
his position two years ago. This fight is
made solely for the preservation of the
party organization, and for the best men
to govern the city. The Republican party
is in the field in Sta unton, as much as it
is in Richmond, Petersburg and other Vir-
ginian cities, where it has no candidates,
but where the Conservatives have known
that it is essential to organize for the mu
nicipal elections and nominate their ticket
by primaries. We earnestly desire a city
election in which the Conservative ticket