The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-02-14
and Representative
CnnypmttnH.

| campbell. and 10 The last Senatorial
race The party IN Graves county noni
mated Tyler. 1t the party is to be kept
disciplined. for the party's good, can
it be accomplished by drilling only
once 10 two years at the Congressional
race? | ask only for Information
QUINTUs
We are not able to answer the
correspondents inquiry by authority.
The party did hold convention
at Moscow, but whether the prece-
dent thus set will be adhered to,
this time, we are not advised. There
is deal of truth in the correspon-
dents hints, A political party is Of
ten likened to an army, and there are
few who would expect an army to do
effective lighting when il was drilled
only every two years. This is the old
militia style. and perhaps the party
authorities are content with this sys-
tenn so long as no formidably drilled
enemy is in front. Different demo
Gratis have different opinions as to the
most effective manner-of~seeuring-narty
harmony aud organization Some say
the party should put out its nominee
on every occasion, to preserve the mo-
rale aud discipline, and keep it's prin-
/ cip}es Spiculously before the people,
aud the public thus thoroughly indoe-
triuated With the purposes and objects
of the party There are others, who
think that conventions are recessary
evils only to be reSorted 10 when az
enemy is in front sufficiently formida
bic to endapger success The party
committees are invested with the au
fhority to act in these premises, and
should lay down rule aud fight to
that line.
If the correspondent wants the Cour
iers opinion, we can give it. That
there are troubled elements in the
Democratic party Of this section, there
is no denying, but as to the cause Of
this dissatisfaction, there is differ
euee of opinion We don't believe
that ths sole cause rests upon the
question of convention or "anti
vention." But We do believe that the
great causc rests upon the failure Of
the patty when in convention to de
clare what it does and what it does not
propose TO accomplish.
When the party is assembled in
convention, after the usual excited
personal scramble, it declares Mr. A
the nominee, and adiourus, withou,
attempting to say what the party pro
poses for the nominee to do, if the
people elect him TO the Legislature,
the Senate, or Congress The conven
ton simply loans the nominee its
name to do as he pleases. binding the
party to support him. without requir-
ing any corresponding obligation from
ulu ds tue uOtHiued 10 advocate any
given policies. But, upon the contrary
he is turned loose, to badger the
people, in the name Of the party, with
his indiridaal views. la the old days.
the Democracy was proverbial the
world over, for sticking close to its
nominees; and the reason was, that
the conventions laid down certain
principles aud policies and the nominee
pledged himself to carry them gu;
The result was that the voters who
favored those principles and policies
stuck to the nominee who was pledg
ed TO carry them out. This is not the
case with conventions now days;
but, upon the contrary, the very min
ute a man is made the nominee, his
personal friends 20 TO work - prevent
the convention from committing him
to anything.
Here is the fruitful source Of all this
The individual views
Of the nominee comes 10 conflict with !
The individual views of members OF bis |
party; and the party having laid down
no line-no platiorm-these differences
grow unchecked aud uubridled The
people are exacting that 40 individual.
that a candidate especial -should |
boldly declare his views, aud they are /
right; but if so. how much greater the |
necessity for party hat ciaimsalIgiance
Of thousands of free voters. should |
declare It, uieios Honest. free. iude- |
pendent voters, can not be expected, to |
always, under all circumstances, TO
rally 10 onlY the name of Democracy; |
but if the party when IN convention |
will lay down the measures that as
a party it is for, aud require the nomi
nee, to stand or fall by,those measures,
then it must follow that the people |
who favor those measures will forget |
issues aud stick to the party,
because they desire the success of the
measures their party advocates. There
is no other way of solving these
troubles. True, when the Democratic
party makes this alignment, there will
be those who will go out from among the
Democracy. because they re not of it,
but, if the Democracy has party prin
ciples or policies it should be honest
enough tits followers, and fair enough
to its opponents, TO boldly say what il
is for or against.
Then our answer 10 the correspon