The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-05-16
Agonycn,,ou suggested

| SestlOD OI mover COHNSnuN
Senatorial and Representative Distro'
novel because it is old me Domoe
raey; and that is the assembling OF
convention of elected delegates io'
'ach District, for the sole aud excln-
i've purpose of declaring aud putting
q shape, the position of the Democra'
ey on State questions. This Is the I'M =
portant matter for the interest oil the
people, and not as to. which pan shall
be elected.
We do not mean a convention to
nominate a candidate; but a eonven
ton TO say what State policies the Dem
ocratic party endorses. Let tie eau
iidates now before the peoples or more,
continue in the field, but let them dc
50 with the party platform clear be-
fore them.
Don't the Democratic party, which
is the controlling power in Kentucky,
owe it to the people, to speak out
clearly and distinctly on ISy. and all
sucn issUess Ifa candidate calling
himself Democrat, is elected, is the
party not responsible for his actions
on such questions, and II resPUnsiOie'
ought it not to declare openly and
squarely what it expects OF him when
/ elected? If the party as body
cant afford to answer public questions
for fear olereating divisions, we ask
/ in all eaudor, lift don't fail to equal
the needs and interests of the
peOple2
The party. managers are generally
quick enough to call convention to
declare a aoma,ee, but is it not more
important for the party to declare to
the people what Il is for, and thereby
lead the candidates rather than Il
make a nominee to lead il? We tak'
it that there,is now no special necessity
for a convention to declare a nominee
unless more candidates shall appear
but if the. Democratic party is equa
to the political needs of the people,
has a great duty to perform in assist
ing to pilot our people through the SCI
of debt and endorsements in which
they are now. nearIy buried.
Some people are prejudiced agains
conventions, because they are some
times manipulated in the interest o
some candidate but, such objection
would not hold against a convention
called for the sole and exclusive pur
pose of declaring the position Of tn
party on general State policies, for tn
reason that no candidates would b
before the body.
For one, We believe that the respon
sibility for the management of Stat
affairs 10 Kentucky rests solely upoi
the Democracy, and that acknowledg
/. ing such resat Utility, the part
- Ought 70 lay a do, haeral positions o.
/ any and all Starehi sestions, to the EN-
that ell candidates who seek Office il
the name of Democracy, may know
aud realize to what they are pledged
, State Senators and Representatives ar
J generally well understood on Natioaa
question, but, unfortunately, they hav
| no vote or voice in such matters, an,
: 1t would seem more desirable that the,
! should be committed "for;or against
] State issues upon which they are boun,
to vote, and which they are bound t,
: control.
The COURIER believes that a return
to the pure, simple rule of Democrat
, State Goyernment-such as, we Iearl
+ by tradition, was contemplated By tn
fathers, will slowly relieve the people
} That is to say, lOp off at least fifty pc
5 cent. Of the ofices-we are too mucl
governed lop of every semblance o
a corporation that enjoys an exclu
sive privilege; lop off every supposed
right TO tax the people directly or in
directly to support anything except tn,
simple machinery of the State govern
ment, &c. We don't mean that tn,
party should patriotically aud heroic
ally O. rush into position on the do!
} law, scalp law, OF any such legislation
but upon general principles and i'm
portant State questions it should bold
, ly and Enthusiastically make its position