The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-07
About Officers.
TO BE CONTINUED.

The practice of naming Tom, Dick and
Harry for Governor or Congressman or
Judge because he is a good fellow" and
has claims on the party is growing to be a
positive nuisance. I'm naming her next
Governor we hope North Carolina will not
served her on the tented field and since the
dark days of the war have passed he has
been true to her every interests, chcrishing
and defending her honor and glory at all
hazard. Certainly his claims will not be
overlooked. "We nominate Bill Jones,
glorious fellow too, is Bill, for Congress
from the Gourd Fiddle district. Our friend
has served two terms In the lower branch of
the State Legislature and is familiar with
parliamentary tactics, He will soon make
his mark in Congress" We are told by
older men that in times agone it was a great
honor to be mentioned for the exalted office
of Governor of North Carolina. A glance
at her illustriOus Governors and Congress-
men would seem to warrant this assertion
j. b. Hussey IN Raleigh Neaos.
We differ in views with the above. The
day is past, or passing, we think, when the
public offices either local, or State, must be
parcelled out to a select few of professional
politicians, or prominent lawyers, or adroit
neutrality-suspicious.. In our humble Judgment
any honest, sensible, intelli gent man, how
ever modest, however obscure because
he is not brassy enough to push himself into
notice., however pOverty-strlcken, Is as much
entitled to De named by his fellow citizens,
if they like him, for Governor, for Congress
man, or for any other housekeeping that
of Judge, which requires a legal education)
Colonel, who has intrigued himself into
the select circle of eligible nominees. As
the Wilmington Star once remarked the
best members of the, Legislature often are
those who make the least noise, and whose
names scarcely appear in the newspaper re
ports. 1t Is we'll known that some Of the
"illustrious Governors and Congressman
of the past were humble "Tom-Dlck-and
Harry's" until dug up by their countrymen
and given the majesty OF : exalted office,
Gov. Swain and Gov. Reid were pillow boys
not many years before they came to office.
yet no one can deny their usefulness after
reaching the dignity. Gov. Jarvis, half a
dozen years ago, Was Captain Jarvis,
one of the Bill-Jones-good fellows, and, we
believe, has not yet grown above admitting
that as a boy he aspired to be Governor.
Unfortunately, the nuisance of which
Mr.. Hussey speaks, is far less common than
| the welfare of the Democratic party de
mands. 1t is beyond question that for a
NUMBER OF years past TIE county, otatc; ana
Congressional conventions have been too
much managed" by a few politicians.
We doubt if a State Convention has been
held since 1865 whose choice Of candidates
WAS not narrowed to two or three LEADERS
before the first delegate landed in Raleigh.
1t will be SO in many a future conventions,
unless the people learn to make selections
for themselves.
We can speak freely on this subject be
cause, rs is well known, the writer is not
seeking office, and does not expect to find
one s%ecaiug lin, during the present genera
ton. The only office he ever held came to
him u~nsought, but such an accident, like
lightning, was never known to strike twice
IN the same place.