Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-17
An Unpledged Delegation the Demo-
-.--- cratic WatchMOrd.


sz-z cratic WatchWord.
There appears to be quite amovement
in New Orleans in support of General
Hancock for the Democratic nonlina-
ton. This of itself is merely the exer-
else of the right of every Democrat to
ass ert his own preferences regarding
candidates, and so far as he properly
may to seek to bring others to a. like
mind respecting his favorite. 1t is con-
jectured, however, that some of Gencr-
al Hancock's friends in Louisiana may
be disposed, against the past usage and
obvious present policy of the Democrat
ic party, to seek the instruction of the
delegation from that State to vote in
the National Convention for some par
ticular candidate. General Hancock is
a gallant soldier, and well earned the
gratitude of the people of Louisiana by
performing his duty when he was placed
in command over them. 1t was a time
| OF much abuse of power, when not only
military, but civil rulers forgot that one
! grievance set forth in the Declaration of
| independence was that George Ill.
| "affected to render the military indie
| pendent of and superior to the civil
! power.n The recent decisions of the
| Supreme Court of the United States
have plainly marked the path of cen
! tralization, along which we are strid-
| ing, and the radical alteration of our
form of ofsGovernment, which is rendered
| certain, unless there be a change in the
| political forces which control our desti-
ny. We need not step out of our way
to find vital issues upon which to stake
| the battle of 1880, issues which involve
the existence of constitutional Govern
ment, without regard to the question
whether the strong man of to-day or
some other day in the near future be
the Immediate instrument of its virtual
! destruction.
- All Democrats agree upon the. neces-
I sity for success. To that end, afr our
party councils should tend. It may be.
fatal to- all our prospects, If We permit
4 personal preferences to oSoperride the
the general judgment, and now allow
the action of the National Convention
to be forestalled by any unreasonable
or unreasoning persistence on the part
of any State in urging its favorite, or
tying the hands Of its delegates The
Democratic party is now, as it has been
in the past, rich in eminent men, who
are entitled to, and who enjoy the con-
fidence of the country, and any one of
whom the party will delight to honor.
1t will be for the Convention to con-
slider fairly and freely the claims of all
these. Who of them is the strongest
and most available candidate, is ques-
tion addressed entirely to that body,
and upon its members will devolve a
peculiar responsibility. In the coming
campaign we shall have to resist and
show the fallacy of the ssstrong man.
cry-now for the first time in our his
tory, adopted as party watch-word.
Under whose leadership can this best
be done? What candidate, in such a
conflict, best represents the thought
and wishes of the party, and can win
the support of those, who, while not
enrolled in the ranks, may be led to
support its nomineeP VIII the interest
of the party be best promoted by the
selection of a candidate FROM civil, or
from military life, in contest prom
ising to turn upon the question whether
the people will take for their next Pres
ident, a man stronger than the laws, or
a man obedient to them? These and
like questions will require the exercise
of the best Judgment of the delegates
from the several States after they have
had an opportunity for conference and
careful consideration. s".5 s. !
"a It is not to the advocacy of the nom
ination of Hancock or of any true
Democrat that we take exception. II
is only by such advocacy that the rea]
! merits of leading candidates are brought
Under discussion. But we protest against
the un-democratic system of sending
!, instructed delegates to a convention
the true theory Of which is, that it is Z
meeting of Democrats from all States
, and sections, to deliberate as to the
| men best fitted to achieve success, an6
: | >nCff frvr1 Io ,.fx or,I
We have had too much of putting or
the cast-off garments of the Repub
lican party, to adopt now the Cameron
Conkling device of sending delegates
, charged with the meager duty of cast
ing pre-pledged votes. The custom o
Louisiana and of her sister Southern
States has been much nearer the true
conception of a nominating convention
to send d delegation of tried and
trusted men to represent the State
who, in conference with the other dele
gates, select those candidates whose
nomination seems most iudieieus
: We trust the Democrats of Eouis
lana and of all the States viii
adhere to this custom. 1t is the
manifest duty and policy of our party
at the present time, not to commit it
self for or against any individual, but tt
judgment of the delegates when assem-
bled in free convention. Such con
vention will be in marked and advan
tageous contrast with the Republican
Convention, to which, from presentSap
pearances, the delegates will go il
), ehain-gangs duly labeled with tn,
: name of the owner and contractor wht
has undertaken to deliver them. Sucl
delegations must produce a Convention
j whose action will create discord in thu
party, or result in. a weak nomination
Let the Democratic watchwcrd be un
: pledged delegations, friendly consulta
} tions, and united support Of the bes
7 and strongest candidates who can b.
, selected, by able, unpledged represen
l tatives of the party in Convention as
sembled. Should this result in the Sc
,, lection of General Hancock, none wil
labor more cordially or with create
+ zeal for his success than the Post
= Boston Post