Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-09
C0MMUNICATED.
More Light Still Wanted.

mlttoo for this city has issued q call for ward
meetings to be held 'at the usual places" d. e.,
the usual Ix9 places capable of uccommodatipg
on an average about 100 people. when about
400 on an average have right to be there), TO
select delegates to the Congressional convention
which meets here on August 25h.
ga the q inst. writer in the Giz,tte. sign.
ing himself ALEX" gave to the public q
statement of what had occurred at O meeting of
said committee held 90 the 29.b of June, and
narrated, among other tkiugs, how John Nj.
johnson and George A. Mushbach appeared
before that body aud, speaking on behalf of
majority OF the conservatives of Alexandria,
asked that these conservatives be allowed to SO
leot their delegates by means of primary
etclon rather than ward meetings, but that
tue c&mmlttee by vote OF 6ve-vlz, J. K,
CatcD. Isaac Smith, t. II Fickn. r. H. Rudd,
ard Y: i: Etwin 10 throe-vIz Hugh Latham,
w, w. Herb: IT. and W, Il. Msroury, declined
10 petmiG 1t.
10 his communication ALEX" gave Sc
rsatlm. and 10 plain language a few of the
many objections to ward meetings. He did not
give all the opIeotlous tor they are too runner.
Gus to mention and too notorious to need it, but
he threw down the gaunt!et with tho statement
that those given accorded With the experience
or every conservative voter 10 the city, and
could DOT be gsinsaid. He also ctarsed that
the Excuse lor their action, put forth by the
majority OF the uittec-viz., THAT it was
unwlse to depart from the established custom
OF the party" was not the real motive that 40.
imatod them, and asked Thorn to exolaiu lust
why they decided upon ward meetings.
Six days have passed aud no answer has ap-
poared. but seLca as Of death reigns in the
Immediate vicinity of the committee. Neither
of the i've suckers for precedent, the FIVE dear
lovers OF Established customs" has said or
written word in attempted justification of
their action. or in denial OF the charges made
by Alex but with all the sublime calm.
ness aud serene indifference of a clam at
high water each has kept his lips closely but
toned and retrslned from using the instrument
which is said to be mightier than the sword.
Alex. has waited patiently, and the
people generally have likewise waited, but as
yet not whisper, not sound tr,m the som.
mittee has reached tho ears Of the Waitiog
ones.
Well maybe they are right, for what is the
use OF giving reasons anyway, when you have
the power to do what you want without reason2
Five beats three, more eff ually, if possible,
than beats 7, and one cannot help admiripg
the philosophy and logic of the Individual who,
when advised not to bet too r, cklessly upon the
poor cards he held in his hand, said that that
matter Was not material to the issue so long as
no had the deck 10 his lap.
Silence, however, while it will do very we'll
sometimes, especially il it is Intended to be con
sidered as c)utemptuous. will not answer the
purpose IN this Case my friends, and the patient
and long suffering public would like to kuow,
you koow, why you thought it wise" to follow
custom conspicuous tor its faults, and brstng
with causes for public dissatisfaction.
YOU deciins to tell them. Do you wish the
people to look to the old maxim, which says,
"Sierc, gives assent p AID do you d, sire
them to understand by your silence that you
agree with 'AI,x" 10 bis stric ures upon
ward meetings. and that you cannot frame ap
excuse tor ordering them to bs held or do you
wish it to be understood that the ot .ctions are
DOT worthy OF 40 answer or even notic.? Which
is it
II cannot be the latter for. you know, that
1t is entirely within bounds to say that at uonu
OF the ward meetings held 10 this city for leo
years pat has there ben, adding all tho wards
together, more than 400 people present, while
at every primary elcorioo held here during that
FER cd from 900 to 1900 people voted.
Do you deny that, gent, Ill 20 Certainly
not.
Is it not fact that, either cause they have
taeu into disrepute, or because they are held
at night, or because they arc held 10 rooms too
small for tho purpose, or for all these reasons,
c 'molned With others not Of csssary to ps'ticu-
lArz,, m"j rity OF the conservatives of this
CITY have not heretofore and will not hereafter
attend ward meetings?
All Of you are compelled 10 tho interest of
truth to choruS. "Y"s know. That is So"
These then being the facts. will BIZ oousid-
cred lmpertinens if | sIumir the following
questions, and bog that you will answer th, m
at the same time you answer those put to you
by ALEX p
lst Do you want all of the conservative
voters OF this city to participate 10 the sell ctoo
OF delegates, or only a certain portion 1t the
Tmer. why did y,u not select that me'hod
Whioh would afford the opportunity to all?
End. What did you mean when you said il was
'unwise'' to depart etc Why WAS it "un wise"
and where does the element offoolishness which
ID the antithesis Of wisdom come i12 How did
you manifest your vii dom" by sticking to the
old ruler The word 'unwise' is good word,
but we want 10 know why the ordering f pri.
mary s!ection would nave been evidence OF
lack Of wisdom"
Bird. Which on general principles, and indie.
pendent of the int, rests Of any particular candi.
date is the best method Of selecting delegates
that in which the minority does the business. or
that in WI ich tho whole people have . chance
4th. g it NJ probable that the practice of per-
hitting the minority to run the thing though it
may have cached the holy and tremendous dig
nifty Of an established CUSTOM" ia q custom that
would be more honored IN the breach lh.n in
the observsnce2
5tn. DO you wish it to be considered ss your
opinion that bad and indefens,ble custom in
politics ought to be continued longer because it
has been long continusd2
have heard of the man who said he could
not longer linger because he could not linger
longer, ard l with to know " neither the majority
Of the com mittee re- ~ upon the same sublime
prt cess of ressoning2
1t is never too late to mend The question az
% who the rnsjority of the conservatives of this
,itv want to send to Congress can only be fairIy
md properly ascertained by primary; 80 let
as have one. FOURTH WARD
A Curious Case.
Cores DOndenca of the A Alexandria ls,atya I