The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-29
Not in June,

nominations for State officers. About
hundred and twenty delegates have
been elected aud sentiment is pretty
equally divided, but thirty-eight dole
gates have still to be chosen, and these
will decide. Our observation leads
us to differ from the Ncws and Couri-
er. The vote may be close, but un-
less there arc changes from tho pres
ent sentiment, the nominations will
be postponed. 1t is q misrakc to hold
that all of General Hagood's friends
favor early nominations now, and that
those who oppose them arc either
taorv men or "third man" men. Num-
bcrs Of Democrats in the State who
are willing and anxious to see General
]1agood governor nevertheless believe
in the atlvisabiIity Of postponing tho
selection Of the Stale ticket until Au-
gust, and expressed this belief long
before there was any talk Of third
luan. A month ago TIE News AND
HERALD expressed tho conviction,
however, that when tho Convention
met, the question would resolve itself
iuto Il mere personal contest, tho
friends Of the strongest candidates
fighting for Il nomination and the
friends Of weaker candidates opposing
it-and it may yet come to this.
In our opinion it would be more un-
wise to make nominations now and
then allow II month or two to clapsc
before beginning the campaign than to
begin the hurrah at once. Every con-
vcntion or public meeting Of citizens
rouscs enthusiasm, and the campaign
should receive its impetus fresh froE:
the Convention. But if the delegates
20 homo and all excitement dies out,
It will be difficult to rouse it again.
Again, we cannot see tho force Of
the argument that long campaign is
better calculated to secure the lower
counties. Tho excitement Of close
canvass is cxhausting in tho extreme,
and while Radical bummers and idle
negroes can live Oh such pabulum for
ever, men of business will get worn
=
or else suffc" material injury. Charles
ton can bo carried by an aggressive,
enthusiastic campaign of ten weeks
more easily than by long contest of
five months. In tho Democratic coun-
ties not even ten weeks are needed.
Tho game Of the Radicals is to
watch the Democrats and build on
their action. The longer this action
is delayed, the longer will the Radi-
cal party be IN a state Of chaos. Then,
too, until the Democratic nomination
is made, every aspirant and all his
friends will clamor for adherence to
the party. After that, as we have be-
forc said, adherence to the party will
TO mere matter Of principle; and al
though wc believe that this will be
sufficient to make tho Democrats
unanimous, still it will not have tho
potency That personal motives to
secure this unanimity would possess.
Tho NcWs and Couricr fears that q
postponemcnt Of nominations would
lead TO the bringing out of large
number Of candidates in each section
of the State, and create more excite
mcnt than the placing Of State ticket
III tho field. Grant this. Admit for the
sake OF argument, that every section
will bring out its candidate. This
would do no harm whatever. There
would be fair fight in the Conycn-
tion, the strongest man would win
anti the whole party would be satisfied.
But hurry up the nominations and
thus suppress what might have been
q general free fight, and tho result
'nast be detrimental both to the pomi-
noes and TO the party. Whenever any
issue arises, the people must have the
widest latitude and the amplest time
to make their choice. Otherwise they
become but agents in registering the
decisions of the few who have con-
trolled the nominations.
1t Is idle to say that the masses have
ilad ample time to select. The call of
the Executive Committee was q sur
prise TO two-thirds or threc-fourths of
dhe voters Of the State. And the gen
eral belief since then that nominations
would be postponed has caused the
masses to go on with their business.
leaving politics until laying-by time.
we insist that whatever it may bo to
the delegates themselves or, oven to
fhose who devote their time to tho
III
discussion ofpolitical questions, to the
people q nomination III June would be
an injustice. Politicians arc alwavs
ready. The masses move slowly.
~ the beginning il was urged that
an carly nomination WAS needed to
head OF boilers and Independents.
Now It is said nominations should be
made early, because there is no dan
ger OF bolt. We sec no consistency
IN these arguments. Az to the ex-
pense Of holding two conventions, that
1s all nonsense. Far moro than a
B hundred and sixty mon IN tho c...