The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1880-03-26
Political Rinqs.


Our County Chairman will doubt
less take steps TO call n convention
Of the people at in early day for the
purpo.c of clccting delegates to at
tend the State Democratic meeting
in Columbia to be held OH Tuesday
lst June proNimo. These convcn-
tons arc absolutely necessary FOR two
potent reasons: All the people can
not meet together TO lay out plans
and determine the line of conduct Tie
party must pursue !; if such meeting
were possible il would he too un-
wicldy for fair discussion, in SO
short time, Of the topics brought
before it and would necessarily be un-
satisfactory in its deliberations and
results. The business of the entire
people must he cnlrnstcd'to Il few
chosen representatives who meet, dis
cnss ut length and determine upon
sEcll a policy as may hc thought nee
cssary for the successful conduct Of
The campaign. The greater the ratio
Of tic representation the more com
plctcly will the sentiment OF the people
he represented anI the less powerful!
Will he The influence of rings or
cliqucs. The converse Of this is
equally true with small ratio OF rep
rescntaticn. At the beginning, there
fore, ofthc Campaign let every Demo
crat enroll his name upon The list Of
his Township club, that the rcprcscn-
tation in the County Convention may
he full and complete. There arc
many good and true citizens who
think their attendance at q club meet
ing is 4 small matter and by their all
scncc sacrifice the public, good to
their private interest. There ere 9th
crs who think too lightly Of ;llcir own
influence and, because they cannot
speak, are content to remain at home.
Still another class will not join or at
tend because they cannot boss the
machine, and 10y such course of con
duct actually oppose the party willl.i
which they consider themselves iLcn-
lllcd. From among these classes
come all the Complaints about bad
ring rule, Court House
cliquos and political trickery. Party
division and independent moyemrn,s
lind their scurce nnG support right
here, and often defeat may be allriJ
utcl TO the lukewarmncss Of those
who refuse to take part in club meet
inss. IL is often the case that Il doZ-
cn citizens meet at The appointed
time, read the call OF Tie County
Chairman cpd then inquire among
tEcmsclvcS, who will attend the Coun
y Convention. Men are appointed
because they have business in town
and 1t is convenient. Such delegates
spend more time on the streets al
tcndlng to private business than in
the convention room, leaving the af.
fairs OF their constituents To be at.
tended To 10y i few who take an inter.
est in such things. Others Sit around,
listen and sometimes vote, but never
utter word in behalf of their sec
L'cn's Interest; and thus few wire
puilcrs manage the convention while
thc majority are silent. Who is to
blame! Can VIC complain of rings or
clIlues, or trickcry under such cir
cnmstanccs? Certainly not. Now
let the club meetings he we'll attend
ed, send the best men. tie best organ
lZcrs-mcn who will do their duty.
rs delegates and instruct them rs to
the will Of the club. In this way we
will have q convention OF good men
ana lhe peoples interest will be at
tended 10. No complaints OF cli1ucs
or cour: house rings will be heard
when onr best men arc sent as dele
gates TO the convention. Clique IN
hucncc mEst be prevented and this,
it seems to us, is the way to do it.
The party has suffered much from
this evil and We hope our next con
vcntion will he IN Improvement on