Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-09-16
LET THERE BE A FULL VOTE.

we CruSC Lne DeHlOcEatlc Votele VI Aolh
county will properly estimate the Importance
of the primary election to be held to-day, and
that all will turn out and cast their ballots for
the men of their choice. Notwithstanding the
full and free discussion the primary system
has had, and its earnest advocacy by men Of
sagacity and experience, who saw in that
mode of making nominations, under the pecu-
liar situation of the two political parties in
this county, the only means of preventing dis
sensions in the Democratic ranks, there are
some who do not yet seem to fully compre-
hend the subject nor attach to it the impor
tance it demands. The fact that the system
is new to them may reasonably explain the
difficulties in their way, and account for preju.
dice where it exists. 1t should be borne in
mind that the primary is not new or I'M
tried experiment 1t has been successfully
adopted, not only in many of the counties of
this State, but in other States, and we do not
remember an Instance Of its abandonment at
ter the first adoption. 1t simply resolves itself
into convention Of the people-all the vo-
ters of the party--relegating to them instead
of a body of delegates, voice in declaring
who shall be nominees. The candidates for
nomination come before the people, to be
voted for under certain conditions, and they
in their sovereign power declare by ballot
who by those conditions shall be entitled to
their suffrages on the day of the general
election. Hence the right, as we'll as the i'm
perative duty of every Democratic voter to
attend the polls to-day.
The rules for governing the primary elec-
ton, though not entirely satisfactory to all,
are as perfect, perhaps, as could have been
devised in the limited time appropriated to
that purpose and whether fully meeting the
views of all or not, none should decline to
vote merely on that account. 1t is clearly
the privilege of all who are kno'0n to be in
full sympathy vith The Democratic party to vote
in the primary election. Ofcourse, none but
known and recognized Democrats can vote in
this election. The reason for this is too OBJ
vious to require explanation; yet we have
heard Democrats condemn the feature on the
ground that it is contrary to our form of gov.
ernment to exclude the ballot from a portion
of the voters. These same disafected per-
sons also attach much Importance to the fact
that they could take large number Of Re.
publican voters to the primary polls, which
they think would increase and strengthen the
Democratic vote. While these gentlemen are
no doubt honest il: their views they evidently
fail to perceive the true import of the primary
election. We cannot better illustrate to them
the falsity of their position, than by asking if
they would admit Republican delegates to a
Democratic nominating convention. The
principle is the same Every Democratic
voter to-day is delegate empowered to make
heard his voice in favor of the men of his
choice, and this he must do as free from Re-
publican influences as would the nominations
be if made in convention without Republican
aid. We presume nearly every Republican
in the county would vote in the Democratic
primary election, but the most obtuse mind,
on moments reflection, cannot fail to see
how farccal it would be. After the primary
or nominating election, should there be
contest between the two parties, will be the
time for soliciting Republican votes to swell
the Democratic ranks; but to- day let every
Democrat turn out and by his vote assist in
making judicious nominations from the list
of gentlemen before the people.