Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-01
No County Convention ,


exercise Of beth reason and judgment, and the
better the Judgment, the more intelligent will
be the vote. 1t is an act which each citizen
must perform for himself: no man or body
of men should dictate this exercise Of the
Judgment 1t is an act which should be per-
formed on election day, ADD not before our
system only contem plates a single electlOn.-
Il is the theory Of our laws. that every voter
may reason with himself aud argue with his
neighbors until the very last moment before
he casts his ballot. Our institutions are based
on the idea, that each citizen has sense enough
to discriminate between rival candidates and
to pick out the one who suits him best, aud
any continuance which defeats this free exer
else Of the judgment, when we approach the
voting place, is radically wrong aud sabver-
siye Of every correct principle. No one de-
MES this plain and fundamental proposition,
but, nevertheless, in these modern days, the
whole scheme of party organization proceeds
upon the dangerous and false assumption that
the people will blunder unless the candidates
are dictated by caucus, viz. : the select
few must tell the people how to vote In
other words, those who prosecute the business
of choosing candidates must select the men
for whom we may cast our ballots.
The practical working Of this false theory
brings about certain results the exact opposite
Of these which an elective system is designed
TO accomplish; the election is controlled aud
predetermined by small minority and the
great mass Of voters have little or no voice 10
the management of public affairs an election,
instead Of representing the sentiments OF the
majority, represents only the partial and sell
FISH views of a few self-constituted managers
But worse yet, this plan Of selecting. in adj
vance, the candidates for each office: this
con,rivance, by which the people are. practi-
caly, forbidden TO vote for the men they pre-
fer this device, by which the choice of the
majority is always disappointed; this scheme
to compel the great mass Of citizens to support
candidates whose designs are t1ceated aud
whose opinions are unknown in short, this
most pernicious machinery 10 stile the voice
Of the people, not ouly destroys the inAnence
which our best citizens would otherwise exert
but it drives them away from any active and
effectun participation 10 public affairs, and
the result is our most important elections are
controlled by a few siroit, INSCRIPTIONS, mer-
cenary men, whose activity is stimulated by
the profits they acquire. These men ply their
ueilrous traffic in season and out Of season ;
they pollute and corrupt the very fountains OF
power, and under the specious pretence OF
party success they sell elections 20 the highest
. bidder and vote the masses 10 their own dam
nation Thus il happens that our legislation
is moulded and the public welfare sacrificed,
and in fact, toe conduct Of affairs is controlled
managed and governed by the stoUl-pige0ns o.!
capital and the hirelings Of corporations
II is the most alarming feature Of the pres
ent political situation, that large proportion
of our most intelligent aud virtuors citizens
take little or no part in the management Of
public business il is notorious fact, that,
with few exceptions, our beet and most trusted
men stand aloof from politics; whereas the
very salvation Of this county depends upon
their influence and guidance But it is ex-
pecting too much Of human nature to ask
such men to degrade their manhood and to
sacrifice their personal dignity by Scufile with
our machine politicians. They wont DO 1t -
and consequently the primaries are controlled
by those who have some peculiarly interest 20
Subserve or personal object TO promote. For
example Smith wants an Office in Washing
ton, so be packs the Convention and nomn.
atcs f0r the LEGISLATURE Mr.. Jones who is
secretly Piled gel - vote for Mr. Brown for the
United States Senate. aud M brown has
promised an rh g to Smith Again, Dick
wants a c!erkship, or wants his son appoi nted
page in the Legislature, so be advocates in
caucus any candidate, however uutit, who will
bargain to reward his support
The difference between a machine politician
anil the patr. tic citizen 10 this,-thc former
always has some Personal scheme 10 sahserve,
hence he is active aud Jealous 10 drum up
votes Er the primaries whereas Tie citizen
has 40 interest at stake, except his Concern FOR
the K, eral welfare and having no direct and
tangible motive - stlmulnte txrrii1n. he
gives but little attention - the eirrt'3n before
lie ines L. the polls Thaa the pcrnicious
effects of the nominating system is manifested
in Two NAYS; It destroys the il !uelce Il our
best c:tis u., and :: breeds q class Of troics-
sional political Liua-crS.
Bui again. anl w"f>c gel. The Convention
theory brings ji.'l ,ii,'c n-n without couvic-
tions or Gx,l principles. The Candidate for
the l,..i~h;urc demand. your vote because he
is the nomiuee,- hfc.GSr hr has tai kri You
ogt ~ you- choice ~h,sciS, without uomi-
uaiion lie w,ul, be ob'i.cl 20 CONS before
tie people and publicly avow his opinions,
views and designs r.e merits Of man
clnu,t De discussed before his nomination.
and after lis rouina'iot il is roo late Hence
i, resa,'s, tha: the less candidate is known,
and the more adroiily lie couccals his designs,
the greater are the chances Of his nomination,
bu, the less likely is he to perform the duties
Of his flee 20 the satisfaction Of his coustitu-
ency. But the greatest want Of the age is
bold, determined nen who ere not afraid Of
responsibility: Ne uecd in the Legislature men
who are Mt afraid 10 % ahead on their own
judgment. Oar m'chine politicians dread
such then as the D,vll Ireals holy-water -
hence they are sci l,m chosen by = caucus, but
when known u the people, they are never de-
feated. DEMaCRAT.
Somebody's Chiid.
Somebody's child is dying-dying with the
flush If hnpo IN III. yf,frtu f,ra and an infa-