Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-05-06
For the Yorkvllle Enquirer. .
CONVENTION OR PRIMARY ELECTION.

For the Yorkvle Enquirer
CONVENTION OR PRIMARY ELECTION.
Mr.. Editor Il think it good forecast Of
the interest to be manifested by our people in
the coming political campaign, to see that
there is already an expression and canvassing
of sentiment in regard to the hest manner in
which that campaign is to be inaugurated, IN
the choice of our county standard bearers
This interest is not only we'll timed; but, |
NAV say, it is almost essential to the success
of our party, in order that our differences in
opinion. as TO the manner of selection of our
nominees, may be settled and reconciled be-
fore the action commences in earnest. And 1t
is with this feeling that | offer these sugges:
tions to the consideration of a thoughtful
public; my only excuse for venturing to claim
space in your paper, being the great impor'
tance of the subject
We must all agree in the outset, that both
the Convention and the Primary systems have
their imperfections for there are no means OF
accurately weighing public opinion, and ad-
iusting private differences and the only OBJ
iect that our consideration can achieve IS,
which has the greater ;nperfections? And
in order to arrive at any conclusion as to this
point, there must be some standard by which
they are to be Judged, and that standard IS,
and can only be, the will of the body OF our
party, as shown by the will of the greater
part of them.
Now, I ask, which of these systems is the
better adapted to eliciting the preference OF
the plurality of the members OF the party !!
I put the question in this form, in order to
give the advocates of the Convention system
ground upon which to stand, for the purpose
of comparison. For could place myself
upon the high and commanding position OF
the primitive principles Of our Republic-ithe
principles of tho Democratic party OF that
Republic demand, as the prime essence
of all political liberty, that every one OF that
party should have the individual and inviola
BILE right of deciding for himself, and dectar-
ina for himself by ballot, what fellow-citlzens
shall be entitled to carry and represent his po
litical individuality in their representative ca
pacity would demand that the same rights
that are guaranteed him, sys citizen, by the
Constitution be allowed him by his party.
But l will confne myself to the question
above suggested, and compare the two sys-
TENS according to their merits.
The only ground upon which the Conven-
ton can be sustained on its merits, is that the
will of the BODY of the people is reflected
through their delegates. Here is where join
issue The Convention is not an accurate re-
hection of the political sentiment of the coun-
ty. 1t is true, that the delegates to the Con-
, vention are elected by the people; but are men
with an ordinary amount of common sense
men that have acted as members OF conven'
tioias, or have seen their operation-t to be
made believe, that even if delegate knows
the Sentiments of his constituents, he will cast
his vote in accordance with their preference
and not according to his own personal prefer
ences or, at least, be greatly influenced by
them? Why, it is against human nature;
and man, even in the most conscientious exer-
else of his duties and powers, is unconscously
swayed by his prejudices. How much greater
sway must these prejudices have, when del.
egate feels Gas he generally does) that ne has
a right to assert his individuality in his vote.
But will not continue the comparison OF the
two systems on their merits, as hardly think
that it will be seriously commended by any one
that the Convention is not greatly inferior to
the Primary system in this respect. And yet
this great plea in favor of the Primary should
prevail at all events, unless accompanied with
manifest danger to the party. This brings
me next to consider the relative expediency
of the two systems.
The objection sdduced by the opponents of
the Primary is, that it will cause dissatisfac'
ton, and probably rent in the party. This
objection may be applied, with equal and per.
haps greater force, to the Convention. l
think that by an empirical comparison, it will
be found that the Instances of injurious dis
sensions in either case are the rare exception
and that in those exceptional instances, the
balance of the account is in favor of the Pri'
mary elections. Iu fact it will he found that
the incentives to divisions and schisms lie
more in the breasts of the people themselves,
than in either of these systems, and that unless
they are bound together by the strong tie Of
snion for the enjoyment Of their poltieat rights,
for the security Of their .fami!ies and their prop
erty, they can very easily 6nd opportunity,
under either system, to divide and fall.
But it is in accordance with reason to be.
lieve that candidates will be more strongly
supported, if they are the choice Of the plu.
raIity of the people, than they will be if
forced upon the people by the votes of few
individuals constituting convention. A
nomination, by election, will add zest and an.
imation to the political campaign; for the
voters will feel that they have men at the
helm placed there by themselves and an en-
thusiasm will be aroused, such as could not be
created by men who are perhaps unknown to
the majority of them.
Finally, there is an advantage which can
not be accuratel y estimated, in every candi
date submitting his claims and his quali6ca-
tons to crticising public for thereby and
thereby alone, can that great vein of natural
discriminating powers, pervading almost every
community, assert itself, and the services of
the most competent and most representative
persons be secured.
In Offering this general outline of sugges-
tions, I feel convinced that 1 am but reflect
ing the sentiment of large majority Of our
people, although in a very imperfect and
abridged form. A VOTER.
I'll c,,&,,t fY>tI