Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-08-20
A WORD TO DEMOCRATS.

Local politics will soon be at boiling
heat. We understand that somebody's
delegation is already in the field. Dem
ocrats are being waited upon in per-
son, and Rugged, and button-holed
and persuaded to pledge themselves to
support delegation in the primaries
that not one of themselves had any
voice in selecting, and that so far as is
known is unpledged to any person or
thing except in some not well under
stood way to advance the interests OF
one man, who has no claims upon the
Democratic party. If there is any
other purpose, if it can have any 9TH
er effect, it will be simply to stir up
strife and tend to divide the party. Of
course no true Democrat will lend him.
self to such purpose, and if any such
are solicited by their votes or sympa-
thies to countenance this move it
should be rejected with disgust and
contempt and be resented as direct
insult. Let us look at the situation -
No primaries have been held or even
called, nor delegates named l.; candi-
dates have not been definitely selected.
No action has been taken by the party
itself at which any member of it can
feel aggrieyed. Yet in the face Of
these facts one individual as we are in
formed and believe, has presumed in
defiance of usage, of the party, and
the people, of his own volition and to
secure his own ends, to select ticket
of delegates, himself heading the list,
and to prosecute personal canvass,
and by appeals to the sympathies, the
fears, and the prejudices of individuals,
and perhaps by the judicious loaning
of money where it will do most
good" All this has been and is be-
ing done, and for what ? This is a
question that we would have every
Democrat to ponder and to answer to
his own conscience. Is there any
prospective resultant goode Will you
by deserving the party and going into
this personal movement do good to
the party or advance the interest OF
any individual who has claims upon
either you or the Democratic party ;
is there any man in this district who
has done either so much for you or the
party and has received such treatment
at your hands as 10 justify the inaugu-
ration of campaign just now that will
separate friends, stir up strife and di-
vide the party in the district there is
a deep. rooted prejudice in the minds
of the people against contention at the
primaries. An intense wish to avoid
this prevails generally and it was hoped
we would never again be subjected t.
il; to avoid it much would be sacrifi.
ced, but we think no Democrat worthy
the name would under any circumstan.
ees submit to this "one man power
this rule or ruin plan of action. From
any point of view at which we can view
it, the whole movement is entirely in.
defensible and not only has no claims
upon Democrats but is undemocratic
We expect the Democratic voters il
the district to reject all solicitations foI
support from this quarter with scorn
We have an abiding faith that they viii
do so if the issues are properly Under
stood. We know that multiplied effort:
will be made to deceive and to misrep
resent, and to cover up the real issues
but we intend that to the extent of oul
ability, as the campaign progresses
the people shall be kept posted, and i
to accomplish this it becomes necessary
"a spade shall be called a spade" w
do not intend to mince words in thi
matter, but to present the issues from
time TO time so plainly that those whc
do sin shall do SO against light anC