Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-19
SHALL THE MINORITY OR THE ma.
LOEsLlH RULE?

For the last forty years both the two great
political parties have recognized the neces-
sity Of conventions, and in their national,
State and county conventions both have sub
mitted 10 the rule OF the majority. No
party can succeed without recognizing this
fundamental principle in party organizs-
ton. The very foundation of democratic
government is that the will of the majority
is supreme. Yet a few boilers in Tennes-
see demand that the majority shall yield to
the will Of the minority. The convention
held on the 10th of June was composed of
about 1400 delegates. They came to Nash
vile fresh from the people, whose wants they
thoroughly understood. The platform was
adopted by an overwhelming majority, and
yet the boilers lett the convention because
the majority would not yield 10 them.
There never was platform adopted that
there was not minority opposition. 1t is
impossible to agree on a platform satisfac-
tory to everybody. III it be established that
the bitter opposition of small minority shall
be sufficient to cause convention to put aside
platform for which an overwhelming ma
jority has expressed preference-we say if
this is 10 be the rule then the policy of all
parties is to be reversed and hereafter con-
ventions will be ruled by the minority in
stead of majorities. To say that the minor
ity shall control the msjority-force it TO
abandon platform Endorsed by the people,
will make future conventions mockery and
farce. Boiling is no remedy for the evils
that exist within party. These can only be
cured by remaining in the party organiza-
tion and appealing to the +" sober second
thought of the people," who in the end do
no wrong. Two years ago the boilers had
much cause to provoke them TO the unwise,
suicidal course they adopted. But from
-4Ay to day the APPEAL told them thai their
policy would result in the election of Haw-
kins, who would favor settlement of the
State debt dollar for dollar. The passage of
the one hundred-and-three iniquity proved
that these predictions were prophecy, and we
now predict that the present boiling movement
may possibly re-elect Hawkins governor of
Tennessee and defeat Harris for senator. But
in due course of time the boilers will discover
that they cannot fasten upon an unwilling
people the sixty and-six settlement passed
10 defiance of the popular protest and by a
Legislature in which the people had no con-
idence. The Democracy of Tennessee is
placed in singular attitude when the mi
nority bolts a convention because the obsti-
nate majority will not yield. Members of
the party are oflentimes required to vote for
candidates whom they dislike, and to assent
to platforms which they disapprove. This
is disageeeable, bu. it is wise. The continu.
ance of the Democratic party in power in
Tennessee aud in the South is a paramount
necessity. No political party is perfect The
Tennessee Democracy in their State conven-
lions since the defeat of the funding bill
seven years ago, may have occasionally
reached wrong conclusions and occasionally
may have made unwise selections OF public
officers. But these errors are Insignificant
in comparison with the evils inseparable
from Radical domination. The choice in
Tennessee should be, and will be before the
close OF this canvass, between Hawkins
and Bate, Democrats and Republicans Any
division of the Democratic party will lead
to further divisions, and facilitate the return of
the Radicals TO power. The true Democracy
of the State submit to rigid discipline with
the feeling which sctuates the patriotic SOL
der Even if he is conscious that he is bet
ter qualified to command than his imme-
diate superiors, and could handle an army
better than his commander, he obeys cheer
fully every order given to him, for the reason
that, without such obedience, it is impossi-
bic 10 vanquish opponents with whom tine
word of the leader is law. A mob can meet
a mob on equal terms, but Democracy in
which every member of the party has his
own plan of battle will infallibly be routed
by the compact columns of the public enemy.
Upon this conviction is founded the Demo-
erat C system, in this and every other State.
Any man who objects to it can drop out OF
the party in time of peace, or desert from
the rank during campaign. No man can
be in the party and above it, availiDg him
self of its benefits, and, at the same time,
finding fault with its methods and denying
its authority.