Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-09-25
HON. p. w. MELDRIM.
Duty of the Delegates to the Senate
rial C0nventiOn-EIF. meldrjm tine
Choice OF the Chatham County
llemOcFAeY.

SAVANNAH, September 4.-Eibor Morning
Neaos: At the risk Of trespassing upon your
space l desire to call public attention to 6
point which is fraught with importance to
every man who took part in the recent
uprising of Chsthsm's Democracy. II
understand the meeting at the Theatre IL
was meant to be a most vigorous, earnest
and defiant protest against that "bossism'i
which has degraded our politics and dragged
the principles Of the party through the mire
and slime of corrupt practices and Illicit
means. 1t was a meeting without leader;
party without fboss."
One Of the most enthusiastic results of
that meeting was the Endorsement Of Sens-
tor Meldrim. The writer knows that so far
from desiring the position Of Senator, his
denomination would entail on him loss and
Inconvenience. 1t was no secret that he had
declined the efforts of his friends looking to
a second term. During the late meeting
At the Theatre Mr.. Meldrim had occasion to
urge upon his fellow-citizens the para
mount duty Of all upon whom public office
should fall to accept 1t. 1t was crisis, and
the voice of every good and true man was
needed to cheer his party on in the conflict
at hand. In the very midst Of the enthusi-
asm occasioned by Mr.. Meldrim's speech
the committee reported the Senatorial dele
cation, and the resolution indorsing him
and urging his denomination was passed
with ringing applause. It did not then and
it does not now lie in his mouth TO
refuse the Office rendered him. During
all this time, and after, the three delegates
who are said 10 antagonize him sat with
closed lips and unprOtesting tongues. One,
indeed, had been scathing in his phillipfcs
against the ''ring,n, another had declared
his Democracy, and the third had remained
with the majority when the men whose
cause be had fsthered chose to retire in
their wrath. There was no "gsg" law on
the meeting. One OF its cardinal doctrines
was the freedom of speech. 1t lay in the
power of any delegate to state what he pro-
posed to do IL it was contrary to the ex-
press wish Of the meeting.
know there are men who contend that
all things are fair in politics, but this is not
so much politics as It is morality. The
nomination Of these gentlemen was coupled
by an authority to which they had yielded
allegiance, with an uusmbiguous RESPONSE
bility. We select you to do this thing and
wish 1t done in a certain way. Does any
member of that delegation suppose for an
instant that he would have been allowed
TO leave that meeting a delegate If it had
been suspected that he had made up his
mind to ignore the wishes OF his political
creator? Do not common fairness, common
morality and common justice suggest to
every well regulated mind that the only
course to pursue for one who could not
cOnscientiouslY discharge the obligation,
was to have stood up where he was and said
so, and let the meeting fill his place by one
who would obey and respect its wishes?
Having sat silent, was not the inference
irresistible that they approved the choice Of
the meeting aud would give the support ex-
pected?
The Democracy Of this county has right
to know upon what grounds these agents
propose to disregard It's utterances. II there
Is anything in the public or private life of
Mr.. Meldrim which fOrbids man who pro-
posed Waring Russell for the Legislature to
vote for hin, for GODS sake let us all know IT,.
Brave, generous, magnanimous to fault,
his is one Of those rare natures that yield
treasurer even to their lowest depths.
Neither he nor his friends fear any issue
which may be made.
1t may be well for all to understand that
this is no fight of Mr.. MeldrIm. 1t is the
fight OF the Democratic party, which put
him in the race. If the opposition to him
springs from pique, or because he will not
yield his allegiance to any one man, the
Democracy can reckon with delegates as
effectusllY as it does with ''bosses." The
political milestone is very broad, and some
times brushes friends and self to powder.
II our people are 10 earnest, Mr.. Editor,
in their uprising; If the noble fight which is
being made all over this country against
political oppression has really warmed our
blood to action, it will not do to lose the
fruit of the first victory. II these gentlemen
cannot conscientiously support Mr..
Meldrim, or if, ignoring the good
of the party, they are deter
mined to vote only as personal
interests dictate, let them resign their trust
for such it is-intO the hands Of others
who will discharge 1t. We cannot afford to
throw off one "boss'' and in the very effort
draw to our bosOms others. There are OPP
portuniiies which come to every man to do
noble things. The noblest fight is made
against the evil prOmptlngs Of interests and
prejudice-the ignoblest defeat is sustained
at their hands. ORGANIZED.