Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-09-11
Democratic Nominees.

Democratic Nominees
DUTY TO SUPPORT THEM-EvERY DEMO
GRAFT SHOULD voTK-THE PURPOSE OF
THE REPUBLICANS.
We place the candidates for the House Of
Delegates nominated on Saturday last by
the vote of the Democrats of this county
at the masthead OF our paper, and would
urge upon every Democratic voter to give
them hearty, cordial, and active support,
whether he voted to nominate them or not.
Those Democrats who failed to vote in the
primary election, as wellas those who voted
for the nomination of other candidates,
should give to the candidates nominated as
cordial and Jealous a support as those
who voted for them in the primary.
The candidates who failed to be nomi-
mated and their friends should give as ac-
tive and earnest support to the candidates
nominated as they and their friends would
have desired and expected if they had been
the nominees. To fail to render such sup
port, would show that they did not deserve
to be nominated; and if they show the
proper spirit by giving the support they
should to the candidates nominated, they
will advance their prospects for success in
the future. We not only hope that such
will be the conduct of the worthy gentle
men who failed to be nominated and Of
those who voted for them, but from our
knowledge Of them and our confidence in
their patriotism, we believe it Yill be; and
we shall be greatly disappointed if they shall
not prove to be among the most active and
earnest workers in support Of the candi-
dates nominated.
the candidates nominated-Edward
Echols, Esq, and Capt. John N. Opie-are
gentlemen Of character, intelligence, and
patriotism, who possess the requisite quail
1ications for members of the Legislature,
and who have many personal friends; but
it is not upon these grounds their chief claim
20 the support Of every Democratic voter
IS founded There are others who possess
Office and equal personal popularity, but
they have not been chosen as the nominees
OF the Democratic party, and, consequent
~, at this time, have no claim to support.
Were the candidates less competent than
they are, and less popular personally, they
would still be equally entitled to the sup
port OF every Democrat for they are the
regularly chosen nominees of that party,
and it is the duty Of the Democratic voter
to vote for the a0mi1aees-not the men
persoAally-because they represent his po-
htical principles, and in voting for the NOM
iDees he is true TO his party and its princi-
pies, for they are the exponents Of Them
not in their personal, but ia their repre-
sentative, character.
To vote for a candidate, who does not
represent your principles because you like
him personally, or to vote against candi-
date, who does represent them, because
you have personal prejudice against him,
is to violate your obligations as . good citi-
zen, and to betray your political principles.
On the contrary, to vote for personal
enemy, because he represents your princi-
pies; CT to vote against your best personal
friend because he does not, shows true pa
triotism and loyalty to principle.
In this canvass, matters much more i'm
portant than personal, party, or political
considerations are involved-the salvation
from ruin Of the State that gave US birth.
1t is of vital importance that every Demo
cratic vote be polled, not that it is neces-
sarv to elect our candidates for the Legis-
lature, for Of thar there can be no doubt.
but to secure as large a popular Democratic
vote as possible. 1t is the popular vote of
the whole State that is to determine wheth-
er or not this State shall be ranked among
the Democratic or Republican States next
year. The popular vote is what the Re-
publicans are after, and that is why the
Coalitionists have candidates in this coun-
ty, where they have no expectation of elect
ing them. They want to get the vote Of
every Republican and Coalitionist, and Of
as many Democrats as they can induce t
vote for their candidates through personal
friendship, that they may count as Repub
hcan votes in the aggregate popular vote
Of the whole State, and that is tho chief If
not the only, reason they have candidates
in this county. Every Democrat who will
vote for the Coalition candidates, or who
will fail to vote for the Democratic candi-
Ola es, aids to that extent the purpose of the
Republican party. The Republicans calcu-
late that, in this county, where the whole
Democratic vote is not needed to elect the
Democratic candidates, }nsiderable num-
be- Of Democrats will fail to vote, and that
they will get out their whole strength and
as many Democratic votes as can be secured
on personal grounds, and thus make the
impression that this strong Democratic
county is fast becoming Republican.
Unless there be a popular majority for
the Democratic party in this election, Ma
hone will be able to convince tie Repubh
can Administration that, with proper aid
from it, he can have this State carried next
year for the nominee Of the Republican
Convention for President. No man who
does not wish to aid the schemes of Ma
hone and the Republican party should fail
to vote for the Democratic candidates in
this election.
The success of the Coalition party in this