Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-01-26

1TAU N'TOra. VA.
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. 2e. 1888.
THE PROPOSED STATE CON-
VENTION, AGAIN.
We have read with the closest atten.
tion the article in our respected cotem.
porary, the Norfolk Ledger. an attention
we always pay the utterauces of the able
and thoroughly Democratic editor of tina t
paper. Nevertheless, we cannot agree with
his conclusions. Why would you hold a
convention? Is it because the Democratic
people want it? If 30, then We woul favor
it without other reason, because we hold
that the people are authority in such a
matter. But we have seen no anxiety
among the people of this section of the
State for convention indeed. the propo-
sition when it came was rather surprise
to them. We know Of no one hereabouts
who can affirm, on accurate information.
that the project of a convention was even
discussed among the voters before it was
suddenly put forward by some of the
press-or that it is now being discussed
by the yoters.
Again, If we thought those leaders who
urge it knew what was best for the party
better than the voters themselves, by rea-
son of having some information which the
latter have not, we should also favor it,
But We have seen no evidence of that.
VIVA. would convention have to do if 1t
we're to assemblel rs-esg -,ss,z. -
Say I'll ratio
Readjue ehdr
the former received $4,000 Democratic
votes for Congressman at large. Define
the position of the party on the State
debt? That question has left the plains
Of State politics and assembled to the
realms OF the U. s. Supreme Court. Ar
range for the Spring county eIections2-
Hardly! No central party authority of
the Democracy has ever done. or is likely
to do that. The Democrats of the towns
and counties have that to attend to. Put
up platform for the legislative elections
next fall9 What sort of platform can
be constructed in May for November?
MOI no! no! The next Democratic Con-
vention in Virginia should be that which
appoints delegates to the National Demo
cratic Convention of 1884. At that Con-
vention there will be perfect harmony
among the two once warning factions
on State matters. At that Convention,
position may be taken on national ques-
tlons-tarff, civil service. and the like,
with the light Of eighteen months events
between now and then.
The only issue in State matters now is
burned so deeply on the popular mind that
no State Convention can better lit IS
opposition to b0ssism in our State poll
tics; 1t is whether the people shall select
their own officers or whether every public
servant from the humble employee in a
State institution up to district candidate
for Congress shall find his offici IL commits
sion in the igaprtnlItur of one man
Whether the mass of the intelli-
gence of the State shall share in
ty, reinforced by the mass Of the icno-
rance of the Commonwealth shall beat it
down by brute force and prescribe it from
every position of public honor and trust.
The intelligent people of Virginia, both
Readjusters and Funders, if we may still
use political nicknames that have passed
out of date with the question that brought
them into existence, understand this we'll
enough and no Convention Is needed to
make it palmer.
Again, we think that the mind of the
people of Virginia. at least those of this
section, is towards rest. They are toe
tired of six years of bitter and continu
GUS political strife, to leap into another
campaign eighteen months before they
come to it, and when there is nothing to
fight over save imaginary questions-al
the real questions having been settled
They don't want to be called out of theil
tents all winter by stray shots Of excited
pickets when the campaign cannot posi-
bly, commence for months to cnme.
Lastly, we think the proposed Conven
tion may be positively mIschievous in its
effect, serving to give new life to the fail
ing cause of the Coalition, the breath OF
whose nostrils has been agitation and
campaign excitement. William Mahonf
wants nothing better than a never ceas
fug campaign in Virginia; is it the polio,
of the Democracy to give it to him?