The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-03-26
Wednesday, Earch 26, 1884.
The State Conventions.

The Stale convention.
Various Of our contemporaries Of late
have been discussing the propr!etv OF
making nominations for S;ato officers al
the same time and b. the same delegates
that meet to nominate candidates for
Electors Tor President AMI Nice-ircSl-
,lent. In the sim ,,lcncsS Of the hearts OF
orr contcu;,nrorics they Sccnrd to have
Thought tina, the people had something to
KAY alr.ut when nominations should he
made, but the chairman has given them
to understand that !e settles such nat
tors in his own way, ard by ctcrcnre |"
his official notice it will be seen trat he
has ordered the delegates to nominate a
tirket-and We presume lac means the
old tickct-whch the convention meets
To nominate Electors. SO thai little mat
ter is settled.
We know net whether the Executive
Committee intends to c.c>tai'lish the Cd
Plan Ct conducting Democratic can'
rai.ns, which brought defeat systc'natl-
callv and uniformly to Il plialanN, out
j, really seems that tliSis their mtcrllon.
In the DAYS when tn" elections invariably
brought victory to the Republicans, the
sclf-appoin;rd leaders of the Democratic
,,arlv held their cauru>cs in somebody's
back office, planned magnificent cam
Iai.ns, and torctnld glorious victories
which they ncvcl won. Finally, these
wise men concluded to invite the people
to participate in the elections. We AL
know the result of that experiment IN
1876, and we I'LL know the good which has
followed 70 our people, Il to the color
ell people. They have been guaranteed
and vouchsaicd peace, and tho enjoyment
OF their rights as citizens. We have had
n lust and equitable administration OF the
laws. and all have enjoyed Il perfect quiet,
with low taxation.
Political or party officers mast not for
&c, that they cannot marshal mdei'ch-
dent voters in the SAME way that lhcy
once commanded the movement OF en-
listed so, licrs. The freeman in his heart
rcscn,s any effort at dcspotiSm or dlsre-
spect coming from his leaders, and he
will not long endure official contumely
from political tvrants. The strength ol
The Democratic party lies with the great
,uass of the people, and political officers
who think they can successfully coii-
duct a political campaign without their
hearty aid and corporation will very
likely be convinced of their error when
il is too late. Why order the delegates
TO nominate a State ticket before the pco-
Me have had time to think of the matter?
DO the gentlemen composing the old
.jcke, fear Il canvass for the choice OF the
pooplc? Do they or the Executive Com
mittce propose to take a snap judgment
and have themselves reelected without
the expressed desire of the people? Inc
order of the Chairman Of the Executive
Committee seems ominous.
While no man stands higher In our cs-
timation than the present Governor OF the
State, yet we have seen no reason urged
why he should be re-nominated without
the consent Of the people. 1t has been
ur-cd that he has made 4 good officer.
Granted. We say more. lie would make
q yood officer to the end of his life. He
has discharged the duties Of that office a.
well rs any man could do it. But sup
pose that he was more than all this, and
admit that he is infinitely better and
wiser than any other man WITHIN the
borders of the STATE, does that authorize
the Chairman Of the Executive Commit
- ,,.1o. bic a,,ntpiratinn II NAV lp
denied, but we think not successfully,
that the chairman has virtually ordered
the reelection Of the old ticket. At
the present writing we prefer the contin-
uance in office of the present incumbent,
but it is too soon 70 nominate him. we
haven't had time to think of the matter.
We haven't had time to reason together.
But more than all this: There isa vital
reason why no nominations should he
made in June. 1t is too soon to put a
ticket in the field. Every defeat that was
ever brou hit to the Democratic party was
partly the result of long rare-and every
victory which We have won was i'll a
short, Inick and energetic V
If it is n settled fact, that. before we
have had time to make up our minds as
to who we want, that nobody bnt the old
office holders are to be effected by the
race. what is to enlist the enthusiasm ana
party support Of the people? \" one
who knows anything about the politics
OF his State will deny that Il ticket
brought out Il. urh later than June, would
command more strength than any ticket
which might be put out so early.
a new ticket and new men would enlist
q new zeal and do mere to cnlircn the
public sentiment TO the Importance OF the
occasion. But if the prestige of former
victory is only to ensure perpetultv OF
Office TO the lucky holders, then we 90
not know but that the chairman Of the
executive committee is right i'll ignoring
or seeking the will of people. when he
orders the reelection of the old ticket.
'.Old tickets seem to be the rage, though
the South not long since entertained very
pronounced views OH the question OF
third terms
NinnshorG's Shame and South Carroll.