Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-16
A PLEA FOR HARMONY.

49,
printed was put in type, we received the fol-
lowing communication, to- which we give
place because of the Importance OF the sub
feet treated:
The Democratic Congressional Convention
of this district convene at Kansas City on
| the 10Th of this month. Tho fifth Is the most
magnificent district in the state, and it should
be represented in the next congress by a
democrat. Hence, we trust the deliberations
Of this cuu,vnCIUn VIII De harmonious and
patriotic. No trades, combinations, ncrcnn-,
ambitions or personal grievances should be
tolerated for a moment. Thus far tho con-
test for the nomination has been short but
spirited, and In some instances has partaken
of a personal nature. The convention should
take up the aspirants and Judge between
them calmly and justly, and according to the
established rules and precedents of the DEM
0cratic party. The great object the members
Of the convention should keep in view is,
that they are the partisans of no particular
man, but the servants and representatives Of
the whole district, and that the best way in
which they can bring harmony and success to
the party il to cast about and see who of the
asplrants the majority seem to want, and then
to nominate him mo matter who Ia he or where
he lives. No minority candidate ought to be
presented to the people. Hon. Alexander
Graves has carried his own county by a large
majority. 1t is thus demonstrated that he is
the choice of Lafayette county, and our dele
CATION should stand by him and use all hon.
Orable means to secure his nomination. He
should be upheld as long az a ray of hope
remains for his nomination. If in the end our
delegates should tie compelled to choose be-
tween aspirunts In Jackson or johnson then
they ought, it seems to us. to vote for that
man who is the choice of the people of his
county. jackson county set the example two
years ago by crossing the line and voting for
our choice and if compelled to cross the line
this time ourselves, the compliment ought to
be returned. Beside the will of our own people
as to second choice should be considered. aud
their wishes in that behalf taken rs an in
struction to our delegation.
Some trouble il apprehended in the con-
ventiOn growing out of the manner of the
selection Of delegates by the Jackson county
democrats. It seems that the congressional
committee and the Jackson county committee
were silent, Or ut least very vague rs to the
precise mode by which their delegates should
be selected, whether by the county conven-
ton rs II whole, OF by the representative dis
tricts after the conversion had been divided
up into four separate divisiOnv or conven-
tons. Tue delegates were selected by the
convention rs a whole. In our opinion tho
ultimate md supreme power In the Democrat
lc party is lodged in the convention coming
from the great body of the people. This liz
tho very essence OF democracy. If the con-
vention in its sovereign power rs to the
modus ope.undi OF its proceedings, had chosen
the delegates by dividing itself into four
parts, ind then ns u whole ralifying tho ac-
ton Of the four parts, 1t would be regular and
binding. Ii the selection is made by the SON
venti0n as Il whole, it il alike Regular and
binding. 1t IL the judge of its own modes OF
procedure. All the preccdents IN our party
fnvOr this view. For instance VIC ind 1t
nowhere prescribed in tho rules That a candi-
date may name his delegates.
Dur convention chose this mode and allow
ed Mr.. Graves to name his delegates, yet we
do not suppose any delegates in the congress
iOnal convention would favor expelling our
delegates on the ground that the democracy
Of Lafayette, and not any one man should
select these delegates.
In our opinion the friends OF Graves
and Cockrell can best promote the interests
of their favoritcs by gong to Jark>on county
in Il spirit of peace and Cancellation. They can
much more easily get the friendship and votes
Of Jackson county democrats by eonccdiIg to
them the right of local self government in their
ranks than by clasping hands with outside
contestants and malcontents. Above all things
this Is the way to secure peace and harmony
in our party and as this IL above all aspirunts,
we trust they will do so.
IL