The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-20
Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Convention
has been called by the Democratic Ma
ional Committee to assemble in Chica-
90 on the Sth of July. The time named
IS compromise between those for an
early convention and those for late
one The Republicans will meet in
Chicago June 8. Their action will be
known to the country month before
the Democratic gathering viii assemble.
The Democracy viii thus have it in their
power to weigh the mistakes of the adj
versary and to avoid blunders in kind.
The date is doubtless meant to be late
enough to enable Congress to finish its
labors. The record of the Democratic
House will be one for which the Demo-
cratic party will be rightly held respon-
sible. That record should be complete
when the party's National Convention
assemblies.
The probability is that the candidates
of both parties will be nearly two months
in nomination, before active canyassing
will begin. People are not going to be
pelteG with politics before they are
ready. this year. This is seen from the
notable lull in political interest now.
Four years ago, at this time, though
the land was winter-locked, the people
were politically fired with summer heat.
Now they are thinking that they will re-
vert to politics when effort and calcula-
ton will be effective-and not before.
Meanwhile, they are watching both
parties narrowly, being certain that
neither is strong enoug Oh to command
success, regardless of the record which
it may make. The Democrats have
acted wiser than the Republicans, in
calling their convention month later.
Two months later would have been
wiser yet. Still, the National campaign
will be run on State lines and most of
the State Conventions for fall elections
will not be likely to meet till month or
two after July 8.
The significance of the place selected
is principally geographical. The West
was bound to have the convention, any
how. That fact settled, Chicago is the
best city of the West for the purpose.
1t is cooler than any other. The ex-
position building is the best adapted for
convention purposes of any in the land.
Rail access to Chicago is more ample
than to any other city, except New
York. The hotel Accommodations are
magnificent. The sentiment of the pop
ulation is Democratic. While the prin-
cipal newspapers are Republican or in
dependent, they are shrewd and polite
enough to give fair reports and civil
comments. Besides, there are in Chi
cago several very effective Democratic
newspapers. The improbability of the
Democracy finding 4 candidate in so
Republican State as Illinois will en-
able the delegates impartially to can
vass not only the merits of aspirants,
but also the question of the special
strength or weakness of such aspirants
in Commonwealth which must be car
ried to win. 1t has been objected that
as both conventions are to meet in Chi
cago, the people may get the platforms
mixed up in their minds. They will
not, unless the platforms are made so
much alike on purpose that one will
suggest the other. That can easily be
avoided, by the elevation of principle
above policy. Unless the platforms are
designedly made alike, they will not re-
semble one another by the mere Incl
dent of being promulgated in the same
town.
The organizations through which the
Democracy act will from to-day accept
notice of the responsibility laid upon
them in this Presidential year. In due
season they will doubtless call the con
ventions in the States to choose del
egates to Chicago. There is time enough
for such consultation and for such gen
erous rivalry for favorites. within the
party, to render the preliminary action
in the States representative of the par
ty therein and the browning action il
the convention harmonious, strong and
patriotic Each party has an obligation
on it to be true to its principles, united
in its final action, and loyal to such ac-
ton when fairly taken. If the Democ
racy act in such way as to make ev
cry man in the party actively interested
in and DESTROYS of its success in the Ma
ton, then it will also be likely to heeC
the fact, first, that it will be confronted
by wary and powerful enemy, and
secondly, that success is going to wal
on that ticket and platform which cal
add to the solid partisan vote for them
to be relied on in almost any cOntingen
cy, the suffrage of the Independent citi
zens who 90 to the polls in increasin,
thousands every year, with the comfort
able consciousness that they hold tn
balance of power in the decisive States
He is the best Democrat in reality VIII
bears this fact in mind and who labor
to get for his party the usufruct of tn
fact.-ALbdny argus.