Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-16
THE CONGRESSIONAL CONVENTION,

There have been several prolonged
and more or less bitter contests i'll con-
yrcssional conventions in Missouri this
year.
In two conventions adjournments
were reached without nominations.
AS the convention to nominate a dem-
ocratic congressman from the tlfth
Missouri district meets next Tuesday,
it NAV not be amiss to say a few friend
" words of warning.
The democratic party has, to-day,
the best prospect to elect a president
that it has ever had since 1856. Though
a victory to this extent will be a good
thing for the country, how greatly
shorn of its full proportions will be a
victory which falls short of giving us a
democratic house of representatives.
What can a president do without the
popular branch of congress behind
him
In 1880 Missouri by rare good man.
agement returned IA democratic con-
eressmen. Will it-be able to do SO In
1884? Not if in half the districts there
is to be acrimonious and relentless war
made within the party.
There Gems to us to be a better
prospect of electing a congressman in
the 18th district, where there is an adj
verse majority of 5000, than in some
districts where we possess a safe major
ity, but where democrats are going
about with lowering brows and with
muttered threats, knitting men whom
they should look upon a brethren OF
one household.
That sort of thing should be stopped.
1t is not necessary to rehearse the
situation in this district, as it is by this
time well understood. Above all
things we want peace, harmony ana a
democratic congressman, and we have
no sort of sympathy with any talk OF
boiling or DISCRIMINATION. Further,
we do not believe that there Is In the
district, among the democratic rank
and file, any considerable degree OF
dissatisfaction, but ever the rash talk
lot q few men should be discouraged as,
like tho spark in the dry prairie, a
mere breath at the wrong time may
fan it into a serious conflagration.
Admitting that there are two sides
to the controversy as 1t stands, let 1t be
understood that all that is done be done
in decency and in order. The county
conventions OF the three counties have
been regular. Their delegates to tie
congressional convention will have the
prama tacie right to their seats III the
congressional convention. The contest
ants have their rights, clearly establish
ed by parliamentary law. Let these
be insisted on, and when heard by the
whole body let them be coolly and
judicially decided. This done let the
decision be q final one. On the one
hand it will be urged that the commit
tee rules were violated and that just
ice dictates that they should have
been adhered to as the contest was
made under them; on the other hand
it will be contcnded that the rules
were literally obeyed. and that even if
they were not the convention is the
ultimate power of tho party, having
the right to make and unmake execu-
tive committees, to abridge, enlarge or
amond their action, as the convention
of the state or nation may curtail Or
broaden the powers Of a Legislature or
of congress. Certainly the respectable
and patriotic delegates who compose the
congressional convention will not be so
partisan as to men as to risk defeat in
No-.abrr 1ur mere distractions.
Let then, above all things, consult the
equities in the case, the will of the ma
jority of the people in the district, and
the best interests of the democratic
party, and then let them, unitedly, re-
cord a verdict, and the democrats of the
district will ratify the judgment at the
polls.