The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-06-10
Popular rar,y aAuie.

There have been times in the history Of
the Republican party when it seemed that
the people Of THAT party had abdicsted in
favor Of the politicians, who are never
slow to move in when the people move out.
Politicians, with their perfect machinery,
cut conspicuous figure in the conventions,
local, State and National, and too ofttn
dominated those bodies. ~ ~ VI
National conventions were able to defeat
the politicians and their machine only by
q stampede 10 somebody who had no: been
prominently in tho field. When the
National Convention Of 1880 met the party
was in Misunderstanding mood, and in
the convention there were enough men Q!
that mind to declare for popular rule.
Against the compact organization of the
famous 500 it was impossible, as it had
been four years before, to nominate the
popular choice Of the party. But in the
face Of thatdefeatthe fates were propitious,
Happily there was great and strong man
in that convention, and Garfield came out
Of the wreck Of tho peoples hope. 55 e.
It is noteworthy and memorable FACT
that the convention which nominated Gar.
field also placed the party on the highest
plane Of popular rule within the party. II
refused 10 gag delegates into the support
Of ticket to which every one Of them gave
loyal support without the gag. 1t knock.
ed the unit rule into infinitesimal flinders
and scattered the particles so far and wide
that they can never more be gathered TO-
gether. 1t wrote district representation in
the Republican constitution. It re-estab.
lished whatever had been lost Of popular
rule and paved the way for the fullest ex-
erclse Of personal liberty ever known
within political organization.
/ The convention which has just thrilled
the country measured up to the height OF
the possibilities OF popular rule. The men
who composed it came in on the popular
wave. 1t was peoples convention and j,
did the peoples work-did just what the
people would have done if their votes had
been polled, or il it had been possible to
assemble them in mass convention. A
body that does this is in the highest degree
representative and performs the higheet
party service. !. Il. g,ts 1. 81. a Fj5
1t hos been remarked that there was leas
ability in the convention Of 1884 than II.
the conventions Of other years. It is true
that the names Of many distinguished msn
did not appear upon the roll. It is also
true that in the speeches there was little
Display Of phenomenal ability. It was no,
called cs q convention Of Statesmen or OF
orators, but as body representing the
common people, who make Presidents and
for whom the government exists. Is.
What the convention lacked in brilliancy
Of oratory it made up III effective, repre-
sentative work. Not largely composedoi
statesmen Of great reputation, it placed a!
the head of the ticket the statesman Of
most roputc in all the land, give him 10,
companion the most renowned volunteer
soldier ot.the Union army, himself states
man of strong abilities, and placed them
both on platform the best ever present.
ed to the American people. v &, &
This is what comes Of pupular rule within
the party. It is another and a strong re-
minder that it is wise to trust the people
who, though they do not rise to the loitiest
peaks of greatness, strike safe level Of
average interests, intelligence and virtue.
1t is on this rock that we have built our