The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-12-24
One Convention. or Two.

One Convention, or Two.
For THE COMET.
For some months past | have been
an attentive reader of the complicat-
ing views OF the Democratic press of
Tennessee in regard to the 1886 con
vention, and as cannot yield full as
sent to all THE COMET says on the
subject OF conventions, if you will al
low me to express my views adverse
to your own, ] will "show mine opin-
ion" also, on the vexed question
Ours being a representative govern
ment in all its branches, we can new
er ascertain what public opinion is
without full and free discussion and
interchange Of views on all important
questions as they arrise before the
public mind. II this is done in fair
and candid manner, it is difficult for
me to see how anything but good can
possibly come of a free discussion,
since there is an unwrttten law among
us to which all yield prompt and
willing obedience at last-the law that
majority shall rule. l accept this
unwritten law that the majority shall
rule in its broadest sense, since any
other course, in the very nature Of
things, subvert our form of govern
ment and lead us on from anarchy to
despotism. In this ! am sure we
hardly agree, for you say in your
piece Of Dee. 10TH
''It is not true that the people Of
East Tennessee want but one conven-
tion. You will not find one man III
ten up this way who does not want
two conventions, and who does not
want the judiciary removed as far as
| possible from politics"
From this ! totally dissent, and by
your permission will shoy that you
are extremely wide of the mark in
your estimate of public opinion in
/ East Tennessee. Let us see how it is.
Somewhere about ,six-tenths OF the
population of East Tennessee are
strong partisan Republicans, and
could not be influenced to vote for q
Democrat under any conceivable
circumstance. All these are in favor
of the Democrats holding two conven-
tions, because they would be more
Iapt to split in two conventions than
in one. But we have no right to
count Republican noses, as they will
4not support our candidates, and ought
not to influence our party coun-
ellis. This relieves the subject Of much
embarrassment, and sweeps away al
a single stroke sixteenth Of your nine.
tenth majority who demand two con.
ventions.
/ 1t is well known fact that at least
one man in ten of our population is .
natural born aristocrat, and honestly
believes the common mass of our peo
pie are incapable Of self-government
OF course, this gives us ene-tenth il
favor Of two conventions, for they be
lieye the wise few can make bette,
nominations than the ignorant many
! But they reject the principle Of ma
ljority rule which is the corner ston'
and foundation of all Democratic gov
, ernment, and have no place in on
Econvention They believe the learne,
! minority should govern the ignoran
I majority, and we will pass them owe
to their political brethren who usurpe
! the State government in 1865 5yand act
Q ually disfranchised, by statute, a majoi
: ity of the people Of Tennessee. Tha
, gives us out of the 10 men "up thi
y way" not much authorized to la
9 down Democratic law. To these tw
q classes may be added tenth Of OF
q population who believe the wind
q blowing from two conventions wi
q blow more material in their way
Is "feathor their own nests" than if
g only blew from one convention
or These men, it is true, are very sms
q any way we take them, intellectual
" morally and socially; but for son
" wise purpose the Almighty Great,
Ve them with tremendous lungs, al
y. lthey can blow their own horn sike
"a yeritable Stentor, making more clatt
ne and racket in the Democratic can
p than a whole regiment Of voters wi
lt. always deposit their ballots for pri
as ciple rather than men. Modesty,
he course, will classify these with t
PC others, and that gives you eight Q
ID, OF ten men cup this way who ha
I'd no moral right to lay down Democr
.er CLAW in regard TO conventions or a
1T thing else. If there is any hum
int agency on earth able to present I
cd judicial ermine Of Tennessee from
'as ing dragged in the mire and filth
lty partisan politics, it is a full and
ell conv ention Of the honest and stun
he yeomanry of the whole State, W
lp- viii not dance and flulter arou
ax a. =.