The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-14
Congressional Nominations.
Columbia Record.

The primary plan OF nominating candidates
OF the Denlucrntic party seems to be growing
in favor In this state and justly so. The cx-
gcnccs of our political situation pcremptorily
require that the supremacy OF the Democrat
ic party shall be maintained, and therefore
every Democrat feels IL to be his duty to sup
port ITS nominees whether they arc acccptt-
bic TO him or nor. Under these circumstances
each individual Democrat ought to have us
large Il share in the selection OF candidates as
IL is possible to give him, and In this respect
the primary plan has the advantage over
nominating conventions. 1t Is the only way
in which patriotic, conscientious Democrat,
who is not q delegate to nominating conrcli-
tiun, can vote freely and effectively for the
candidate OF his choice. Elections are Il most
effective means of educating people In the art
of sclEgorcrnmcnt. The citsting OF bal lot is
the supreme exercise OF the right OF citizen
sovereignty, and though ii is simple enOug il
act In itself yet II Is most potent In lis reSu lis
and requires q large degree of intelligence
AMI special knowledge that cannot be SO well
acquired in amy other way than by eXpei-
icncc. For this reason, II there were no other
elections should be frequent. And since the
nominations of the Democratic party arc
equivalent To election these nominations
ought to lie made by the primary plan when
ever practicable. The convention is Il train
ing school for politicians. The primary clcc-
tiun is Il SchOul for citizens.
Sume demand has been made 10 have can
diIatcS for Congress nominated by the pr:
mary plall. What Wc have said above will
apply as well TO the nomination of Congress-
men as to any other official. But here we arc
met with the practical difficulty that the cUn-
Stitution OF the Democratic party OF the
State regulates the manner OF nominating
Congressman and prcscribcs that IL shall DC
done by conventions. This constitution can
of course he changed, but until it is changed
IT, should be strictly ohcycd. y party that
claims to uphold constitutional liberty must
obey lis own constitution. 4 failure to do so
would be like corrupting the fountain head,
or like taking away the pendulum OF u clock
or The lud,!cr of Il ship. If nominations are
made in an unconstitutional manner they
would not he the nominations of the DEMO
cratic party and could not claim loyal Dem.
ocratic support. There is only one test of Il
party nomination and that Is to inquire
wheih her il was made in accordance with the
constitution of the party.
The friends Of some candidates may think
they would stand Il better chance of SUCCESS
in Il primary election than before II conven.
ton, and the friends OF other candidates may
prefer u convention for Il similar reason. I'm
fortunately the tendency is To allow such con
SidcraLiOnS us these TO have too much lmtlu-
cncc. But they certainly should not b" allow
rtl to urcumpliSh Il violation OF tie cnnStiiu'
ton. II the primary plan OF nominating
tungrrSSinrn is TO he adopted let IL hr hy
amendment of Lie constitution III the conSli.
tutonai way.