The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-07-21
PRIMARY AND CONVENTION SYSTEMS.
so. p. H." Shows the Advantages OF
the Primary ns Compared With
the Convention Plan---The Right
of the Citfzen--The True idea OF
Republication.


Editor Press and Hammer:
AS separate parties entertain views of an ad-
verse character In the political government
and one Of them Of q corrupt nature, party
faction seems to be an Indispensable necess.
for party strife. The primary system that has
been adopted by Democracy in asCertafning
the choice Of party candidates ls the direct
way OF reaching general satisfaction, although
cal sehism, dsnominated q rnRsistn sRsSss 81 % sSink
1t approximates the nearest method that can
be effected to find out the popular voice or
wish. Every voter should have an access Of
box for represent tation In the government,
either State, Congressional or county. This
right, conceive, fs what Democracy claims
as II &c gift 10 the people. 1t is form Of gov
lodged collectiwey." This is t the sterilization
that has been transmitted TO receding genera
tion and recalls to memory the seven years
struggle forindependence. The primary plan
or n,odus operandi OF election which afforded
the humhlest citizen an opportunity who was
vested with the right Of suffrage to give vent
70 his choice for public Office bearers. and
and untramm eled American citizen.
The convention plan does not by any
niasa means allow that nestlmable privilege to be
nial subject OF authority and taxation. It
partakes too much Of that spirit Of "boss.
ism,"-a "few to rule the manyh which Is an
tagonistic 10 the true Idea OF American repub-
canery has been tolerated until forbearahce
has ceased to be q virtue, and the body polite
Is clamoring for its extinction, and the sIbsti-
tuition of 2 mode that will give better salts
faction. They are reluctant to succumb any
longer TO the domineering power Of a few
self-laudatory, self-interested politicians who
fabrfcate schemes solely for their aggrandise-
ment In packed conventions, The right TO
vote Is boon Of citizenship that should not
be trampled under foot. Every masculine
deniZen who has attained the age Of majority
should have full exercise OF his privilege
when ever an opportunity presents Itself In
sesses In giving expression 10 whom he thinks
should constitute the legion Of office. holders.
II the primary system Is fair and impartial In
the best local county Officers, I cannot under
stand why IL Is not equally so in selecting
Congressman or State officers. Objection IL
these candidates. Itappears to me. the trou-
BILE would not be aug ment to any great extent,
II the same day on which we elected our
county nominees would be utilized for that
would be in the way to prevent that: Grant
ing the difficulty would be magnif1ed even
ten-fold shall the right to vote, one Of the
greatest prerogatives e-born American
q little trouble. Trouble, Mr.. Editor, is nat
ural Inheritance. My motto is, let us have q
Congressional campaign. Let the aspiraBts
come before the people and divulge the sentl-
monts that they entertain on the different
questions or issues Of the day that pertain to-
the public welfare-such as the Blair silver,
tariff, pension or any bill that springs up for
discussion in Congress.
The people want to know howt to cast their
votes intelligently, and they do not desire to
be disfranchlsed, as 1t were, by the pledged
conventional plan. In the recent States Far
mer's Convention, your humble servant, one
of that body, availed himself OF the opportu-
nifty Of introducing resolution favoring the
primary system In placing both Congressional
and State nominees In the field. and 1t was
This Mr.. Editor, was an Indication that there
is prevailing sentiment throughout the
State endorsing the primary plan OF ascer'
talning the party car didates, and recognize
no plausible reason why we should not adopt
II In the present campaign am fearful op-
position to this method has sprung up merely
on the ground that Abbeville' county gave
birth to this contemplated scheme, for the
promotion Of selfish ends. Geographical lines
should not be drawn In quest Of the essential
elements Of character to fill Congressional
post Of trust Merit where ever exist should
be allowed to transcend all pleas Of obj eetions
and not be circumscribed under any consider.
alton. With due Difference to the intellectual
worth Of the other counties composing the
District ,Abbeville still prides herself as being
the Athens Of South Carolina land cannot re-
sist a sensation Of mbition ana egotism In
claiming that she is still fn possession Of the
most available material of the genus homo to
bear up the falling mantle Of her illustrlous
son, Hon. D. Wyatt Aiken. 0. P'H.