The Ottawa free trader., 1886-10-02
THE CONVENTION.

THE CONVENTION.
When Wednesday shall have drawn &c
a close, the Democratic County Convention
will have adjourned and the candidates for
party honors and public place will have
b, Il n Md. The preliminary canvass
throughout has been prolonged and, In
some instances, bitter one; but that this
will tend in anywise to weaken the ticket,
when presented to the voters, we do not be,
ieve. The democratic voters are sensible
enough TO know that personal grievances
have no place in party politics, and that they
should be given no weight after the nomi
nations are made. Every democrat owes 1t
to his party to lay aside his personal disap-
pointment at the failure Of friend to re-
ceive party recognition, and support with
his utmost energy the nominees Of the Con.
vention.
The first duty of the delegates In Wed
ne days Convention Is to the democratic
party, as party, and not to individuals
The delegates owe 1t to the party to noml
nate men who are competent, honest and
who Will prove efficient servants Of the pub
lie If elected The men named must be of
such a character as to inspire the trust and
confidence of the party members, and com
mend them to the good will of the voters.
They must be democrats who are above sus-
plcion, and whose democracy is unques-
toned. They must be the choice of the
democratic party, and not the choice of a
corrupt and venal independent" press.
The Convention must be a diliberative
body, and not Convention determined to
do this or that, without regard to the eff
feet such action will nave upon the party's
prospects of success upon the day Of cleo
I on. Calm consideration Of the claim of
every candidate should be given, and for
such position should be named the man
who is best fitted to discharge the duties
attaching to 1t and who is most entitled to
the party's recognition.
In determining the strength Of candi-
date, the elements Of his long and faithful
pirty service, his personal popularity, his
of character and his geographical
situation should be taken into account.
The one possessed of the greatest number
of these elements sheuld receive endorse.
ment at the hands of the Convention.
1t must necessarily happen that there
will be some disappointed candidates, and
some friends OF candidates who will feel
sore and badly used when the Convention
has done its work Such Is the inevitable
result of every convention. The soreness
and disappointment of Wednesday should
be done away with before the dawn of
Thursday, and every democrat should enter
with zeal and earnestness upon the work of
the campaign. II there IL q candidate
who will not abide by the work OF the Con.
vention, and support honestly Its nomi.
nees, let him be true TO himself and not
permit his name to be presented TO II. I'll
any delegate will not work zeslously TO
elect the ticket named, he should not par
ticipate in the days deliberations. heart.
burnlngs, strife and bitterness should have
no place In democratic circles after the
Convention has done Its work and ad
journed.
The democratic party Is too strong In
numbers and too well entrenched In the
good graces of the people to be now defeated
at the polls. Its candidates have come
through two bitter campaigns triumphant.
Discord, personal animosity and vaun,ed