Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-15
Don't Choose Partisan Delegates.

Don't Choose Partisan Delegates
1t is not certain that the majority OF the
people of the state want either Gen. Cor
don or Mai. Bacon for Governor. Indica-
tions are cropping cut in many counties
that it would not be a difficult matter TO
secure uninstructed delegations to the
state Convention. II may be said that
if the people of any county do not favor
either Gen. Gordon or Maj. Bacon, they
can choose delegates who are not partl-
sans of either. That is very true. but it
must not be forgotten that in about every
county the local politicians who run the
mass meetings and the primaries favor
one or the other of these candidates, and
the people, being without leaders and
without organization, fluid it difficult to
! give expression to their wishes. When
they attend the mass meetings and pri-
maries they lind everything cut and dried,
as it were, by the local leaders. They don't
know exactly how to go to work to elect
delegates who would be satisfactory to
them. They find when the day arrives for
selecting delegates that they must vote
for those who favor either Gen. Gordon or
Maj. Bacon or not vote at all. They
haven't time to consult together and make
up ticket composed of men who are not
partisans of either candidate. In many
localities there is no one who is qualified
or is willing to take the lead in such a
movement. The people therefore find
themselves confined to a choice between
Gen. Gordon and Maj. Bacon. In many
counties if a ticket, composed of men not
partisans of either of these gentlemen,
were presented it would in all probability
be successful.
OF course the supporters Of both Gen
Gordon and Maj. Bacon would oppose the
selection OF non-partisan delegates.
They wouldn't view with any
degree OF satisfaction a movement
looking to the nomination of a
man not yet generally discussed in con-
nection with the Governorship. They
realize that the course they have pursued
has not been popular, and that it wouldn't
require a great effort to induce the Peep lie
to abandon both of them. Their mana
gers, therefore, can very properly be re-
garded as hostile to uninstructed dele
gates. 1t is safe to assume that they
would oppose efforts to select non-partI-
san delegates with as much earnestness
as they now oppose the selection of dele
gates hostile to their respective candi-
dates.
1t is rather remarkable that the people
have submitted so patiently to the bull
doing tactics adopted by the managers
OF Gen. Gordon and Maj. Bacon to force
them to support their respective can
didates. These managers have assumed
from the outset that the choice for can
didate for Governor must be cont ed to
the two men they represent. They do not
admit that there are other men in the
State qualified for the GovernOrship, and,
by the course they are pursuing, deny
that the people have a right to look out
side of their principals for a candidate.
Without being solicited they have put
forward two men, and, in effect, have
said to the people that they must take
one or the other of them.
1t will be rather strange if the people dc
not resent this attempt to restrict their
rights-this reflection upon their intelli-
gence. They are certainly showing signs
of restlessness. II in each of the coun-
ties which have not yet acted a citizen OF
character and position should step TO
the front and say, 'Let US teach these pO-
litlcal manipulators a lesson. Let us
| show them that we are able to think and
act for ourselves. Let us make them un-
derstand that they cannot put forward
candidates and tell us that our choice is
limited to Them" it is probable that
enough uninstructed delegates would be
sent to the convention to control the
nomination.
Now is the time for the people to take
the reins In their own hands. The cam
palgn is progressing rapidly. One after
another the counties are selecting dele
gates. Soon it Will be too late to prevent
the wire-pullers of one or the other of the
factions, which have been doing their best
for weeks to demoralize and dlsorganize
the party for selfish purposes. from secur-
ing a position which will assure them a
victory.
1t is better, from every point of view,
that a man who has taken no part in the
\ present unseemly contest should be
elected Governor. If either Gen. Gordon
or Maj. Bacon is elected, there will be a
period OF bitterness in the, party. There
will be examinations and recriminations.
I The two factions which are now so dis
| tinct will to a certain extent be at wal
with each other as long as the leader oil
the successful faction remains Governor
For the interest of party harmony, there
fore, and for the purpose Of rebuking the
| politicians who have taken the business
of making a Governor into their own
hands, let the people send delegates To
the convention who will nominate can
didate who will be satisfactory to all fac
lions of the party,
A Sunday Law in New Orleans.
New Orleans is regarded as one OF the