Sharp County record., 1888-04-12
A VINDICATION.


of the 3Ist ult. a communication
from Squire W. G. Meeks, dated
the Goth ult., referring to the demo-
cratic mass meeting held on the 18th
in this (SuIlivan) township, from
which it seems the Squire is under
a very gross mSsapprehension of the
style and objects Of said meeting,
though he was one Of the active
participants; and in the opening Of
the meeting it was plainly stated
that it was preliminary mass meet
ing Of the democratic party Of the
township for the purspose of organ.
izing the party for united action in
the coming election, and for getting
an expression of the feelings Of the
party in the township upon the
question Of holding a county con-
vention to nominate candidates of
the party for the different county
offices, and to attend to such other
business as the meeting thought
proper. There were 80 or 40 voters
in attendance and participating. The
meeting was short and harmonious,
as shown by the published proceed
ings in the Record. Now the Squire
comes forward and says;
"The Record had failed to reach me for
two weeks and knew nothing of the de-
sign of the meeting, more than there was
to be democratic meeting held, | didn't
know that it was to be select committee
of 16 that was to do the business; and
when the Record Of March Sth and 18TH
come TO hand late Saturday evening, (after
adjournment of the meetina) l found it
wasn't my put in, and take this method of
asking the commi5te to excuse me-" &c,
Now, | would just ask the readers
of the Record to examine the issues
of the Sth and 18th of March and
see if you can find anything in them
that would in the least indicate that
our meeting on the 18th was to be
held by "Select committee of l6."
In the Record of the Sth you will
find the call by Capt 7. c, Sims,
chairman of the township committee,
for mass meeting of the democrats
ic party at Brickell's Spring on the
18th of March, and earnestly request
ing every democratic voter in the
township to attend; also inviting
democrats of other townships to be
with us. You will find in the
Record of the 18th a list Of the
county central committee, and also
lists of the several township commit
tees, and Of course those of you who
are acquainted with party usages,
know that it is not intended that the
committees shall bold the meetings
and do the business Of the party.
Now, let me say on behalf of the
democrats of Sullivan township, that
they are not of that class that stop
to count noses before they launch
the democratic ship, or raise the
democratic flag, when the time comes
for action. They believe that dem
ocratic principles, as set forth in our
pratforms and presented by the
president in his last message to con-
gress, are just and correct, and most
conducive to the happiness and wei
fare of the great maSseS-and we
close our doors against no one that
holds with us in these things. We
have no secret methods or appliances
by which we expect to gain success.
We expect it by fair open majority
vote and we desire it no other way.
Now, what | have written has been
with the kindest feeling. | have only
desired to remove erroneous Impress
ions that may exist i'll the minds Of
any. hope the Squire will recon,
slider the grounds for lis article, and
endeavor to get rid of his present
mystitication, meet with us in our
succeeding meetings, and in o@r
nominating conventions, give us the
benefit of his superior wisdom and
counsel, IN selecting true and trusty
men for the different Offices. Let Us
all remember that che that is not for
us is against u.s.
w. G. MATUENY.
March 81, 1888.