The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1889-06-06
NSTRNCTIONSi

weeks issue under the head of"No
Instructions ,''says at seems to be the
almost unanimous opinion among the
friends of the several candidates for
Governor, that 1t would be unwise
and in%expedient to instruct in the
County Convention for any paiticu-
lar candidate" aud further, we The
SentineD believe that the County is
for Ex-Gov. Stone and that any in
struction If adopted would be in his
favor Yet the Sentinel is opposed
to instructions"
We beg to dissent from both propo-
%sitions. We do not believe that it is |
the almost unanimous opinion of the
friends Of the several candidates for
Governor that the delegates shall 90
uninstrtcted, but upon the other
hand say that a great majority of
those whom we have heard discuss
the question are in favor of permit
ing the great body Of the people to
express themselves as to their choice
for governor and that our delegates
to the State Convention go instruct.
ed. And why should not this be SO?
Why pray, should the Democratic
party ofGrsnGda County In Conven.
ton assembled not be permitted to
say who its cholce IL tor Governor.
What 0 b)ection that is valid, can be
urged against this plan? Who will
suffer ty such a proceeding except
the minority candidates? Was the
Democratic party organized and in.
stitu ted for the benefit OF a few poll
t~icians, or Is the party what it claims
to be IAN Organization of equal fights
and equal privileges, wherein the
voice Of the humblest citizen can be
heard, his rights respected and his
wishes, If a majority concur with
him, be all powerf full and CONTROL.
ing?
We can readily see ard fully IN.
derstsnd Why the friends Of the mi
nority are urging that the voice OF
the masses of the Democratic party
be stifled and that voice be not per.
mitted to express tie wish Of the
majority. The minority know that
If the popular will is ascertained that
their candidate stands 10 chance OF
carrying the county, but by rcsorting
to the articles which sometimes con-
, troll Conventions, the minority may
> patch up an uninstructed delegation
which gees to Jackson and performs
the duties for which Il was created,
l to represent themselves, and their
, clique, and to vote for the minority
candidate, reg ardloss of the wishes
!, orthe rank and file Of the Party.
But we tirge that it is moro in &C.
cord with Democratic principles
and usages for the voice of the major.
lily to be heard and this voice as ex.
pressed In Conventions to be respect
ed and controlling. It Is the proud
and Legitimate boast of the Democra-
cy that 1t is "ths people"- and 1.-THE
voice Of the people Is. the voice of
aod" and that the majority shall
rule.
If this rule is adopted BY our Coun.
ty Convention, then there will be no
chance for the minority to throttle
the majority, but unless this is the
rule Of action, q few delegates can, If
they so desire thwart the majority.
Observation has taught Us that on
lily a few ofthe delegates appointed,
attend the State Convention and
they vote: according to their'personal
choice. 1t is always understood that
the delegates: in the absence of in
structions will vote as their pleasure
dictates. There are many tried and
true Democrats who arc either too
poor to defray theirlexpenses to, or
their Business prohibits their attend
ing, the State Convention. Now in
order that this class OF individuals
and tho sreat body OF the Party shall
have an. opportunity to be heard rs
to the selection OF their standard
bearer, let the County Convention
declate Its choice and instruct its del.
egates.
Almost every COUNTY IN the State
(if past action 10 any test will send
linstructsd delegations and the uni
verssl rule that the; majority shall
govern. The Sehtinal says that we
have never had this rule in our Coun-
Fly. Our information IS that this
bCounty instructed for Stone In 1877;
In 1881 no instruction was asked be-
cause there WAS no contest and every
one understood how the delegation
would vote; in 1875 nc instruction
was given, for the sole and single
reason that Grenada County had a
Candidate for a State Office and out Of
respect FOR our County man, 1t was
deemed unwise and in~e1pedient to
hamper Elm BY i%rstructing our dele
cation.
It has ain ays been tl.e custom in
r this County IN selecting delegates to
. the Senatorial and Congressional
: Conventions to instruct them; and
! why should a different. rule prevail
: as to State Conventions? Is not the
principle The sameS We remember
that last year the Hon. Clark Lewis
-reca;asd the majority vote, tho dole