The Southern herald., 1889-05-10

convention to nominate candidates
for the public Offices, both state
and county. If II is right to hold
conventions to nominate candidates
for the national and state Offices it
certainly can not be wrong to have
a convention to nominate candi-
dates for county Offices. A correct
and long established principle fol
the one evidently furnishes sub.
stantial precedent for tie other.
Besides this, ii is in direct harmony
with democratic usage and demo.
cratic policy. This method sun.
questicnably simpiifes and unifiea
political action. Then if this be
true, why should any exigency
arise to justify the party in a de.
parture from old and long establish
ed precedent? Our political educa-
tion teaches us that the democratic
party is the right party, because il
is the party Of economy, Of progress
and fidelity to the government Of
our fathers and the constitution oi
our country. We are therefore
bound by every consideration Of
right and duty to support and main.
tain it at any and all hazards. We
are compelled for purposes ofpuri-
fication to throw around it every
possible safeguard to preserve from
contamination and premature de-
cay. 1t is our sacred duty to main
tain and perpetuate these prin-
leiples by solid and unbroken de-
termination to transmit them in
violate TO the remotest generation.
lit is impossible to do this unless
we keep up the organization, and
this can only be done by systematic,
harmonious action in conventions.
We thus secure the best talents,
the best integrity and the best
merit for the faithful discharge Of
|eYery public duty. This end ac-
complished our democratic instilu-
tions are secure andmon a solid
basis, without it they are the prey
Of nnscrupulous den1agogues and
the victims Of the ignorant and the
vicious. But aside from these
fundamental reasons, which date
back to the formation of the govern
ment, there are other and very
potent reasons why we should
nominate our candidates, and
among these we propose to mention
some which our own experience
and observation teaches us to be
true. In a free race for Office, the
various and questionable methods
resorted to and practiced by candi-
dates must be revolving to the
moral sense. The mud-slinging,
the slanderous Misrepresentation
and foul aspersions upon the charac.
ter of honorable seekers for office ia
something to be deplored, and by
all means should be scrupulously
avoided. But these common prac.
tees, so adverse TO social refine.
ment and in direct conflict with
the genius of our civilization anC
the christian age in which we live
can never be eliminated or ever
modified when every campaign is {
promiscuous scuffle for Office by al
classes of people-the ignorant, ths
wicked, the treacherous, the edu
Gated, the refined, and the mos
meritorious. Invariably this is The
case in free race for public Office
II is absolutely disgraceful and re
pugnant to the better sentiment
and taste of refined citizenship
Many an upright, chivalrous, cult
vated and worthy man is forever
barred from sharing in the honorl
and Offices OF his country by being
too modest and too sensitive tC
delve into the sleeps Of iniquity
and endure the torture and defama
ton that follows a heated and ma
lignant campaign. This ought no
to be tolerated, and / believe thC
good common sense men of thu
country-those who live for a higt
purpose, and are actuated by thu
most exalted motives and spurreC
on by the best patriotism-coult
and should ever avoid such humilia
ltion as a free race for public Office
always brings upon the country
Indeed, this class of citizens shoulc
ever be on the "qui vive" in ordel
to secure the most worthy ant
efficient men for the Offices. Th,
best class of citizens should alwayi
,.-s..z A. s.tt1. Al /. ......As... II -