The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-19
SATURDAY. JULY 10, 1890.
PRIMARY ELECTION.

The Congressional elections TO take place
This fall are the most important thai will have
been held in the South since the close Of the
period of rcconslruction. Upon the re-
establishment Of Democratic supremacy in
the National House OF Representatives, de-
pcnds the prescryatio Of the southern peo-
pie from = long and systematic course OF
legislation by the Republican majority
looking 20 the destruction u every important
right reserved to their states by The Nation
al Constitution. II Is absolutely essential,
therefor, that every condition Of Demo
cratic success in our Congressional elections
shall h. closely studied and strictly follow
I'd, especially if the National election bill
becomes a law, because that law will in
troduce elements Of uncertainty and COM
plication never known in the Southern
States before.
In company with The other southern
States, Virginia Is profoundly interested in
the South being able to send as large a
Democratic delegation to Congress as pos
sible, and she is prepared to adopt every
legitimate means that Will ensure the sue
cess Of the Democratic Congressional nomi-
nees who will offer themselves for election
this fall. The leading district in Virginia
is the metropolitan district. II is the most
conspicuous and The most influential. 1t is,
therefore, especially important that the
Democratic nominee in this district shall
distinctly and Enthusiastically represent the
practically unanimous preference Of its
Democratic voters, in order o. bring out the
full strength ofthe party, and to unite itsI
members in a determined effort that will
win success beyond a doubt. The question
in which all the Democratic voters Of this
district are now interested is as To the man
who combines in himself the greatest num-
Der Of the elements Of popular strength. 1t
is question not to bC left to conjecture.
nor 10 the decision of the surface trend of
popular opinion. 1t is question that
should be decided 50 clearly as to Ice inca
pable Of being disputed 10y even corporals
guard Of voters.
What is the best method Of discovering
the Democrat who is most acceptable 10 the
people Of this district, the method that will
insure the most untrammeled expression
rs to who shall be the Democratic candi-
date, and that will give the amplest oppor
tunity TO every class of our Democratic cti-
zens to voice their preference? That method
would seem to be the primary election.
This is admitted by all with any knowl-
edge of primary elections, precinct
and ward meetings. The fairest method
is unquestionably the primary cleo
ton. \ very large class of voters, who ex.
ercise a powerful influence upon public
opinion, will take part in a primary cleo
tion but avoid a ward or precinct meeting.
Ii is not to the point to say that in doing |
this they are Sinking the duties of citizen
ship. The single object which the Demo |
cratic party Of this district should have in
view in the light OF the all-impOrtant con.
test now before US, is to secure the freest
expression of every Democratic voter
as TO the man who is preferred by him,
and if this expression can be Sc
cured by primary election more un-
mistakably and more indisputably than at
ward and precinct meetings, then the method
of nominating by primary election should be
adopted Not only would our professional
and business men, who are slow for one
reason or another TO enter ward or precinct
meetings, enter the primary, but the me
chanics, the men who toll with their hands
as well as with their brains, would find in
the primary "a mere convenient means Ol
giving voice to their preference. There is
not voter in the community, in fact, whose
would mot be consulted by the
adoption Of this method of choosing and
whose disposition to take part in selecting
A candidate would not De stimulated
There is but one objection that can be-
urged against it, namely: the expense that
would be entailed upon the candidates
whose names would be brought before the
voters for the nomination. The answer TO
this objection is obvious: 1t is better for the
to suffer in purse, if the primary
election is a method that will not only en-
sure beyond question nomination that will
reflect the sentiment of the majority, but
unyitiated by any Of those inilu-
cnces that must necessarily enter into the
choice of precinct OF ward meetings.
THE TIMES has no end to subserye in
this matter except what it considers to be
the best interests OF the Democratic party
not only Of this district, but of the state and
South at large. 1t has no preference with
reference 10 the different gentlemen whose
names have been canyassed among the
voters OF the district. Ii simply desires TO
see the strongest candidate nominated,
whoever he may be, and in desiring this 1t
is following its conviction that the best
method Of finding out who is the strongest
candidate is to employ the primary cleo
ton. Let the primary election then be
adopted irrespective Of the question of eX-
pense TO the candidates, a subordinate mat
ter after all when the interests of the people
arp involved