Sharp County record., 1890-05-29

Sharp county number, as shown by
the September election Of 1883,
about zoo; 400 of these prior to
1886 acted with and voted the DEM
ocratic ticket, but at the election
that year and the two elections OF
1888 they joined the enemy and for
no cause bitterly fought the demo-
Gratis with all the ability they could
command. No word, no eprtaph, no
scheme was too fragrant to use IN de
nouncing the democrats. Their
leaders did not stop at defeat at
the polls, but carried the contest to
the legislature and to congress. We
all know the result 80 shame,
where is thy blush?" Now comes
the subject; the members Of the l.
L.>wheel>republican>party of Sharp
county are giving it out that they
are not going to put out a ticket III
the county this year, but are going
to vote independently for such men
as suit them and intend to 90 into
the primaries and vote if allowed to
do soil heard one say he would or
have a fuss)and thereby get their
men nominated. They propose to
act independently but some of them
in unguarded moments have given
away the scheme. They will hold
their secret meetings with closed
doors and every member of the Or
ganizaticn will be thoroughly posted
and the candidates for the various
Offices whom they in secret endorse
will receive the solid strength of the
700 who are permitted to vote In
our primaries. Then dissatisfaction
will arise III our ranks and if they
see chance to elect a ticket of their
own, they will put out ticket and
catch the dissatisfied element and
with their solid strength defeat the
democratic ticket. This nefarious
scheme, If carried into effect, will
dnquestionably defeat the democrat
ic party of Sharp county. We must
keep them out of our primaries. All
of the good men among them will
stay ont. Good men will not stoop
this low and we have got the nerve
to stand the others off.
The object of a democratic pri>
mary election, Mr.. Editor, if | un>
derstand it, is for the democrats of
the county or township to nominate
ticket to be elected at the polls.
1t is done in order to insure demo-
cratic success. But if the primaries
are thrown open and all opposition
allowed to vote therein, then the
very object of the primaries will be
defeated. If that is to be done we
hsd better abolish the primaries en-
Iirely and let all run at the general
election. Some few individuals
claim that we ought to encourage
the 400 that went off with the u. h..
party to come back and be with US
again, Say they have strayed off IN
forbidden paths and sinned against
democracy; but We should reclaim
them by inviting them to come back
and allowing them to vote in our
primaries am highly IN favor Of
reclaiming them but "the only way
of Judging the future is by the
past"
As Judge Matheny says, so say l.,
"a tree is known by its FRUITS" and
the last two crops we have gathered
from that source have been exceed
ingly bitter. But some say if we
allow them to vote in the primary
they will vote with us at the general
election. am satisfied they would
like to do This, but for one | can say
do not want to vote with them.
Now let me say to the democracy of
Sharp county. as am somewhat
young in years myself, do not be
deceived by such stuff. Remember
that Judas kissed the Savior and be
trayed him at the same moment.
1t may be that some of them are
sincere in wanting to come back to
the democratic fold, and | for one
would rejoice to see them come
back and support the party of the
people, but | do think that before
they are permitted to take part in a
primary they should wait until the
September election and vote at least
one straight democratic ticket and
thereby prove their faith by their
works. | think this matter should
be brought before the County Gems
tMl committee and the Township
committees; and if an individual
who is known to the committee rs
having voted thCU, i, ticket at the
last election should offer to vote in
the primary he should be kindly
asked to stand aside and wait until
the general election and if he is acting
in good faith, TO prove it ut the Sep.