Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03
The Test OF Dem ocrncy.
ATLANTA Constltutlon)

g..
on the Goth Of January the Democrauc
State Executive Committee or AiaDaiid
viii meet TO determine the qndllilcil l.ilo
OF voters in the primaries 10 be eIedLleI
held This means. OF course, tnal lle
Stale Committee win discuss the attltGue
OF the GOO Democrats who, aIlcr Boius
into the Democratic primaries ana Notns
for DELEGATES to the chicago cohFeH'lvn,
turned around ana voted for Independents
Inn some quarters this question IS sup
posed 10 be ore Of great dclicacy, but, NAe
other questions. its solution lies lM tne ui-
recti0n of plain common sense Lnele - -
no rule or regulation by which any voter
can be forced TO support party contrary
10 his convictions There Is no rule OF reg
ulatiOn that requires party 10 lc5et ~
those who oppose d as having any l-ell1
or privilege to take part IN lts couhctIs.
In onect a primary is In tine nature Oh
party consultation.
Those who participate in a party pri-
mary DO so with the understanding luA1
they will support the candidate VINO re-
coivos the greatest number OF votes dl
the primary ballot. Indeed. their paltIcl-
patton is something more suDstiutlal IMAM
an understanding. IL Us Do the nature, o,
q pledge and has always been so reedrct4
bv all honorable men. Those Democrats 10
Alabama and elsewhere VINO, aIter Lifu-
cipating I'm the party primaries. refused
TO accept the result and voted Tor rainier
or Mckinley. violated their implied
b
Der. ocrats in good standing.
Before they can be regarded as Demo-
cratic voters they Will have To snow 10y
their unseldsh support OF party cahllddles
that they are anxious 10 be received again
I'm full fellowship. And this must be pure
ly voluntary on their part. They have the
right and the privilege 10 vote LOT tne
candidates Of the party, or 10 refuse 10
vote for them; but they have forfeited Tot
the time being whatever right or privilege
they had 20 participate ln the primary
until they have duly affiliated with inc
party by voting its ticket.
When an executive committee decue5
otherwise. it imperils the party ana eH-
tends a loud invitation 20 an the elements
of discord and Differentiation,
In fact, such a decision would suDVeIl
the very purpose for which an organic
ton Is maintained, and undermine the
whole scheme of party unity ana mar
mOuv. TO permit o voter 90 oppose inc
party one day and 20 become an import
ant factor in its councils and cohsulta.
tions the next would bee in the nature OF
an invitation 10 all opponents % enter
into the primaries seize the party ma
chirorv. and then turn the organization
AGAINST itself and against its avowec
WHAT. then. is the solution Of this quess-
fion which as We have taken pains 10
show, is w0fuly lacking in the dehcacy
that has been attributed 10 IL: The soiu-
ffon Is as simple as the question u.s. inc
fosf Of party fealty is adherence 10 me
PRINCIPLES Of organization and support or
The partv's candidates. There are no
Democrats. and can be none In the party
eoree oxccnt the men who have sunscrlb-
el ~ the platform declarations, and VINO
have supported the party cdulllalea'
and only those who answer 10 lh7 &c
scription have the right or shoull pc az
lowed 10 participate In the party priiiia-
m IT be answered that this simple solu-
tion of a very simple question is hard or
vigorous the reply is that these terms 40
rof ~ the case at all since there is no
,l..y,,S,,r5ieion en- the matter The Democrats
v-ho refused 10 support the candidate OF
their party did so of their own lIee VIII:
When they return 10 the party lley WIN
roftrn of their own free Will The DemOc-
racv IS not empowered 90 send our con-
stables and posses and compel individuals
10 endorse its principles and support IT'S
candidates. Those who have opposed me
Marty and now desire 70 return I'D lhe
fold Will have 10 take uP ln'!F l,ei ms icy
precisely at the point where they rev j.
II In be asked how a Democrat VINO ms
deserted the party can return 10 lue or
ganizatiOn unless he be allowed 10 paIlicl-
uate I'm the primaries. the answer ls SIM
he Tgiret lei him show that he is Dem
ocrat When he has demensliated lHl7'
the primaries viii be as free TO MN as
I'D other Democrats but now IS He, ID
show that he is a Democracy 10 is sln pie
everything about the party, us lii1cui.Heii
.as well as its mission, IS simplicity, ll7eii.
whoever will may become a Democrat
Nv ellunOrtfng the party's candidates ana
accoDfiug rs platform. This, as we nave
eofd As the supreme test OF party realty
Those who 20 out OF the party must Ie-
turn bv the same road. The desire or
voter 10 participate IN a. PRIMARY lo Iu
e,idonce that he believes I'm the party, or
maj he will support its candidates. This
mot has been so recently dcM0nst ratcd
mai II IS hardly worth while TO refer 10
In fact. II frequently happens IN prac-
tfca nc every voter knows. that the test
~ Democracy has 10 be applied 10 those
who ask leave - participate IN Il pIl-
mary. They are asked u they supported
the Democratic candidates M me lasl
election previous 10 the primary. TT their
orsVer i no they are not allowed 10
vote: If their answer is yes. iney are
looked on as Democrats and their ballots
are recorded. ,-.
10 the Democratic party is simple. Even
the safeguards that il IS necessary 10
throw around the organization are Simple.
They are also complete. TO abolish or
even weaken them would open the door
10 discord and internal strife. ana would
give the enemies of the party an oppoG-
funity 10 cripple. If not destroy, 10.
We see already what has been accom-
ufiehcd by calling men Democrats VINO !
not only have no sympathy with the par
tv. bat who have no ad-Q late conception
of Democratic principles. hut for the re-
turn to these principles made Icy the CHI
cn.O convention the party WoNlu nave |
been obiiferated ar the last election. As /
IL was. it's candidate received "a larger
ponular vote than any candidate Tor the
presidency, except his opponent.