Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-08
TWELVE PAGES.
TUESDAY. MAY s. 1900.
BY CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED

The Virginlan-Pilot believes in rules
and regulations. and 1t believes in en-
forcing them. 1t believes that no party,
corporation or body can exist without
rules and regulations. 1t believes that
where body is made up of an aggre
cation of men. thinking many different
ways. everybody must give and take.
and no one can get just exactly what
he wants, as was forcbly set forth in
the speech of Hon. John w. Daniel,
quoting the old adage: Blessed is he
who expects nothing. for he shall not
be disappointed"
But while argument Is good regard
ing the platform it does not apply to
plan of Organization" the rules made
to govern the body of Democracy-the
party as an aggregate whole. The
rights of the individual Democrat the
individual ward, the individual county
or city. and the individual district.
should be safe-guarded.
1t is a principle that has asserted tt
self amongst frecmen since our fore
Britain and planted the banner of self
government on the American shores.
1t is the principle of States Rights that
preciptated the great Civil War of 1861
and which caused the death of many
n Southerner. 1t is principle for
which Democracy has ever fought and
for which 1t will stand so long as the
rights of the Individual remain the
watchcry as against the greed OF trusts
and combinations. The protection of
the right of the individual is the par
amount plank in the platform of Demo-
cracy.
1t is seen, then, that the question OF
party platform and party management
do not rest upon the same basis The
organization is simply intended to hold
the party together, to better wage war
for the principles of the party and
against It's enemies.
When the new Plan OF organ cation"
was adopted 1t was confidently believed
that Democrats in different wards,
cities and counties would be guaranteed
their right to select their own candi-
date. and settle their own differences.
This was the plan OF organization in
the days Of Mr. Barbour, the plan
adopted at Lynchburg and which suf-
fered n violent operation of action
and subtraction at the hands of some
unknown culprit. While no man has
come forward and offered to explain
this sorrowful theft of whole clause.
Its Keepers. the men responsible for its
Keeping, continue to remain silent.
In the meantime. the Committee, acting
upon The 0arbIed rules. proceeded to
nominate candidates for the people of sew
eral districts. which said candidates
the people promptly buried too deep 10
ever again hear the political horn OF
resurrection.
1t was confidently believed that the
wise men. heading the party. would
profit by sad experience and learn that
the men who do the voting are as much
men as the aforesaid wise men. IL was
believed that the Convention would put
back the Barbour Home Rule Clause. -
but 1t did not
Now. what are really the facts? The
very Committee. or portion of 1t. that
had tried TO exercise this tyrannicoI
power. met organized and made sfyonocr
the centralized powers of the Contra,
Committee by girin9 it the power in so
many words 1t had previously en-
deavored to assume. 1t never replaced
the Home Rule Clause. but expressly
left it out.
One Is naturally surprised that the
Convention should have agreed to such
q plan. That is exactly what the Con-
xention did not do, and we. therefore,