Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-25
COMMUNICATED

Mr.. Editor:-You should have
been at the Jop Holliff Show on Sat
urday evening ut the Court House.
The unterrIiied democracy had been
called from theplow. the workshop
and the store to elect delegates al
ready cut aud dried) 20 convention
TO be held in Norfolk, Va. And then
and there we were told -'hOw not 10
dO -, hut not one word said as TO
how It. shorli h. done.
As usual. We had leaders, and they
held office. The old bell wether. the
yenrlihg, and the lamb with has plain
tive bleat (whO stood just back of the
old one and IA d whenever the nip
pie on the otte was in evidenced
notwithstanding the difference in ten
ure of o.ice. They all fed from the
same bottle ;NIdrcw the same brain
food, aud they sucked IL dry. The
whole flock was in favour ~. amend
ments to our present Underwood, car
pet bag constitution, but privately
suppose we were put out of office,
What then? And how can we trust
n convention composed of Virginia
democrats who are not Office holders?
The people. the dear people docking
srOund the room must make any and
every change. We will submit TO the
will of the people off they keep us in
Office But how is that to be done.
If the people arcnot allowed to speak?
And who will DO il if the Democratic
Party does not% was asked bv lone
grey beard, who ALWAYS voted No.
lie must have been of the another
breed, as he tiOcked by himself and
evidently had never sucked "practl
cal politics" from the rubber tipped
hnriie.) This question was too point.
Ell fOr the Solons who mOnopolized
the floor and they dsigned no reply
VERY great slreSs WAS laid on the will
of the dear people who could 90 moth
ing wrong, $50 long as we are kept in
Office
notwithstanding the intense re
lance aud ..ou!idence i'm the People
ani resolutions denouucing any ac-
s'"n on thc part of the people in
changing the Constitution. one Of the
flock offered resolution leaving the
whole matter of revising that docu
mTHt Ia f'relre meni Oh Demos,
VI hat have sc come tnY The idea of
IN" Democracy leaving thr formation
at the'fnndAmmtal law of the State
io fgeirc menl Was ever snch y prop
0<'tlon sounded in the ears of native
t"r" NIrgiuians before? Wake upl
,'"ifcrSoH. Madison, Henry. ITO your
scmis. o israal. the Philistines are
upon us.
hr only apparent argument ad
vnDvri 10y ANY speaker against niak
ing The cali of 4 convention Ia party
inIit"F was that then all democrats /
would i,e !,uund to vote for the new
0nStiiuiion, ~ that If (the u men
") the Great Democratic Party
SHOULD insert clause that the Office
"l Governor shall be handed down
from father to SOn, We, the Demo /
cratic party, wOaid ne compelled to
accept it. 4 las Alas! What has
'practical politics" brought us to:
There was one thing taught farm
frs at this great spontaneous district
con vention, and they should not for
get 1t. Always put the cart before |
the horse. Elect your delegates and |
then smash them over the head with |
your platform. 1t would hurt and !
Knock some cranksided, but that is
the way to get into practical poll
Tics Think Que way, vote another.
This question is like the old one
winch troub led the rats-"Wh no shall |
oeii the cst?" In the mean time the
black cat with the Mckinley kittens
s't mp and lick their chops. We owe
something to our brothers of the
black belt. PuNoH A. JTDy