Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-23
LET II ABIDE.

The Portsmouth Star says that If the
politicians have their way the new pri-
mary system will be discarded, seeing that
| for obvious reasons they want TO return
| meetings. But none the less our contem-
| porary believes that the system has come
to stay Happily. it remarks. 1t has been
| tried and found TO work we'll We agree
with our contemporary. There are some
| defects in the system, which we must find
| way of remedying. especially that in
| volved in the expense on the candidates
for nomination. But on The whole the
new primary law has not been found
wanting
There are 'noliticians' and politicians.
and o make no bones about the matter. the
people had for some years been getting
very tired of the former. The evils OF the
old convention plan were pretty generally
recognized as demoralizing in several
ways. Taking its workings by and
through. large part OF the electorate
had little to say as to who should be the
candidates. Not always has the conven-
ton and ward meeting method resulted
in putting up undesirable men. Far from
it. But in numerous instances better and
moro desirable men could have been Sc
lected. had there been fair fight and an
open field. and the stimulant and oppor-
tunity for exercise Of free choice on the
part Of the masses, which is afforded in
the primary system.
The old plan so operated that largely
the rank and file Of the party gradually
settled down 20 the conviction that it was
no use for them to try TO take an active
part in naming candidates. They let the
politicians run things" The conditions
were such that they could not afford to
kick The exigcncies of the case were
such that we had TO have harmony at
any cost Moreover, not infreauentiy-
indeed all too often-sood men We're de-
TERED from standing Tor nomination be-
cause they were not willing TO engage N
the wire pulling and the log rolling neces-
sary TO success. The people could not but
allow the politicians" TO keep in the
saddle and lead, and. in q sense, dictate
their candidates for the most part; and
this conduced. and logically conduced. to
a more or less unhealthy political state
Of affairs in every community. In truth,
it conduced to an undemocratic state OF
affairs; for the essence OF Democracy is
the will of the people.
But no reason for the old order now
obtains The Democratic masses have
been unrettered as to this matter. The
individual Democrat. while ne has not
been freed from party ation-from
obligation to his party's principles-has
been freed from the necessity of submit
tiEg t. intra-garty evils. He is independ-
ent within the party. The politicians
of the class We are describing, will not be
permitted to dominate longer. The only
way they can continue to dominate is by
bringing about dscardal OF the primary |
system, and the return 10 the convention
and ward meeting. II they attempt that |
they Will ride to a fall.
We reiterate our belief that the new |
primary law has come to stay. and it |
not only should stay. but broaden as a |
feature of our party policy. 1t presents
the true Democratic idea. and the cardinal |
Democratic doctrine of trusting the peo-
pie With some provision made for re-
iieving the candidates for nomination of
heavy expense-and that problem ought
not TO be very difficult to solve-the plan
would practically put all Democrats com
petent TO serve the people upon an equal
footing. as 10 opportunity. That is sound
Democracy, also. The primary is full of
promise OF supremacy OF unadulterated
Democracy, OF cleaner methods, OF real
of the people in all posi-
tons Of honor and trust 1t is an in
centive TO the best men TO enter politics,
and clears the path for the Office to seek
the man. which is a consumm; ton de-
voutly to be wished Let 1t abide.