Year: 1860

date to represent the party in Presiden.
tial struggle. Who that man will be, called
Of the Democracy to lead their cohorts to
battle, is painfully uncertain to the would
be applicants for place. In times of una
nimity in the party a representative man is
most likely to receive the coveted honor.
In times of distraction, like the present,
policy is to be consulted, and availability
/ is meritorious. Could the Democratic party
present an urlbroken front, as oftimes in
/ days agone, we might hazard little in pre-
I dieting A. H. Stephens or Jefferson Davis
would be the standard bearer of the party.
Either of these, or Brown, of Mississippi, is
representative man of the Democratic
party of to day. They are the e1ponents
Of the principles enunciated and sustained
by the majority. That majority has deci-
ded Douglas renegade from the faith a
traitor to the principles of the party a
sower of dissentions and breeder of party
disorganization. Except in troublous times,
in days of doubt and fear, he who so con-
tennis the will ofthe majority, as expressed
by the party in elections, in Congress, State
Legislatures, public meetings, and immune
rable newspapers, can hardly hope again to
rise to favor in the indignant party. Nor
do we think Douglas in the Convention
| about to assemble can ride triumphant over
the preiudices he has arrayed against him
by his course in opposition to the President.
Yet it must be admitted as dernier resort
the dissensions in the party promise geam
of hope. Among the wrecks he has strewn
about him be may collect some scattering
drift wood on which to float to the desired
haven. The power to destroy may imply
an ability to rebuild and restore. Hungry
men in politics will grasp at straws from
which every grain of principle they know
has been threshed. The e1igency of cases
often mollifes the conscience and helps to
shape the course of mems action. The case
presented for the consideration of the dele
gates at Charleston is ticklish one. The





go into power with the rush of whrlwind
A polite nomination and the result is more
uncertain.


Properly speaking, parties should nomi-
nate representative men always. Fair and
unequivocal issues should ever be present.
ed. One set of principles should be set up
in opposition to another, fairly discussed
and submitted to the choice of the Sover-
eign people. There should be no dubious
masked battery to let loose its shower of
grape on the people after the battle is over.
Representative men may, and probably do
not, run we'll Webster was never promi-
nent for the Presidency, and Clay could
never reach the summit of his ambition
Second or third rate men coming nearer to,
and having more affinity with the common
people, succeeded in the stead of the great
est intellects of the nation. The intellect
thrust aside in the conventions about to
assemble at Charleston and Chicago. Sue
cess is the great object of parties, and little
do they care by what instruments it is
wrought. Men of principle desire to see
| a straight forward engagement between the
representative men of the two great parties.
Politicians think only of winning the day,
regardless Of sacrifices. Policy being con-
suited on one side the same, it is argued,
must be done on the other. We have no
doubt that should the Democracy put forth
a real representative man of the party, the
Republicans would match him with true
representative of their principles in the
persons of either Seward or Lincoln, while
a muddy platform and a dubious candidate
coming from Charleston are quite likely to
bring into the field from Chicago an antag-
onist selected for policy sake.


Nominate Douglas or one OF his stripe and
Bates or Cameron might become available.
Put Stephens or Dickinson in the field and
| Seward is quite sure to enter the lists
/ against him. Thus one convention is influ-
enced more or less by the supposed or real
action of the other. About the 9Th or 7th
Of May, the name of the Charleston nomi-
nee will be disclosed to u, all, and who'll
be nominated at Chicago can then be more
safely guessed.