Year: 1874

From the Memphis Appeal, March 2S


In the year 1872 we tried in this
country the plan of primary elections
to determine who should be the Demo-
cratic candidates. The system proved
TO be decided failure, and resulted
most disastrously. The plan of con-
ventions is the best one that has yet
3Jeen tried. The old convention system
was liable to the objection that it did
not represent the people, and was man.
aged by few politicians and Office


seekers, entirely in their interest.
This may have been true to a certain
extent, and to that extent was objec-
tionable. This was caused by the
people themselves not taking sufficient
interest in the conventions and not


sending the proper delegates at all
times. To remedy this difficulty In
future elections it seems advisable to
hold primary meetings in all the civil
districts in the counties and in all the
wards of the cities, at which meetings
delegates should be selected. None but
Democrats-by this term, we mean all
opposed to the Radical party-should
vote IN these primary electiOns-Demo-
Gratis who are willing to stand by the
organization of the party and to sup
port all the nominees of the party.
Nothing but strict party discipline will


secure us the State or the county.
Those who oppose thorough and eff
cient organization are really our polit-
zeal enemies, no matter under what
pretext or under what name they op-
pose organization. To endeaYor to
make test questions of such measures
as the party is divided upon is virtually
to oppose all organization. OF such
there are several in this State. 1t is
not to be disguised that there was a
difference of opinion among us as to
the wisdom and justice of the funding
bill. 1t was In no sense party meas
ure, being opposed as well as sus-
tanned by some men of both parties.
The same may be said as to the
school bill, the immigration bill, the
temperance bill, and various other bills
which were acted upon by the last leg
islature. To attempt to make any one
of these a test question IN the az.
preaching elections is to attempt 10
divide and destroy the Democrat :. and
Conservative party. We feel assured
that all of the Democratic aanars in
West Tennessee, no matter what was
their position on any II these ques-
tions, will act togeth. h.er, and will not
permit any of thee past questions to
divide them anr. thus elect the Radical
candidates t. Congress and to the Leg
islature' 70 profess to belong to and
act Wa a party, and at the same time
10 20 everything to divide and distract


nat party, is anything but true friend
ship. While We have decided opinions
upon these and all other questions of
State policy, and are ready at the
proper time to avow our opinions
frankly and fully, We do not wish
to make our views the standard of
faith, or our opinions the grounds of
divisions and dissensions among our
friendr. We must be permitted. also,
to enter our protest against confning
the nominations alone to men who are
candidates. The best men may not be
candidates, and we should have conf
dence enough in the men We send to
conventions to believe they will make
the best selections. The conventions
should be truly representative bodies,
and should be composed of the Uery best
men in the party. The people should
take an interest in the primary meet
ings, and see that their best and wisest
men are selected as delegates. To
abandon the convention system is, in
our Judgment, to give the State into the
hands Of the Radical party, and whilst
not abandoning it, we should seek to
improve IT.