Year: 1875

EDITORIAL CONVENTION.


The Amador Ledger suggests to the
press of the State the propri-
ETY. of holding, at an early day, an edit.
orial convention OF some central point, to
take into consideration, among other
subjects, the present phase of political
1t adds, with great truth, that
upon the party press, especially in the
rural districts, devolves the drudgery Of
each political party canvass, and claims
it to be no more than right that they who
do the work, have the right to be heard
both in shaping the policy and selecting
the men whose success they are expected
to advocate. There are some Of these
ideas worthy Of serious consideration, yet
we are inclined to doubt the feasibility of
a general convention. 1t will be almost
impossible to select a time Of year in
which it will be practicable to secure a
full attendance Of representatives of the
press. But the object sought by our CO.
temporary might be effected through the
medium Of correspondence, or if there is
good reason TO believe that a full, or
nearly full attendance can be secured, let
the convention be called.


We presume that it will not be disput-
ed that one thing was settled conclusive
ly by the Fall elections held last year
that the struggle for national supremacy
in 1876 will be between the Republican
and Democratic parties. The voters who
were led by the lies Of the guerilla press
into Independent movements, with the
expectation that their one idea was des-
tined to crush out and scatter all opposi-
ton, will find themselves compelled to
act with the ore or other Of the two great
parties which professes principles most
in consonance with their ideas of govern
mental policy. 1t will no doubt be the
aim of the professional politicians, the
&" bread and butter" brigade of each par
ty to endeavor TO cJncilate this ele-
ment of voters, most of whom were for
merly Republicans, by the adoption OF
party platforms with planks thrown in to
catch votes, by pandering to every pref
udice and favoring every "ism" which
finds advocates to any great extent. In
this manner principle is often sacrificed
to eXpediency, for the "policy" men,
the ones who live by Office and are those
who are most active in manipulating the
political machinery of Il party, stand
ready to sacrifice everything to secure
present success. 1t is they who always
aim to secure the support Of the bush
whacking journals which always fol-
low instead Of guiding public opinion,
and prostitute their columns to the fos-
tering OF any prejudice which has present
popularity, and thereby contributes to
their own pecunary benefit.


This system of pandcrog is one cause
of Republican reverses. In trying to
curry the favor of the guerilla journals by
nominating men and endorsing princi-
plies agreeable to them, the people grew
suspicious and defeat followed. The lies,
that the Republican political machinery
was in the hands Of the railroad, ;" had
their effect, and though their falsehood
VISA proven, good men and bad went
down in the general crash. We are op-
posed in toto to any such temporizing.-
Let US understand where our party stands
upon all questions affecting public inter
ests then we will know what we can
approve and what condemn. Just so
long as the hOwls Of the bushwhackers
can scare journals of recognized Republi-
can sympathies into becoming their pee
wees, just so long may we expect to see
the tide Of political affairs set strongly
against US. We do not believe our party


is the slave Of any corporation nor do
we believe it the enemy Of enterprise and
progress. We want to have Il fair ex-
preston of opinion and fair fight upon
questions Of this haracter-then if we go
down it will be with our faces to the foe,
and with the consciousness that our bat
tie was for what we deemed the right !;
while if we permit the catch penny ele-
ment Of the party to guide our move
ments, we shall know that we deserve
defeat and will receive it.