The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-30
COMMUNICATION.
To Tie EHitnrs of tie Erchnnnc

To the Editors Of the Ecchange.
The recent very able and judicious articles in
your editorial columns, in relation to the imperious
necessity for such change in our municipal gov
eminent as will speedily and surely relieve us from
the disgrace into which our city is now fallen on
account of the prevalence of disorder and rowdy-
ism, have challenged the sincerest approval of all
good men; and you are entirely right in promising
that the case is past redemption by any partizan
agency. 1t is only by higher and hoer means
than any within the province of any party or or
ganlzation that municipal power in this city can
De established to restore to q civil government
worthy the name. transfer of power from the
hands of the dominant political party to that of
its opponent, or to any party under any name,
could not render things worse than they now are;
IN the ordinary nature of events condition for
a season-perhaps, permanent would be better
OF necessity, but still not what we want The
period has been reached at which affairs can
hardly grow worse, and after season of
suffering, like the commissions in the natural
elements society may right itself by the inherent
means left to it, if government will not furnish its
rlghtiul protection. Some men may carp in stoi-
cal indifference, Others may shudder at the con-
temptation of such means of relief, but when gov
ernments will not furnish to society that defence
against frauds, crimes, and assassnatons which is
necessary to safety of life and property, well as
happiness, society will protect itself 1t has ever
been so, and will again occur when necessity COM
pels it. This community may be 'patient in long
suffering" it has, in the opinion of many, been al
ready proven so; it may be content to suffer on for
a month, or year, a decade, and yet it NAV sud
denly refuse to wear the yoke, and day of final
reckoning will as surely come as that crime now
goes unrebuked. To avert such a state of things
which all good men deplore is now necessity, a
public necessity, and every man owes an obligation
to society which binds him to orego all minor con-
siderations to prevent such result.
But, however earnestly the universal feeling of
this community may respond to the sentiments so
CALAMITY uttered by your paper, and seconded bv
your influential contemporary, the San, YOU
may continue to preach till doomsday, and YOU
are but "whistling down the wind,' unless the
conservative sentiment you treat of is made
powerful and effective by an organization.
do not mean by any political or partizan Or
ganizaton. The mistake of the past has
been in the people consenting to partizan rule in
our domestic or municipal affairs. But what does
it avail if eight out of twelve thousand voters favor
an Independent movement which could and would
give us good government, if not the half of the
all permitted to vote, if their voice was unpotentia
from the fact that they were outnumbered by spu-
rious ballots That man is insane who will expect
any change at the hands of an unorganized people
against secret organization, bound by oath,
and fighting for honors to feed pampered vanity
or bread to feed their families Again, it is a
great mistake to suppose that any one man
more than another can give success to any indie
pendent movement No man lives in this city
who embodies in his character or associations that
which can elect him in contest where the elements
opposed to misrue unorganized.
May |, in this connection, be permitted to make
some suggestions which strike me as likely to work
good results
First, let a Peoples Reform Mass Meeting be
called, upon due notice, to initiate the steps for the
introduction of a candidate and an organization
Let that meeting adopt resolutions which shall
become the platform of this party, embodying the
following among its principles:
LIST, To favor the abolition of the present system
OF partzan police by making their appointments for