The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-14
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The result of Wednesdays Election has demon
strated the popular strength of the Reform move
ment, as conclusively as it has proven the neffi-
cheney of the MAYOR. Wherever it was permitted
to display itself, it did so unmis akeaby. In the
the Eleventh. Twelfth and Fourteenth wards
where access to the polls was unobstructed, and
voters could exercise their rights with little or
molestation, the triumphant success of its
candidates shows that the great mass of the citi-
Zens have earnestly enlisted in the cause We
call the success of the Reformers in those wards
triumphant, because under all the circumstances
we consider the majorities they obtained as equiv
alent to twice the same number of votes received
under other auspices. Considering that the vio-
lence which has on former occasions usurped
possession of the polls effectually prevented hun
dreds of intimidated citizens from venturing on
any attempt to vote on Wednesday, we think the
aggregate majority of 7l2 in the three wards we
have mentioned was far larger than the most
ardent friend of the movement had any right TO
calculate upon. The returns from the Tenth and
Twentieth wards are equally cheering Not even
the licensed laWlessness of the rufians who under
the eyes of the Judges and policemen, insulted
and abused the citizens, could prevent the return
of the Reform candidates; and those who know
anything of the scenes which disgraced those
precincts, must concede the cause to be unconquer-
able which could achieve victory over such an
opposition. The very wards Also where the Re-
formers were most defenceless and where fraud and
rutfianism held sway with accustomed effrontery,
furnish us with convincing proofs of the vitality and
power of the movement, for to this the large vote
cast under circumstances so Gscouraging, bears
the clearest and amplest testimony. Nor is this
all, for when we remember that in several of those
wards, such as the Third and Ninth, in which
after midday, the polls were practically closed to
the reformers, all the frauds to which the supporters
OF the partisan candidates could resort scarcely
suticed to overcome the independent tickets, we.
must infer that, during those hours while the
voting was really fair and free, an overwhelming
number of the ballots cast must have been in favor
OF The latter. An analysis of the returns and the
reports OF those who carefully watched the progress
OF affairs in various wards indicate unerringly the
TACT that throughout the early portion of the
morning the reformers were everywhere supported
with unparalleled unanimty If we have been
therefore, somewhat disappointed with the actual
results, we abate not one iot of our confidence
IN the future As it was mainly the fault of the
people themselves that they submitted 10 suffer the
outrages heaped upon them, it rests with them
alone to prevent the recurrence of such wrongs
Let legal, peaceful and determined measures be
taken while it is yet time to insure the enforcement
OF the law, and the signal and inevitable punish
ment of every man who dares to defy it at the
Election yet 10 come, and the triumph of the Re-
form movement need not be doubted. 1t is the
cause of law and order. 1t seeks to vindicate the
rights of an outraged community, to sweep ineffi-
cheney and corruption from public places, and to
redeem the fair fame of our city, and confde its
interests TO other hands than those of the political
hucksters who traffic in them now 1t is an I'M
selfish and an honest cause and the hearts of our
citizens are in it. With proper effort on their
part, they will find instead of the seve thousand
votes which, through many difficulties and perils.
found their way into the ballot-box on Wednesday,
that the suffrages of twice that number of honest
citizens will in November record their manly and
unequivocal protest against the misgovernment
which has been endured so long.