The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-07-28
BALTIMORE AND IT'S GOVERNNENT

[Fron. the Pennsylvania Inquirer
BALTIMORE AND ITS GOVERNMENT.
In regretting recently, as we have uniformly
done, the nyariabe tendency of our great cities to
Surrender to incompetent persons the reins Of mun-
cipal government, we took occasion to notice and
deplore the fact that the Baltimore Clubs, the es-
tablishment Of which has been productive of great
evils, both social and political, have been choosing
officers for the ensuing year. We added to that
announcement the serious truth also that We
have known many persons to declare that they
deem it advisable to shun Baltimore as dan
gerous to individual peace and security. The
Baltimore Erchange, ably edited and admirably
writ n, quoted the remarks which we made,
and did only justice in saying that we
spoke ''more in sorrow than in the interest of a
rival market seeking to depress our business by
exaggeratng the evils of the misrue which is pros
trating and humiliating Baltimore" The Patriot,
of that city, with less candid spirit, however,
charges US with indulging in "false and maiciou,
SANDERS and advises us to free Philadelphia of its
own sins, in spirit of recrmination referring to
the awessness that existed in this city in 1874 and
the numerous deplorable actI which were commit
ted here before we had secured improvement in
our municipal government. 1t closes its advice
with requesting not to bear false witness against
our neighbors.
We regret that any journalist in Baltimore should
misconstrue purposes. In telling little
wholesome truth, we did it with the hone that il
might be beneficial to neighbor and even to our
own city, by holding up the necessity there is in
every municipality OF staying insubOrdination and
crime by placing incorruptbe men in Office. We
know very well what has been the effect of the Bal
time Clubs We remember that in midday, during
the elections there, that city has seemed like town
in state of revoluton--rival parties dischargine
at each other, and even at strangers the deadly
missives of and pistols, and in quiater hours
preparing candidates for the galows, who were
taught by their associations not to hesitate in shoot
ing and numbering officers charged with protecting
the laws ofthe city. The Patriot will not deny the
of this record and surely will remember the atroci
ties which have been committed in Baltimore fOr
seTeral years past which gave that citv fearful
name all through the country-no doubt iniurino
the business of the metropolis and turning mems
minds against it for even a temporary residence.
Gentlemen who were there during some of the
frightul episodes to the usually agreeable life o.
the place expressed their alarm and apprehension
the lawiessness which so rampant everywhere;
and If we may credit the local reports of the Pari0
for the last ten days there is even now much less
security for individuals than is desirable. We viii
not reproduce the reports which are before u.s. but
will ask the journalists of Baltimorei if their repor
ters are not habtualy armed, if they are not con
stantly in apprehension of danger to their lives
and if, since last Thursday, there have not beer
eight or ten deadly assaults made, one poor woman
having been shot by two or three rufians ? More
than this, we will inquire if the number of such
deadly assaults is not much greater in Baltimore
toan in any city of equal population, and if the
record justify the question: then may it not be asked
by any taking interest in the character of ouI
common country, if the administration of Justice
may not abridge the number and enormity of sucf
cases.
We are quite aware that Philadelphia has hel
share of social evils and crimes, and that an i'm
prOvement be made in the administration O
justice here; but it does not follow that account
that we are to shut our eyes tie the crimes which
are perpetratad elsewhere. We have sectona
feeling in such matters. If we can aid Baltimor,
to arouse a spirit that will improve her govern
ment, it is duty do so; and the very fact tha
what we have heretofore said has become a sub
ject of discussion, shows that original purpos,
was not wholly overthrown by the indifference o
Baltimore itself. We have only to point to hel
own records of the criminal acts perpetrateC
against human life to make the strongest possible
replication to any one who charges US with making
misreprcsentations.