Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-09-09
MAO Rcign al Romdrism.

Within the past hundred years certain
periods eli lecal djstcmper, at irregular
intervals, have visited mankind, confined
to no particular quarter Of the globe or
place Of habitatiou, and frequently Of but
temporary duration They have been of
a character generally too insignificant for
government interference, bur Of sufficient
magnitude to disturb in no little degree
prosperity aud happiness Of the corporate
limits to which they were confined.
Our neighboring Ajstor, Baltimore, has
suffered moro than ordinarily severe
martyrdom to one, or succession of
these periodic epidemics, and the wonder
is that so obvious a cause should not
have reused her people to immediate re-
sistaneo while it was in its infancy. But
they did not rebel; they suffered it to
widen and increase, until the contagiou
had spread all around, and the very air
seemed thick with it.
There is no distemper so deadly to the
life and prosperity Of community, as
that which has its origin in the canker-
GUS atmosphere of wild political frenzy
and that is just the malady that has in
tested Baltimore. A species Of political
harlotry aud ruhianism unexampled in
tho annals Of crime, was inaugurated
with the blacklist of all political organi-
zations--the Know-nothing faction Of
"a, under the guidance and for the eIe-
walton Of a set Of men destitute Of patri-
otism or principle, and rife with the
morbid cravings for place and pelf. Thus
were those inhuman clubs, drioYine with
the filth Of deprayity, or rocking with
the crime Of the assassin, established. H.
Thus was riot ordained and brawls insti-
tuted Thus were the purity Of elections
violated--tho ballot-box honest
citizens murdered at the polls or fright
encd from approach by fear Of murder.
In this party and on those men lies all
the blame Of the Had Of woes which the
city has undergone let it be proclaim
ed everywhere for their eternal infamy
and disgrace.
The wound has been deep and has
ranked long, but il may not be mortal.
There Hnay be balm in Gilead yet; i9 so,
it is in the form Of a CALI signed by the
first merchants and business men Of the
place. and reads as follows:
The undersigned citizens aud bust
ness men Of Baltimore, in view Of tic
present deplorable condition of affairs in
our city, call upon all favorable to the
restoration Of law and order, the purity
of the ballot-box, and the protection Of
legal voters, to assemble with them ii
mass meeting, at Monument Square, on
Monday afternoon, the fifth day OF Sep.
tember, at four O'clock, to take into con.
siloration such measures as tho present
crisis may warrant"
This the true and only course. which
by rigid execution, can effect the eroa
end desired; and nobody doubts that /
is high time for the pursuance Of such
step. But il the present state Of affairs
when rowdyism has, under q long growth
gathered great and a growing power
it will require the uttormost Of nerv
and the uttermost Of determination t
root out the leYrous element. We sin
cerely sympathizo with the good poopl
of Baltimore, and earnestly hope, will
them, that they may ere long iii them
selves Of the disease and restore th,
name and the fame Of The Monumental
cityto It's once high place r J2ash. Suites
LTho meeting appointed for Monde,