The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-04
BALTIMOREAND BALTIMOREANS AS VIEW


ED ABROAD.
The New York Times of Yesterday saws.
When we commented few weeks ago upon the
remarks OF Judge Stump, of the Baltimore bench
in which he stated his inability to detect mueb
difference between the culpabity of persons who
commit rape or robbery on board a steamboat and
that OF the captain who admits them on payment
OF their fare, in ignorance of their propensties we
were charged by one of the Baltimore Journals with
desire to draw away the trade of that CITY bv ex-
aggeratng its disorders We were also assured nv
one two correspondents, whose lot is cast in
that quarrelsome locality, that we were entirely
mistaken iii our estimate of its morals and manners
and that, taken for all in all it was as desirable
place OF residence any in the Union that like
other cities, rOwdyism has of late wears grown
rather rampant, but that a Reform Party had
sprung up, which was speedily going to set every.
thing TO rights.
We knew, then, however, and we know now
better than ever, that it is the elections and the
elections alone, which can indicate the value of
Baltimore reform movements. Until the time
comes for going to the polls, the rowdies appear to
treat the decent inhabitants with sort of contemn
tuous indifference. They let them prattle and re-
solve at public meetings. talk gblv of law and or
der, and denounce anarchy and violence as vehe-
mently they please No amount of natriotic
spouting makes the "Pug Uglies, or cred Necks,"
or 'Thunderbolts,' a whit less truculent or blood
thirsty than before saves a single victim from
their knives and pistols either by day or by night
The retormers have never proposed to improve the
police in any other way than by a reform of the
municipal administration, to be brought about bv
voting at the polls; but as long as the rowdv or
CARNATIONS could hold the polls against all Corners
reform was impossible. The strength of the two
parties has once more been tested md the rowdies
and ruiiians once more triumphant The Sber-
i'll did nothing, the police did nothing and the re-
suit is that the reformers have done nothing.
How long this state of things is to last remains
to be seen; but thus much is certain that as long as
the result OF yesterdays proceedings remains nm
changed rufhanism rampant in the streets respecta
oilty cowed and suppliant in the houses, citizen
OF Baltimore ought to show his face in any part of
the Union without paying patriotism and cour-
age the compliment of an unmistakable blush
OF shame. There are in Baltimore at this mo-
ment thousands of men, wel-born and we'll
pred; and well educated, who would not
brook look of insult from any man living and
who plume themselves, above all things unon
their personal honor. But if we know ANYTHING of
what honor means, no man in the city. who looks
out of his window upon the armed bands of black
guards, who, as the telegraph informs us. were
last night parading the deserted streets in triumph
without determining to abate the nuisance at ali
hazards can fairly ask the world to give him cred
1t Tor possessing it. We forgive people for
calling themselves patriots while succumbino 70 y
political faction or foreign enemy, and waiting
patiently for better times; but we know of nothing
which can palliate the base submission of a large
Wealthv metropolis to bands of drunken thieves,
plckpockets, burglars and assassins the refuse of
Its Ialls, and the spawn of its sums and brotheIs
1t is impossible to acquit the Mayor and other Of
hcers OF Baltimore from the severest censure in rn
that they might be expected. The respectable nor
ton of the inhabitants had been alive to the dancer
and had tried in vain to arouse the CITY officials To
the necessity of taking measures to ward it Off
They obstinately refused, and treated the remon-
STRANGE OF the citizens an impertinent interfe-
renee with public affairs. They made no provision
Tor the emergency; and when it came, were either
powerless in the hands of the mob or winked at ex
cesses intended to perpetuate their political sway
In either case, they merit the most emphatic cen.
sure of every lover of republican freedom.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, of yesterday, an oppo-
the tragedy of Wednesday:
''The news from Baltimore this MORNING will not
escape the attention of the public For months nost
there has been on the part Of portion of the pub
lie press in that city and of its municira officers
various attempts to show that there has been No
cupabiity on the part of the government or of anv
party of the citizens The facts which were wr;ttn1
yesterday IN blood and death are to be charged TO
the city government, to the sheriff, and to the
press, each and all having sustained the reckless
rowdyism of the political clubs if we NAV proneriv
interpret the operation of means to ends. For the
sake OF triumphing as party there has been no
disposition TO crush the disposition to use murder
Gus materials.
1t was only few days ago that the symbolism of
the bloody deeds enacted yesterday was carried in
procession IN the shape ola gigantic awl and from
that foolish exhibition has come much of the mis-
chlef that all good men must deplore There is no
liberty OF conscience action in Baltimore. TYR
amy Is triumphant, and the guarantees of the
constitution are denied to men in the pursuit of
happiness No rhetoric or logic can purge the city
government of its faithlessness to public ordar
The officers of the law are all criminal in the ewes
OF sober Judges of the past and the present II is
In VAIN Tor those who have opposed the Reform
party to attempt to explain away history that
has been written in blood and in the extinction of
life. When the credit, character, and commerce.
Of the city was virtually at stake the men who
deemed their peculiar, narrow notions of tbinrs
NOR iu1nO ant ha nuh lilo - Il
entire evils of yesterday answer for in the ewes
of the world. What becomes of the protestations
of public officers and their police now? How do
their performances square with what they protested
and pledged themselves to do
AT distance and viewing the matter calmly, de-
and justly with other desire than to
improve the character of municipal government
we can find neither the shade nor the !
color of apology for the wickedness DISPLAYED in
Baltimore yesterday, while are forced to declare
against sympathes with certain political prnci
pies that the party that has been altogether guilty
this case does not merit to be associated with the
American name. There is not another spot on the |
face OF the whole earth, even under governments |
the most essentially absolute that can compare in
tyranny with Baltimore. The elective franchise is
made by the acts of those who onnosad
the Reformers to be delusion and a mockerv and
Freedom herself stabbed even in her very
temples. If such is American liberty the less we
have of it the better. The sooner it can be ex
changed for a decent kind of despotisn the moro
agreeable must it be to the people, for at least hu
man life would be secure under the change.
Had the Baltimoreans any courage, any patriot
any rear desire to rescue their lovely city from
The hands of anarchists, they would arise in their
might, and protest against the election force the
authorities to direct new one, and at one blow
eveI the dIsorganizers of society who have exer-
:lsee their murderous tyranny at the fountain of
freedom, the ballot box. The effort would be chean
~ any cost for as matters now stand, there is no
eminent, no justice no law and orderl The
~noie city 'a in the hands of remorseless crew. !