The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-20

sionary funds expended upon such enter
prises as these are worse than wasted, for in
stead OF building up one strong church, they
help to male three or tour feeble ones in the
same place The present dearth OF ministers
will probably kill off good many churches
that have been founded Just in this way. 1t
will be blessing II il does. No denomina-
tion has right to plant church in a place
elready supplied with al the churches il can
support. II we had fewer churches. better
attended, better kept up, and with a better
paid ministry, the Christian work would be
more prosperous in all its departments.
We have no fear that the ministry Is about
to be abandoned. The law of supply and
demand will operate here as well as else
where. As soon as there is really any need
for more ministers they viii be forthcoming.
The Threatened Difficulties in Baltimore.
Ii we can believe the various statements made
by the Baltimore newspapers, and take their
opinions as exponents Of the popular feeling
in that city, we must have grave fears lest
the scenes of New Orleans are to be re-enacted
in the Monumental City. Situated as we are,
beyond the circle Of local excitement, we see
more cause for alarm than those who reside
in the midst OF party passions, and learn to
consider all hostile utterances as idle threats
From all indications, unless some modifca-
tions in the course OF the contending parties
take place, we would not be surprised to see
our sister municipality the victim of lawless
riots, the scene OF wllful murder. The diff
terences of opinion which threaten to thus
turn the peace of our neighbor into discord,
are not generally understood outside of the
mere local excitement We would, therefore,
speak dispassionately of the casus beH.
The elections in Baltimore are conducted
by judges and inspectors appointed by the
Police Commissioners. This Board Ia COM
posed OF members elected by the Legislature
in joint ballot. They are sworn officers. and
must, in conformity with their oaths, execute
the laws and conduct the election in the
manner prescribed by legislative enactment.
If the action OF the Legislature be wrong. the
fault lies entirely with that body; but until
such is the decision of the judiciary, the
Commissioners are bound to carry even an
Illegal law into effect. Previous to the open
ing of the present year, the Legislature passed
an ordinance forbidding any one to vote at
the coming election except such as had been
registered in 1866. The object OF the enact
ment was evident. The vast number of
Marylanders who had been serving in the
Rebel armies had returned to the State. They
came back in regiments. They outnumbered
the loyal population. They brought with
them others from the South, and the entire
State was inundated with this Rebel element,
which would undoubtedly be able to carry the
State in November, were they allowed to ex-
ercise the right OF suffrage.
This law, legally passed by both branches
OF the Legislature, and signed by Governor
Swami himself, is now the supreme rule of
action in Maryland. 1t is part of that law
which the Commissioners had sworn to exc
cute, and whether it was legal or not was not
for them to decide. The Rebels, maddened
at thus being shut off from the power of
once more ruling the State, denied that the
law was constitutional. At this stage of the
proceedings, before any legal examination OF
the subject had settled the question, the
Attorney General of the State. the first law
officer of the Commonwealth, expressed an
oPluloh LII l1S iaNOr' 1ue commissioners, at
the last municipal election, acted under it
refused Rebel votes, and the election was
overwhelmingly in favor Of the Republicans.
Rendered desperate by their defeat, the
Rebels apply to the Government to remove
the Commissioners and appoint Rebels in
their place. They claim that the law gives
such power to the State Executive, and ask
him to exercise it. Whether it does or does not
we do not know. He, however, summoned the
Commissioners to appear before him, and they
have not as yet responded. Such is the
simple statement of facts. If they succeed in
inducing him to remove the Commissioners and
the Commissioners refuse to acknowledge
the LEGALITY Of what they doubt his right 10
do, the streets of Baltimore may yet again be
drenched in blood, and loyalists once more
sacrifice their lives 10 the fury of the Rebels.
The returned COnfederates far outnumber
the loyal, and they may need aid from other
States. We earnestly deprecate any sucl,
fearful proceedings. We are law-abiding citi.
zens. The duty OF every good American is
to obey the law. 1t is like the old davs of
Kansas, if we are to have the system of colo
nization in order to shed blood. "We would
none of it," The Democracy threaten m
send reintorcements from Pennsylvania. The
Lancaster Inteltigencer makes the following
threat, which is endorsed by the Democratic |
organ of our city,