The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-04-29
PROGRESS"


journals of the present day of many wise say
ings and truisms, in connection with our po-
litical condition. Nothing is more often met
with in their columns than commentaries
upon progress and "the spirit of the age"
etc, etc., almost ad nauseun. Such political
platitudes are easily uttered, and if there was
magic in words, they might mean great
deal and prove panacca for many of our
evils; but unfortunately it is too true, that
thing may be called by almost any name, at
the option of any one who may have fancy
to indulge that way, and yet remain the same
thing still. What we mean is this, that when
we see certain political journals and hear GER
tain prominent public men characterizing all
the issms Of the day as Improvements, and set
ting down to the progressive spirit ofthe age"
certain acts and doings that are flat in the
face of everything that we have been taught
was in accordance with law and justice, we
do not consider ourselves as fairly cut off
from all questioning of their wisdom, by their
authors attributing them to progress"
Universe. suffrage, negro equality, the weak
ening of the marriage tic by increasing facili-
ties for obtaining divorces, the attempted
sanctification by ministers Of the gospel of
the crime for which Richardson, in New
York, met his death at the hands of an out
ragged husband and father,-all these things
may be outward and visible signs of this
same progressive spirit of the age yet we
must be pardoned for questioning whether
it is not bad spirit after ALL and whether
this country would not be better off if it were
exercised.
1t is somewhat annoying it is true, to rest
under the imputation of "old fogyism," and
there is scarcely any one whose temper is not
more or less ruffied by the accusation; but
welcome the appellation, if it means resis-
lance to such Tendencies of the age" as
above recitcd. The truth is that the "ten-
dency of the age" means nothing more or
less than the INSCRIPTIONS selfshness of de-
signing politicians If the career of the party
which is revolutionizing this government,
and making changes and amendments to the
Constitution of the United States, simply to
meet special partisan wants and perpetuate
their political power, is to be justified on the
score of progress, we fear it will be found
when too late that the progress we have been
making leads to destruction. Hogarth the
great painter, once illustrated the progress of
a certain gentleman of that class to which
this same Richardson, above mentioned, and
rbn holn
tently upheld in his career by Beecher and
company, belonged, and it led to direful fate
after all. We believe that nations, as indiyid-
uals, sometimes become corrupt and infatua-
ted with the worst of passions, that lead alike
in both cases to downfall and degradation.
Did we believe that this same negro suffrage,
for instance, was the end of the agitation in
that direction, we might rest more quietly
under the changed state of affairs; but when
we are told that progress" is the word in
scribed upon the banners of the party which
has brought it about, where in the name Of
all that is consistent with reason and logic,
we are to stop this side of social equality and
even miscegcnation, on the part of those who
lend it their approval and countenance:
There are men in this community to- day who
would have been more shocked and Mortified
at the idea of the political intimacy now ex-
isting between them and the negroes, ten
years ago, than they could have found Ian
guage adequately to express. But they have
progressed" and the question is, when are
they going to stop progressing" and if they
do not cease progressing" at what point
will they eventually arrive?
When the Democratic party resists these
measures that are called signs of progress"
and are attempted to be justified as in accor-
dance with the spirit of the age" they are
met with the cries of "dead issues" and cold
fogyism." Yet, as we have again and again
said, if these sameprinciples of constitutional
government maintained by that party be in
deed "dead," then we have no live issues
worth contending for. But it matters but
little so long as such accusations are hurled
against us by those who are at least our open
opponents; the danger is from inside demor-
alization. We cannot enter the lists and
Soh'che III the Negro Note NY PROMISES Ol IT,
ward, which is about the only argument that
will avail anything, for we have no offices of
honor and trust that We are willing to bestow
upon them. But when we see men who have
pretended to be attached to the Democratic
party and the principles it represents, fra
ternising with the negroes to the extent that
was done at Bladensburg, in this State, on
last week, when new conservative" party
was inaugurated, embracing in its folds ne.
grocs and whites, and all who were anxious
to accept the situation, we are alarmed at the
symptoms manifested. We are fearful that
there is too much disposition to progress"
on the part Of some, who have become de-
moralized by the cry of "dead issues" and
"old fogyism." We hope, however, and be-
lieve that the rank and file of the Maryland
Democracy, are opposed to all such combina-
tions as the one above mentioned, and that
they will always be found unswervingly upon
the side of true conservatism, as in opposi-
ton to all such political mixtures.
e5B Hon. Stevenson Archer was before the
Postmaster General yesterday to present the
petition of large number of citizens of
Baltimore county, asking for a tri-wceky
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