Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-09-12
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To the Voters of Montgomery County.


BETHESDA, Rockville Dist, Sept. 9Th, 1873
FELLOW CITIzENs-
The undersigned, in announcing himself as
an Independent Democratic candidate for the
next House Of Delegates, deems it due to him.
self as well rs 10 his numerous friends, re-
specially, TO state the causes which have led
him TO this conclusion.
In doing SO, il is not his purpose, here, to
spend much time or ink in exposing the incu-
rable trickery and corruption which, Of late
years, have crept into our so-called democrat
ic County Conventions. The people believe
and feel they are paying too much unnecessary
tax, (both State and County, and are more
concerned about that, just now, than any 9TH
err question of mere State policy.
ConcurriDg with them in this belief, it will
be my endeavor, here, to show who is respon-
sble, and, so far as our county expenditures
are concerned, to point out the only possible
remedy for the evil and that is, for the peo-
pie to disconnect themselves entirely from all
further participation in any such County Con-
vention juggleries, and go back TO the old
primitive and honest mode of choosing their
own county officials, without let or hudrance
from anybody. in this way, trckery would
soon have no ground to stand upon-the best
men would be chosen-each political party
would be check upon the other-and, as
necessary consequence, the peoples interests,
now so sadly neglected-would be placed
under proper guardianship and protection.
So far, then, as rests tho responsibility 1t
will not be denied, that ever since the year
1865, the State Government has been under
the control of men calling themselves demo-
Gratis, or protesting 20 be, at least, imbued
with those principles which had ever distin-
guished the democratic from all other parties
in the State.
For brief period, however, Immediately
preceding that year, the State Government
had been in other than democratic hands, and
the people were told, that the expenditures Of
the State had increased so largely, as to call
for the immediate restoration 10 power in the
State, Of that party which had ever maintain
ed ''the strictest economy in all public expen-
ditures," as one OF the cardinal doctrines Of
their political creed.
Accordingly, in 1865, the people restored,
as they thought, the democratic party to pow
er in the State, and looked forward with plea
sing anticipations 10 their speedy deliverance
from the oppressive taxation Of which they
complained.
But instead of this, what do we find TAX
laws piled upon tax-laws so high as TO throw
all monuments of previous taxation completely
in,,the shade-leaving the fruits ofhonest indus
try to the still further depreciation of POLITICAL
thieves and plunderers. In proof of this, ref
erence need only be had to the official Reports
ury, during the time.-Figures won't lie
From these Reports it will be seen that dur
ing the years 1861, 1862, 1868 and 1864
when the State Government was in other than
democratic hauds--the average, annual, or
binary expenditures of the State, exclusive
of bounties to soldiers, were 81, 247, 20l .l62
whilst since that time, and when the State
Government has been in the hands of so-called
democrats these same expenditures--also ex-
oil nf ipc tn -baVn II
TO an annual average of 81, 5Cl 1902 69-or
more than double what they were before the
democratic party was restored to power in the
State. But in no branch of the public service
does this alarming increase show itself, more
plainly, than in the expenses of the Judiciary.
Look at In lS64-the last year the plain
old democratic Constitution Of 1851 was in
existence-the whole cost of the Judiciary of
the State, under the one Judge system, was
but 1914, 4S2, AZ, whilst in lSG9-only two
years after the three Judge system was reviv-
ed under the present so-caled democratic Con-
stitution of 1867, the cost Of the Judiciary
amounted to S97, $50, 67,-showing an in
crease of the annual expenses of that one
department, alone, of over $50, 600 year. or
nearly three times as much, as under the one
Judge system and proving, couclusively,
| that what is now called the democratic party
| in the State, is justly responsible for the enor-
nous increase in the State expenditures
II is asked, how can that be, when one of
the cardinal doctrines in the political creed of
that party enjoins the 'istrictest economy in
| all public expenditures ?n The reason is plain
No sooner was it found that the democratic
| party was about 10 be restored TO power in
the State, than swarms of political Juzzards,
from every rookery in the land, fiocked to its
standard. Men who had, not only, never be-
fore affiliated with that party but who had,
all their lives, been conspicuous in battling
for its downfall, now saw, in its approaching
restoration to power in the State, their only
hope of obtaining the Offices.
| g Accordingly, TO this end, they Immediately
sailed forth in all their strength, and soon
were seen these patriotic gentlemen, most
| surprisingly oficious, in organizing and ma
nipulatng the Primary Meetings and Conven-
/ items of the democratic party nor did they
slscken in their presamptous zeal, until they
got themselves foisted into the Legislature
and other positions of honor aud trust in the