Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-08-06
LEoyAEDIewErND,

Mn. Harais' CAnp. - Our article Of the
23rd uliimo. under the caption Of 1.-The
Congressional Outlook has elected two
column card from the Hon. BENZ. G. Har-
.rh. in reply TO What locomotives to be our
".srietures" upon bis position; and. in
Which he complains. that We charge. that
the course he is nov pursuing "must lead
10 damaging results to the democratic per.
", a at present constituted and organ
ised." lie states that he 10 not aware
''that the democratic party has under
gone any important change in it's orgsni-
ration and constitution. from that which
far years !. has possessed. both in form
sad principles" and he quotes ut eonsid-
cradle length. and With comments. some
Whist touching our vanity. editorial ex.
tracts from the BEACON. published prior to
10 tho State elections held 10 1870. Il
show our political Inconsistency. Having
thrown the gauntlet at our feet. We take
Il up. in the spiri. Of tho Knights Of old.
either for friendly joust. or mortal combat.
Out always maintaining for our brother.
in-srms the kiDdliest feeling Of friendship
and regard.
We do not abatc jot or title Of what
re said in our article of the 23rd ultimo.
nor. in the position assumed BY rs in
1870. We had certain "6xed" princi.
pies then and We have them yet. We
confess that We then agreed. to quite a
broad extent. with Mr.. Harris; and VIC
claimed then. as we now claim. that until
the Democratic party had dogmatised upon
the issues involved. We were entitled to
tho expression Of our individual opinion.
When the party. however. adopted o
platform for the government of its men,
bers. We felt duty bound to obey its man.
dates. and to yield our individual opinion
to the popular will.
Four years have since elapsed, and
ne stand where We ever did. We have
ever been politically consistent. We think,
and II is a source Of personal regret to US
that Mr.. Harris has been less 80. It is
far from our wish to charge him with the
possession Of an undue amount Of egotism
and concci'; but. We think. it can hardly
be offensive 20 him TO say that. for several
years past. he has stood upon sclf-rcar.
ed PEDESTAL. far too elevated. to be prac-
tical; or. at least. too impractisable to re.
ccivc the approval Of the great mass O.
the party to which he claims to belong.
Unless We have been nisinformed, nca,
fourteen years have elapsed since Mr.
Harris has voted for the Presidential nom
inee ola Democratic Convention. although
at one time, a member thereof. and cvel
the last Congressional election held here
he refused. We. learn. to vote for Judge
Merrick. simply because Mr.. Merrick I'D
vocated tho election Of Mr.. Greeley, who
had been daily and fairly nominated BY
tho Democratic party. Isthis the man ts
charge US with political Inconsistency. o,
- wanting in faith to democratic princi
pies? His opinions may be more fixed
than ours. but have they such basis as tc
enti'le him to party confidence or demo
cratic supportf When he next attempt.
to arraigu the St. Mary's BEACON. for 20.
li.ical inconsistency. lie. him rather lool
to bis own political follies and v.garies-
to 'he living issues Of the 'dsy-withou'
seeking to awaken the dead issres Of tn.
past!
This rejoinder to Mr.. Harris is writer
10 no aggressive spirit. 1t is simply mad,
to his card. in reply to the charges he Ia,
made against US. We believe that b,
would represent us with good and pur,
intent in Congress. or elsewhere in any po
sition to which his political ambition nigh
lead him. We are not his personal enc
my. but his friend.
We should be very glad to drop .hi,
controversy here; and. il the Democrat,
party Of the District shall feel it consisten
to adopt the views Of Mr.. Harris. no on.
will support him more cordially than our
selves Yet. until the party shah speak
ve shall feel constrained 70 adhere e
the old teucts Of its cnunciated faith
hewcver painful it may be. from . per
sonal stand point. to disregard Mr.. Har
ris' claims upon Us.