The Cecil Whig., 1874-08-15
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POL
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IUL .vAL .hts
,Tus. ..sout this time every Summer the
Democracy grow very jubilant over cleo
tions, and prophesy-they are famous at
prophecy-that they are about to be placed
in power all over the country, State and
National. When the frosts of Autumn
fail, however, thoir hopes wither like the
grass, and they find the people unwill-
ing to trust party with Il record so bad.
A great many thieves steal into place
through overweening professions Of Re-
publicanism, and cause trouble, but they
are heartily condemned by the party, and
are driven out as speedily as they can be
got out. The Democracy are ever ready,
ever anxious, to supersede these men of
loose notions about public property, by
supplelnenting others of their party fealty,
but when they persuade the people to try
this Democratic panacea for the public ills,
the prescribed cure is often repetition of
the old disease, with this difference, that it
is the sworn policy of the Democrat party
never to condemn a man of their own party,
no matter how henous his crimes. Their
virtuous indignation is all reserved for
delinquent Republican officials. The ori-
cles of the party talk loudly about the
principles of the party, and its saving polit-
ical grace, but most persistently refuse to
point to any distinguishing principles, or
any acts that have captivating love for the
public. Their record in the last Congress
was about as shabby as it well could be.
Their proportion of salary grabbers was
even greater than the Butler Republicans;
they were on both sides of the financial
fence; and made a very uncertain record on
every important question before the coun-
try.
Our State Legislature was entirely in the
control of the Democrats mainly of the
Southern Bourbon Glass; who claim to be
the simon pure of the party, and it is gen.
orally conceded, that for any other pur-
pose, except for apportioning offices among
the leaders, it was most signal abortion
In the matter of economy, which is one of
the boasts and promises made by the poll
ticians Of the party, it would be difficult to
see wherein it could be more extravagant.
The capital was overrun with attendants,
drawing $5 day from the treasury, and
the principal object which engaged the
attention of the members was to reward
their party friends, and keep on good terms
with the whisky ring. Having held un-
checked power in the State of Maryland
for several years we can safely point to the
record of the party as made in that time,
and ask if there is anything in it that is
likely to impress favorably a man of fair
average ideas of right and wrong. How
ever badly some Republicans may act, who
having been entrusted with power, betray-
ed that trust, save as personal punish
ishment, there is certainly no prospect of
any remedial value in substituting the
Bourbon Democracy for unfaithful politi-
cal servants. The only remedy for the
evils complained of, which SO corrupt the
politics of the country, is the choice of
men of ability, combined with honesty iu
lieu of the class of specializing politicians,
which of late years have almost exclusively
been allowed to take possession Of political
parties, and run the governments, State
and National, in their private interest.
Honest men may be chosen, but unless
they have the requisite capacity, they will
prove to be mere ciphers. Selfish and dis
honest men will euter.into alliances with
any SET of rogues that promise to promote
their private ends. The only safeguard
for the public is the selection of men as
representatives who combine ability and
integrity.
But before this class will, on the Darwin
principle of natural selection, be put for
ward to the exclusion of empty, noisy, dis
honest partisan politicians, the people must
give more attention to the study of politi-
cal economy-not party economy-but SIM
ply what the public most needs in the mat
ter Of general and State laws. This field
has been heretofore almost untouched by
the farming class. 1t is we'll nigh ter
r9incoSpita to them, and is one that should
receive the most careful study by the NOV
ers, who are seeking to combine and fra
ternize the agricultural population.