The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-10-30
"A d d r z s s.
CITIZENS REFORM MOVEMENT
IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

II SSoIO IHh HOIEhO VT
NY BALTIMORE COUNTY
Every mans duty to the welfare of his CON-
munity and fellows is paramount to his allegi'
ance to his party. Party organizations had
their inception for the promotion of certain
principles which lay at the foundation OF the
public good. As long as these organizations
continue true to the cause of their origin, devo-
ton to their behests eliminates from the purest
patriotism. When they cease to promote the
public welfare and become potent instruments
in the subversion of good government, no hon
est member is any longer obliged by duty or
honor to stand by their dictates vote for their
selections. The time comes to every individu-
al to act with manly independence or to sur
render his manhood for lack of the requisite
courage to stand up for what his conscience
tells him is right. The courage to cease our
connection with organizations with which we
have been associated when convinced that duty
to our fellows demands it, has made the heroes,
the martyrs, the reformers of all ages. The
Democratic party of Maryland has given to the
State many of its noblest statesmen. She can
proudly boast of fancy who stood beside the
illustrious Jackson when one could exult in
the boast that he was Democrat. Then the
ablest talent and the'purest men of this grand
old Commonwealth were spontaneously called
to fill positions of public trust and confidence
The public Treasury was guarded with scrupu-
lous care and integrity. The revenues were
devoted only to the payment of such expendi-
| lures as were fully warranted by the letter and
| spirit of the law. No supernumerary servants
were pensioned upon the public because they
were "usetul to the party"
Alas how different to day The true Democ-
racy of the present would invoke immunity
| from having the record, made for it by tn par
| ty ''rngs," transmitted TO posterity. The
shameful use the party's worst enemies have
made of its power for the last eight years makes
every true Democrats cheek Jingle. Those en-.
emes are its ring masters"--ts dictators-its
| owners. The ''ring" has seized the party for
its own selfish purposes and is riding it to
| death. Its grand majorites have been contin-
| ually dwndled. Its splendid opportunities
have passed uuimproved and they are about to
vanish 1netfciency, corruption, peculation,
chicanery and INSCRIPTIONS political "peck-
shifts, IN high places and low, have done the
work.
These things had their elimination in the
State Convention that nominated the "ring"
candidate Tor Governor. The proceedings of
that body need no repetition. Mr.. Wallis
caustC pen puts tie existence of the ''ring" and
it's corrupt doings beyond the doubt of any ex-
eept those who won't see. Carroll, Bannon,
German, Woolford, and Pinkney "Pecksniff."
constitute the head of the ''rng." Its agents
are fattening upon the taxpayers of every
county in the State. They did herculean SER
vice for 1t IN Baltimore county to secure the
delegation in the State Convention for Mr. Car.
roll. The chief among these holds prominent
Cffice, but one would accuse him of working
for the purpose of being his own SUCCESSOR
His First Lieutenant is ornamented with one
OF the most important official places to the peo-
pie of the county. We do not desire to raise g.
suspicion that he would do anything for him.
sell that would conflict in the remotest degree
with the Wish or the welfare of the people,
How the County Convention was handled by
them and their satellites in conjunction with
certain characters from Baltimore city, we
are bound to presume was prompted only for
the aggrandizement of the Democratic party
We also are obliged to presume that the chief
of the Clan in the county by pledges, promises.
bargains and manipuatlons known only to po-
litical tricksters persuaded certain accom- mo-
dating fellows that the choice between the two
gentlemen who were "tied' in the primaries
the best interest of the Democratic party would
be promoted by electng "his man." OF course
the successful man, if elected is not ex pected to
reciprocate the service.
How are the county finances conducted p
Reference to your tax bills for the last eight
years will tell the whole story. More than S75,-
600 of the State tax due from the county re.
mains uncollected or in the hands of the coll
lectors. How much County tax is in the same
category remains unknown. The School tax
had TO be increased four cents in the hundred
dollars because delinquents had not collected
and paid over what was due the School Board.
The School tax was thus increased more than
% per cent, because delinquent officials have
all ad hi, a
disgrace upon the glorious old Democratic
party.
The Legislature is invoked and its aid secured
to procure "extras" on contracts when the pill
ant disposition Of the "ring" has been exhausted
on them.
And that body of eminent Solons is entitled
to another mark of gratitude for the exemption
of forty acres of land and $4,000 worth of
stocks or securities belonging to Charitable or
benevolent institutions" from taxation, by act
of 1874.
What has become of the Aims House fund, or
how much, if any, there is left of it would not
be unwelcome information to the burdened tax
payers.
The apparent and evident elasticity that i'm
poses itself upon the conduct of the prosecutions
of the county may be viewed with leniency
when we contemplate the invaluable services
that official is rendering the "rings," great and
small, in conf junction with the chief of the
county Clans. His elastic administration en-
hances his utility TO his superiors in the work
of completing the ruin of the Democratic party
by his and their personal aggrandizement.-
But we have no doubt he will make full atone
ment for it in assisting the Chief Magistrate of
this grand old State in executing his proclama-
ton issued at Towsontown-"the punishment of
Democratic traitors"
"The Democratic party must punish its trai-
tors is the policy announced by the Chief Ex-
W 0rna Il 10 oh Of ism
of its patronage. 1t is the practice Of this per-
ncous and tyrannical doctrine that every
Democrat shall swallow blindly any dose the
"ring" prepares for him that has brought dis
grace upon the party name and now threatens
to overwhelm it in ruin. With this policy of
relentless prescription no true Democrat can
enjoy personal immunity from persecution but
by becoming the slave of the "ring." And
this is the "ring's" standard of Dem ocrat.
Added to these things the gross impositions
upon the best men in the Democratic party by
the preparation of infamous frauds at the pri
maries voting city men on dead mems names,
repeating by the same means, making the
count tell different story from the actual vote,
has added disgust to disgrace and left its res
pectable people no alternative but to take open
revolt against the ring to secure purity and re-
form in its broadcast sense, in the party, or to
become the absolute slaves of the "ring" power.
Remonstrance and patient endurance have
ceased to avail anything. There is nothing
left for honest men to do but to unite, regard
less of past affiliations, for the success of the
reform so so1ely needed.
Asking only for an honest and economical
administration of the State and County affairs,
the taxation of all property; the application
of the peoples money only to those purposes
clearly pointed out by the law; a new regis
tration no appropriations to sectarian insti-
buttons; wise, liberal, but economical support
of the Public Schools faithful collection of
the revenues and their prompt payment into
the treasury, and purity and efficiency only in
public places. Prescribing no man for his GEN.
tments, political or religious, we have naugur-
ated the Citizens Reform Movement in Balti-
more county for the promotion of these ends
and submit for your support the gentlemen we
have selected, unsolicited on their part, to rep
resent us in this canvass.
Oct. 23.-2t.