National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-02
THE ISSUES IN MARYLAND.

The people of Maryland have become
tired of the clique which has ruled them
during the last seven or eight years with
rod of iron. They have made combinations
which will rid them of this incubus. The
"Potato Bugs" as the opposing combina-
ton is called, are composed of the Hamil-
ton Democrats, the merchants of Baltimore,
and the Republicans. The platform, pure
and simple, is opposition to the corrupt
clique which has been robbing the State
treasury for the benefit of few favored
pensioners. Mr.. S. Teakle Wallis, the
Reform candidate for Attorney General,
thus characterizeG it in his letter of accept
ance:
"Since the year 1867, when the Democratic
Conservative party, with its constitution Of
that date, came into power, it has been prac-
tically reigning without opposition. 1t has
made or marred what it has pleased to make
or mar. 1t has had the right to be supreme,
inasmuch as it has represented a large majority
of our people. But with its right to rule came
its obligation to govern uprightly and with de-
cency. 1t owed this to the minority not less
than to itself, and l have no doubt it assumed
the reins of government with determination
as party to do its duty to both. But it has
been corrupted, as all parties and dynasties
are corrupted, by excess of power. Like most
absolute monGrchs, it has taken to its pleas
ures, and let its favorftes prey upon the State.
1t has had predOminance enough to make its
nomination in general equivalent to election,
and has been INSCRIPTIONS and reckless in the
choice Of its nominees, its present lists before
the public will, in great part, painfully show.
1t has had numerical strength enough to dis
pense with the good opinions and the ballots
of the best of its voters, and it has accordingly
treated their opinions with contempt. 1t has
had official control of the elections, and when
its nominations have driven voters disguised
from the polls, it has stuffed the ballot-boxes
and elected its candidates, or magnifed their
majorities, at its pleasure, by fraud.
"These are not matters of doubt or specula-
ton, but of fact-familiar, common fact
known we'll as such to every politician, to
every man who knows what is going on about
him-known to, or within the reach of every
newspaper editor and reporter in Baltimore.
do not mean to say that such things have
been universal, but do say they have been the
rule and not the exception, and that in Balti-
more for years back they have been staring
every honest man in the face and defying him.
1t is idle folly, or worse, to pretend to deny
them. Like yourselves aud thousands of mem
bers of the party, have felt the shame OF
these things, but, being member of the party,
for its success in the country, l have earnestly
desired that it should correct them through
its own organization. Twoyear ago publicly
repudiated the unauthorized association of my
name with an independent organization pro-
Tossing the purpose of reform. But, in so
doing, used language which l beg your per-
mission to repeat, because 1t shows that the
opinions which l express to-day are not the
growth of the moment, or suggested by my
present position. What said august, 1872
was this In common with large number of
private citizens, l have lamented the injury
which has been done to the good name and
prospects of the DemOcratic-C
party in many portions of the State by corrupt
practices, unworthy nominations, personal in
trigues and low counsels. believe that no
party can long retain respect or power under
such demoraliZiEg influences, and l am free to
say that l do not think the Democratic Con
sentative party will deserve to retain either,
unless it mends its ways in these regards, and
that speedily
"The Democratic Conservative party has not
mended its ways, nor has it needed any ones
counsels, and if judged to-day by the influences
which control its organization, it has ceased to
deserve the respect which belong to its record
and IFS principles. Need dwell upon the in
fuences of which speak! 1t is matter of
glaring notoriety that the nominations OF the
Democratic party in Baltimore, and in many
been mainly forced upon the public by the cor
rupt devices of clique of politicians, without
patriotism, without public spirit, without title,
personally or politically, to the public conf
dence: and, for the most part, without capacity
for anything but intrigue, place hunting and
plumber. 1t is equally notorious that the legis-
lation of the State in nearly all matters, and
especially those which, have money in them,
has been under the same corrupt and almost
absolute control. There is scarcely citizen who
has gone to the Legislature with an application
for any measure of public or private utility,
ont of which money could be made by the
lobby. who has not felt the controlling pressure
of its hand upon him, no matter how honest
and expedient the legislation he has sought to
invoke The fact is as well and as gen.
orally known in Maryland as the lnhu-
ence of Tweed was known at Albany.
Equally well known, too, whatever the
ballot-boXes may have been made to show
to the contrary, is the fact that the interest
taken in the elections by intelligent and hon.
orable Democrats has gone on decreasing from
year to yearin consequence. They have largely
ceased to take part in primary meetings
which they know to be an insolent imposture,
or to trouble themselves with voting for the
nominees of conventions which are packed and
manipulated by trick and fraud. The indiffer.
euce which comes from WEAKNESS, and an
honest, but mistaken, sense of party fealty,
have prevented them hitherto from giving vent
to their disgust, except in the way of private
Remuneration. But, since the exhibition made
at the late Democratic State convention in
baltimore, not only on the floor of the conven
tion INT through all the disreputable scenes
and orgies which surrounded 1t, the patience