The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-09-24
The Great Democratic Mass Meeting in
Baltimore.

The Democratic mass meeting, in Monu-
ment Square, Baltimore, last Friday night,
was one of the greatest outpourings of peo-
pie that has occurred in the city for many
years. 1t numbered from 10000 to $4,000
persons, and was a most imposing demon.
stration. The Hon. Revtrdy johnson pre-
sided. In consequence of defective voice and
| eyesight, Mr.. johnson was unable to read
the Introductory address which he had pre-
pared. James l.. Mcclure, one of the Secre-
taries, read it for him.
In the course of his speech Mr.. johnson
referred 10 the secrecy with which the pro-
cecdings of the opposition are conducted,
and said:
"If there be anything obnoxious in combina.
! tions for a political object, it must be in the
| secrecy in which their proceedings are conduct
cd. And these were held in secret watchwords
were said to be adopted, and sentnels placed at
the door to prevent the entrance of any who
| could not give the countersign. The danger at
| tending such secret associations the people of
| the country know too well. Citizens of foreign
birth, and those, whether native or foreign, hold
| ing the Roman Catholic faith, were politically
ostrscised and the most nhuman violence re-
| sorted to to enforce know-nothng DEGREES. The
streets of Philadelphia, Louisville, New Orleans
and Baltimore were made 10 run red with the
| blood of the ostracised "America TO be ruled
| by Americans was the cry against naturalized
citizens, and the sacred name of religion was in
| yokcd under which 10 abuse and murder Catho-
| lies"
He also referred to the intolerance of those
who based their objection to Mr.. Carroll, the
Democratic candidate for Governor, on re-
ligious grounds. "His fitness for the Office"
said Mr.. Johnson, "unlcss this makes him
unfit, no one questions or can question. His
blood, like his faith, descends from one of
the immortal signcrs of the Declaration of
Independence, who was from the first to the
last universally respected and esteemed, and
who died revcred and beloved by the good Of
every religious denomination. No man was
SO stupid or intolerant as TO object to him on
account Of his faith. If, when he was attach
ing his name to the great charter of Ameri-
can liberty, any member of the body had OBJ
jected to his right to do so, because he was
Catholic, the objection would have been
treated with scorn and detestation. No such
objection was interposed, and his union with
the other of those great and pure men was
received with joy and approval, rs tending
to strengthen the great cause on which they
had embarked. Is it not marvellous, that in
this age of the world, and particularly in this
country, such an objection should be counte-
nanced by any sane man? say especially
in this country, because our ancestors were
so impressed with the duty and necessity Of
not interfering politically with any man on
account Of his religious faith, that in one of
the first amendments to the Constitution,
that were coeval with it, they provided that
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion Or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof And it is believed
that like provision is contained in every
State Constitution"
After MIR. Johnson's speech, letters were
read from the Hon. VIM. II. Hamilton, Hon.
Thos Swami and exGov. Philip Francis
Thomas Resolutions proposed by Mr..
Johnson were then adopted, amid enthusias-
tic cheers. The Hon. John Lee Carroll, con-
didate for Governor, was next introduced
In his speech he thus defined the principles
of the Democrats of Maryland:
| First: The military to be subordinate TO the
civil power.
Second: Equal and exact justice TO all men. of
whatever State or persuasion, religious or 10
| litical. ~
Third: The honest payment of our lust debts
and the sacred preservation of the public faith.
Fou,M: Freedom of religion, freedom Of the
| press, freedom of the person under the protec-
tion OF the habeas corpus, and trial by Jury.
| To which we have added to suit the cxipcn
| cies of our own times and State:
| First: The modification of the tariff To sorvo
| the purposes of revenue only.
| Second: The maintenance in our own Stote If
the school system as 1t is, or with such modifi.
cation as experience may suggest. And here in
reference 10 this last point, let me say in answer
to many reports that have been circulated in re.
| gard to my views upon this subject, that since
my first entrance into public life | have always
been unalterably opposed to any division of the
| school fund among religious denominations. and
have maintained the opinion that the entire
management OF the revenue for school purposes
sshould belong exclusively to those appointed by
| law to disburse 1t.
These being our principles, said Mr.. Carroll
the question Is, how have the party in power
obeyed the mandates of our ancestors ?-bow
have they maintained the doctrines we have
taken to be the text for every American demo-
| crat? How have they sustained the principle
that the military is subordinate to the civil now
err Read the records of the past few wears in
the Southern States, in times of profoundest
peace, and will you not find that the civil an
thorites have been overwhelmed by the strong
arm of the national soldier and that the decrees
of the courts of justice have heen set aside Inv
the all-powerful influence of the bayonetY How
have they maintained the doctrine that the States
ought to be left to manage their domestic af-
fairs? Look at the history of executive and CON
| gresslonal interference In the Southern States
and will you not find the popular will overturn
ed and disregarded, and tic great central will at
Washington deposing Governors and recogniz.
ing governments in absolute defiance of the frat
and best known principles Of our Confederate
policyg How has the theory of equal political
rights been maintained? Go again 10 the South.
aud you will find that with the pretended claim
Of giving to the enfranchsed man his political
rights, they have taken care to strip The citizen
of many Of the privileges which he Inherited
from the constitution ofhis country
How has the writ of habeas corpus been ana