Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-10-09
THE MINING JOURNAL.
FROSTBJRG. MD. OCT. o. 1875.

THE complexion of party affairs in Mary
land - notified. Never before, probably.
have politics been SO entirely mixed
The Greeley democratic coalition was al
most an anomaly, yet it is ouidonc by the
reform combination. Here wc have demo
Gratis and republicans OF the "straitcst sccts''
in full accord against the "ring' democracy
Many of the democrats who will support
MIR. Carroll are fnvoring, even urging re-
form in state affairs, but arc opposed to
going outside the party to do it. They de
sire TO "un!oad,' swap horses" or do
something to get rid of some Objectionable
characters who have so far involved the
party that they have become its nominees
for positions Of honor and trust. In ac
complishing their personal ends these men,
it is claimed, precipi,ated distasietul gu
bernatorial nomination uuon the party,
miscarrying the popular will to promote
selfish purposes.
Against this domination the tlisa.fected
democracy, ~ intimatrd, have coalcsccd
with the republicans in ticket which car
RIGS the names of two democrats and one
republican. The banner cry is reform
reform of alleged abuses of administration
This party is dcIving among the archives,
nosing out the stcalngs and refreshing its
quondam brethren with detailed publica-
tions both through the press and from the
rostrum. Meanwhile, the Governor and
troll lnr III,
dorsing each other, calling for and acccding
to an investigation by mcr who have not
time to stop having and doctoring TO take
in whtewashing, and the officials are left
alone in Annapolis to correspond further
about the happy condition of State finances
through the Baltimore papers. With the
opposition it is a matter of pride that they
deal only with live issues although these
seem to include nothing but the rogucrv of
the wing which shelters the treasury They
ignore the dead past and all its buried qucs-
tons. Not so the "straightouts," who are
searching political tomb>toncs, opening par
y vaults and bidding the spirits rise The
warm pulses of life again throb in the scat
tered dust of the "knownothing," and the
eloquent mediums promise that every
stump in Maryland" shall be glori1icd with
a dark lantern seancc. And then, aside
from these manifestations of bitterness,
there is the far-fetched religious issue both
SIDES of which tend t. prescription. The
magma charla of religious liberty is set up,
as if contravening the divine spirit of tolcr-
alton, to exemplify the right, even by votes,
to attest the intalliblity of our own and the
dangerous proclivities ofothcr faiths And
so on through the catalogue of unreal points
of conflict in a contest where the best adj
vantage gained by either side is in that eff
fort which most succeeds in Undertaking q
fancy, a desire, a prejudice, or fraud
Under circumstances then which thus
fctter the progress and cloud the prospects
Of the parties, there is ample room for that
other important political factor-the man
who carries and shoots the "Parthian
arr ws'-to play at will on tickets, cand-
dates, nominees, parties, crced--to scratch,
pierce and barb the egoisms and darlirgs of
pAd't-HoittIS anu lblitt'lluHtCTS. Even mere
the honest intent somstimcs miscarr;cs but
not extensively enough to be dangerous
Defective Judgment, a little jealousy, or
selfshncss might occasionally impair the
independent voters usefulness as a cOnscry-
ator In elimnatinga scoundrcl substitution
might he merely a swap" of equivalents
Still, he is on the right track, and in the
vast majority Of cases where men are really
independent they are intelligent enough
to discern the true metal He it is who
wishes to remove the fungus which aIsorbs
and the shoddy which consumes our vital
forces and dishonor our free institutions.
Wanting honest administration and good
government, he wants candidates worthy of
the work and of his support, and every
scratched ticket is q trcnchant message to
the parties to put such only on the course.
does not ask for office,
1t has been and is doubted whether such
an element exists in politics We have as
sumed that it does, and on no better evidence
IMAM illStitS w men Is
quite sufficient to establish his identity. He
is in the arena; in fact, he is umpire and
both parties are unconsciously reporting
:, and referring to him. Here in Allcganv
county-m Frostburg-the growing policy
is nominate those republicans who can
poll the greatest number OF democratic votes,
and rice rerSa. He is here and elsewhere,
holding parties in check and keeping them
on their good behavior. He las taught
many profitable lessons, and has more NOR
als in store. Not the least of these, it NAV
be hoped will be the Punishment Of the
absurd custom of nominating and clectinr
sherifs, constables, mayors, councilmen, etc,
upon national issues, or because they be-
long to this great party or that, without re-
gard to the candidates fitness. An element
of this character is not to he despised by
the parties, nor can the country afford to
have it put down. 1t is reform in all its
parts; it disnfects corruption purifics the
purifiers; reforms the rcformcrs-in short,
it does away with occasion or necessity for
reform.
If the movement on foot making issues