The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-10-23


ton, by dedicating large portion of those
noble resources to Mr.. CarrolPs cleo
ton. OF a truth these friends of his, one
and all, are doing their best for him. They
either love him exceedingly, or they expect
to make great deal out Of him. If the
former, it interests him only-if the latter,
it interests the people.
And this brings me to the question at the
very suggestion of which Mr.. Carroll took
so much offence, whether, having accepted
the services of these people, he can cut
loose from them the moment he is Governor
of Maryland. l have ventured to say that
he cannot if there is anything in the ordi-
nary experience of mankind. l am rash
enough to announce it as practical politi-
cal axiom that no man who seeks office can
altogether free himself from the influence
Of the friends who raise him to power.
And where, as in our political conventions,
nominations are secured by compromises,
combinations and pledges, as everybody
knows, it is SO difficult that it may be
counted impossible for the best intentioned
and most upright man to repudiate all
promises or pledges that his friends, even
without consulting him, may have made to
serve him. If they are dishonest or dis
creditable, and he sees that they are, as a
man of honor he will repudiate them of
course, but he will be only too apt to think
favorably of what has redounded to his
benefit, and he will be prone to judge gen.
tly those who have been useful to him.
And if his friends are shrewd and unscru-
pulous, and have served him only as mode
of serving themselves, the chances are that
they will impose, without hesitation and
with success, on the confidence which they
have won by their ostensible fidelity.
am quite aware that this view of human
and political nature is utterly repudiated
by that eminent moralist, Mr.. Pinckney
Whyte. In the delightful discourse which
was read by that illustrious person at the
Maryland Institute, he treated the very
suggestion of it as an evidence of my in
nate depravity. But meant to speak only
of the rule in humanity, and not the ex-
ception. had only in my mind the "com-
mon run" of men-those who live and
move in the plane of average intelligence
and virtue. 1 know that they-and l as
one of them-sin ninety and nine times
daily, whereas, hardly day passes that
Mr.. Whyte does not find himself compelled,
like Mr. Pecksnif, to lay sudden hold on
something heavy, to prevent himself from
ascending into Heaven. l know-we all
know, in fact-even the Ring knows-that
he never made a political com bination, or
gave pledge, or bestowed an office to serve
a personal end, in all his life. He is there
fore not judge, l insist, of what low
minded people, like the Ring, may do in
the way of imposing on average humanity.
If he himself had ever suspected that the
election of Mr.. Carroll as Governor could,
by possibility, have the remotest influence
in promoting his own reelection to the
United States Senate, we all know that he
would have "taken off his coat" (which l
believe is his usual way of serving his
country to secure the nomination of Mr.
Hamilton, merely to win the applause of
his own conscience. l submit therefore
that he is too far above what am treating
of to know anything about it.
And here l must express my surprise at
the indignation manifested by Mr.. Carroll,
in one of his speeches, at the suggestion in
my letter that it was quite as possible for
the nominees of a Democratic as those of
Reform Convention to be made the dupes
of rogues. Is there any doubt about that
proposition? Is there any difference be-
tween straightout nature and human
nature generally in its weaknesses and its
proclivities Mr.. Carroll can hardly sup
imposed on since his nomination than he
was before. If he does, it is but common
experience that gentlemen who are so con-
tident are the easiest to cheat. 1t is no
disparagement. certainly, to say of him,
that for ways that are dark, and for tricks
that are vain,' the heather that will be
about him, if he is elected, will have sadly
the advantage of him. To realize this, we
have only to imagine him enforcing the
principles of political rectitude at session
of the Board of Public Works, with Comp.
troller Woolford and Treasurer to be
elected by Ring" Legislature smiling
blandly beside him.
In saying what have said upon the last
point 1 may express my own surprise in
my turn that Mr.. Carroll should be so out.
ragged at the application of principle tc
him which has been applied, throughout
the State by all his partisans and orators,
with furious emphasis, to me and without
his seeing any wrong in it. Although some
of the "truly loyal" of the Democracy
are disposed to deny that l was ever a
Democrat, and to believe that am show
ing foot that was always cloven, the mass
of the candid people in the party are good
enough to say some of them with kindli
ness and manliness l cannot forget that
have been only honestly misled into bad
political associations, and that these mus
force me to promote the interests of the
Republican party, against the party of my
own convictions. If my position were like
Mr.. Carroll's 1 should have nothing t.
reply to this. If 1 had sought my present
nomination, and had had to struggle
through hot and doubtful contest to ge
it, could not, of course, have thrown off
more than other men in like case, the obi
cations imposed by the support and ser
vices of friends. But coming, as do, int
this contest solicited and not solicitous
accepting the nomination on my own term
and none other, and announcing thos'
terms in the very act of my acceptance,
feel that am indebted to no man, and tt
no party, for anything but the confidence
voluntarily reposed by political friends ant
opponents in my integrity and independ
ence. l have been selected, as Democrat
and nothing else, to prosecute reform ant
nothing else, and except to prosecute re
form to the best Of my ability, no man o
any party has claim on me of any sort, o
has undertaken or can undertake To mall,