The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-09-04
THE ALTERNATIVE
I Baltimore american.

The results to be anticipated i'll case the
regular Democratic tickets should carry
the State, elect 4 ma ority in the Legisla-
ture and the City Council of Baltimore,
and the Ring programme be carried out to
the end, are worth while the attention of
every citizen who does not expect to make
money out of his connection with politics.
We know that in the past the Legislature
and the City Council have been corrupt;
that they have Numbered most ignomini-
ously i'll necessary legislation; but we
know, too, that they have not Numbered
when jobs were on hand, and the thrifty
dollars to be turned. For the past five
years the great public interests of the city
and State have been entrusted to the hands
of incompetent gamblers in politics who
have held Office simply for the sake of
plumber. The history of their follies, their
incompetence and corruption is al open
book to be read by all Maryland. They
have accomplished little that was good
and much that was bad. They have raised
taxes and defrauded property holders ap-
propriated hundreds of thousands of dol
lars without accounting for them, dealt in
wholesale corruption and pocketed their
fifteen per cent upon appropriations.
These same shameless managers are the
masters of the Democratic party to-day.
They figure in the Council and Legislative
nominations, and they dictated the selec-
of Carroll, Gwinn and Wooford for the
State ticket. 1t is ludicrous to hear of
reform inside the party while they hold the
whip and crack the lash over it. When
reform is obtained through such a medium
grapes will be gathered from thorns and
figs from thistles
The alternative presented at the coming
city and State elections to all citizens
will be whether they shall perpetuate this
inefficiency and corruption in the State
and city government, or lend their aid to
securing such honesty and intelligence as
will decrease taxes, create an equal basis
of taxation, cut down public expenditures,
and take up all questions of public i'm
provement with sense of responsibility to
the community for its progress and an ap-
probation of the restraints which shall
guide public expenditures. This is pre-
cisely theissue presented by the Reformers,
whether they are allied with the Merchants
or Citizens party. If the Democratic Ring
nominations sweep the field there will be
corruption at Annapolis and in the City
Council greater than any we have yet
known. There will be swindling contracts,
than fifteen per cent shaving of appropria-
| lions, devises of money to questionable
purposes, and a general obedience to the
Ring programme as whole. Of what the
Ring expects from the next Legislature we,
need no better evidence than the character.
of the city Legislative ticket and the
nominations of Messrs. German and Ban
non. No matter what party voter be-
longs to he can set it down as a safe rule
that he is going wrong when he casts a
vote for men of their class, or for any
others whose aim in public life is simply
to make money without regard to the
morality of their means. Whoever casts a
vote for the Ring nominees in October or
November will be deciding in favor Of
increased taxation and still more extrava-
CANT and corrupt expenditures of the pub
lie funds. The alternative is not difficult
to understand. 1t is brought down to a
| clear and precise point by the Ring nomi-
| nations, and the bipartisan opposition to
them.
The test of individual character is pro-
per one to be applied to opposing candi-
dates, and it is exactly that test which the
Reformers ought to make in this campaign.
They should put their nominees, man for
| man, in contrast with the candidates and
ask the people to judge between them.
! So far as the Reformers have made their
| Legislative and Council nominations they
have placed forward men whose characters
are unimpeachable, and whose native in
tegrity can be so relied upon that they
need make neither excuses or promises.
On the other side we have lot of MERGE
nary roughs, seeking office for what can be
made from it, and ashamed of the records
which attach to the majority of them who
have been in public life. If partisan feel
ing could be banished from this campaign,
| hot t1,nrr hi
cans or Democrats and remember only that
they are citizens, the Ring slate would be
broken into fragments at the polls. In
this way only can we perfect that reform
which Baltimore and the State are so sadly
in need Of We must either accomplish
the reform or submit to the evil and in
competence of Ring domination for another
two years.