The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-10-02
Mr.. s. Teackle Wallis Letter of
Acceptance.

ACtcptdHCt.
At Reform Mass Meeting held in Bal
timore, on Tuesday night, which was ad-
dressed by Hon. J. Morrison Harris, Reform
candidate for Governor, and other distin-
guished speakers a letter from Mr.. s. Teackle
Wallis, who is in New York at present, was
read. The letter. by its frank and clear
statement of the political situation in Mary.
land and the corruptions of the Democrat
party in power, commands itself to every
student of the history of the times, and
especially to every intelligent voter in Mary,
land. Its length and our limited space com
pei US to omit portion of the letter. After
some preliminary remarks, Mr.. Wallis con-
tinues:
Having thus endeavored to state what
your movement does not mean, as | under
stand it, and what do not mean in repre-
senting it, permit me to say little more
definitely what l understand it does mean.
1 understand it to embody and give utter
ance and practical effect to the protest hith-
erto made, for the most part in private only,
but made in private every where for some
years past by the best men in Maryland
against the corrupt and degrading int1u-
ences which have controlled and directed,
and still control and direct, the ruling pol
itics of the State. | understand it as an
effort 20 arrest the progress of venality and
extravaganza in State and municipal legis-
lation; to drive out and set to honest labor
the drones who are billeted on so many of
the public offices, in order that they may
cheat at the public expense, when they are
needed at the primaries and the elections.
l understand it to be your purpose to inves-
tigate fraud, and to expose and punish it if
you find it; to turn the public revenue from
the channels of waste and misrepresentation
to those of public utility; to restore your
government, in fine, if you can, to its orig
inal uses as public servant, and not pr-
vate machine. If this is your programme,
as l understand it to be, | am at loss to
know how it can otherwise than callenge
the sympathy and support Of the public
Since the year 1867, when the Demo-
cratic conservative party, with its constitu-
ton of that date, came into power, it has
been practically without opposition. 1t has
made or married what it has pleased to make
or mar. 1t has had the right to be supreme,
inasmuch as it has represented large ma
jority of our people. But with its right to
govern came it's obligation to govern up
rightly and with decency. 1t owed this to
the minority not less than to itself, and |
have no doubt that it assumed the right of
government with a determination as party
to do its duty to both. But it has been
corrupted, as all parties and dynastes are
corrupted, by excess of power. Like most
absolute monarchs, it has taken to its pleas
ures and let its favorites 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, as
it's present lists before the public will, in
great party, painfully show. 1t has had
numerical force enough to dispense 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
magnified their ma orities at its pleasure,
by fraud.
These are not matters of doubt or specu-
laton, but of fact-familiar, common fact
known we'll as such to every active poll
tican, 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
l do say they have been the rule and not
the exception, and that in Baltimore 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 and thousands Of
members Of the party, have felt the shame
of these things, but, being member of the
party, and as anxiously solctous as any
man in it for its success in the country,
have earnestly desired that it should cor
rect them through its own organization.
Two years ago l publicly repudiated the
unauthorized association of my name with
an independent organization protesting the
purpose of reform. But, in SO doing,
used language which beg your permission
to repeat, because it shows that the Opin-
ions which l express to day are not the
growth of the moment, or suggested by
my present position. What said August,
1879, was this: In common with a large
number of private citizens, | have lamented
the jury which has been done to the good
name and prospects of the Democratic con-
sentative party in many portions of the
State by corrupt practices, unworthy nomi-
nations, personal intrigues and low coun-
sells. l believe that no party can long re-
tain respect or power under such democrat
izing influences, and am free to say that
I do not think the Democratic Conserva-
tive party will deserve to retain either un-
less it mends its ways in these regards, and
that speedily"
The Democratic Conservative nartv has
not mended it's wavs nor has # basdeJ anY
one,s connsels AMI # ;ndgsd to day hy tl,s
Influences which control its oroaniza ~
If has CEASED To deserve tho resnect which
belong to it's record and it's principlesM
Need dwell mon tbe Influences of which
Isneakn II is matter of oIor;nr notor;atv
that the nominations of the Democrat marty
in baltimore and in many counties IF the
St,te have for come ye,rs INST hoen r,.;nl,,
forced nnon tho nnilic INV The corrnnt do
vios. If = cl;one of ,oi;tic;ons ,uitho,,t
rotr;otisr, witbo,t ,nJ,1;n S,,;r;t ,.i,hont
t;tia narso,allv NJ ralit;oaI,v p 70 ,bo Ill.
Guidance and for the u,o.t n.rt 'u ,vi n
canac;tv for any thine Int intriana nIace'
hnntin1 and nlnnder II &c eon.Iiu I noto
rions int The Iegis1.+ion Of tha St. IN
Nearly oil n,attars and eSner;a,lv tIosa
wbicT ssbave money in them - has hean
nndsr tho sama corr,,nt and .l,,nst ,hsn
inta controI Thera r. soarceIv oi to-