The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-10-16
Publishing the Laws.

The Frederick Eaamiasr recently gave
a list Of the papes which published the
Laws Of the last session Of the Legislature,
charaetnrizing them as the eRing Press
Of the State. The Baltimore Aslsricaa
copied the Elsaminey's list and enlarged
upon its caption BY adding ''the subsidized
Ring Press. In chasing the ADVOCATE
with the sring press Of this State, both
Of these journals have uttered deliberate
falsehood II is true we published the
laws as directed, and were paid for the
service. Did no, tho E.ramiarr and the
Americaa do the same thing when they
were designated to publish them from 1865
TO 1867, along with the other Radical
papers of the State9 Were they so pa
triotic MS to render the State this service
without fee or reward from the treasury ?
Who believes Ill Who believes they
would do il now1 No one in his senses
The law requires the publication Of these
statutes for the information Of the people.
1t is law maxim that ignorance Of the
law is no excuse for It's infraetion. But
how shall the people know what the law
is unless it be made public 7 If the laws
be published il is the fault Of che people
If they are not familiar with them. The
State has done its part by publishing them
in the cheapest and most popular form.
Shall laws be enacted for the government
of the people, and then be kept from the
peopleg Shall they be kept secret, in a few
costly books, safely locked up IN private
law libraries to be dispensed by the pro-
fessiOn to the people at five or ten dollars
for an opinion. The mau or the party
that undertakes to withhold from the peo-
pie knowledge of the laws by depriving
them of this popular form Of publication,
will have cause to rue il, for the people
viii not submit to it, II il be wrong to
publish the laws for the information Of the
people, that wrong lies at the door of the
Radical party, for the law requiring their
publication was passed by the Radical
Legislature Of 1865. 1t was not wrong,
however, in the estimation Of these Radi-
cal journals, SO long as the Radicals held
control Of the State, but it Is very wrong
now that the Democrats have the control,
and Democratic papers do the work aud
get the pay. The hollowness Of the
virtuous protestations Of these press re-
formers is well set forth by one of
over contemporaries, the Cecil Democrat,
which says;
The Radical papers Of Maryland are pub
fishing list of what they are pleased to term
! the Subsidized Ring Pres" This list in
cludes every Democratic paper in the State,
and the Substituting is receiving pay for print
Ing the laws. This is such a miserable cam.
paign resort that il is unworthy Of notice.
Every State in the Union publishes its laws
and pays for the publication, and every party
gives the State printing to the publishers sup
porting il. These Radical journals making
this attack, were, a few years ago, the snbsi-
died press ofthe Republican party, and are
now in the pay of the Federal Government
We are not aware that il is the habit Of Re-
publican newspapers to decline advertise.
ments because they are paid for by the State
or the United States. Try some other low
device gentlemen