National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-21
DEMOCRATIC MERCHANTS IN BALTIMORE

They have had a meeting. 1t was a
sickly affair. The Fifth regiment band
blowed for it. That good old man, the
honorable and revered Reverdy johnson,
showed for it, and was loudly cheered when
complimentary reference was made to his
name and services, but it was all no use.
There was no fervor in the speeches, no en-
thusiasm in the applause, and no positive
support in the string of apologize resolu-
tons which were unanimously passed. 1t
was a force put all round. The
real merchants organization having placed
the Reform ticket in the field, the Demo-
Gratis felt bound TO antagonize the move
ment by pretense of mercantile indorse-
ment Of their ticket. And a really pitiful
pretense they have made Of it. Not the
least shameful feature of their proceedings
consists in their having placed the son-in-
law Of Hon. Reverdy johnson upon their
ticket as the candidate for Attorney Gen
eral, in order that they might claim the
countenance and aid of great mans name
in defense of their nefarious corruptions
They well knew that they could count
upon the old mans good nature and family
pride to bring him to their support. He is.
consequently, forced to appear at all their
public meetings an apparent indorsef of
the infamous practices of the corrupt DEM
ocratic leaders. He is trotted out to give
responsibility to their gatherings, and whils
their principles are loathed and despised,
the appearance Of the honest old statesman
is applauded. Although he is worn out by
long service, blinded by persistent, ardu-
GUS and uninterrupted study, and is enter
ing the second childhood of age, these
heartless politicians persist in parading
him before the people as the sponsor of
their ticket and 1.-THE implied indorser of
their villainies.
HWhat must the people think of a party
reduced TO such straits as these? To what
depths of desperation must party be sunk
when it is obliged to call upon both the
cradle and the grave for recruits and appear
ances to maintain respectable standing
before the people? 1t has just tried, with
miserable success, the rag baby" and Me.
thuselahistic dodge in Ohio. 1t will meet
with no better luck in Maryland. The ar
raignment of the party contained in the
letter of Mr.. S. Tackle Wallis, the Reform
candidate for attorney general, cannot be
wiped out. Mr.. johnson, and his son-in-
law, Colonel Gwinn, have most unfortu-
nately been placed in false position by
the connection of the latter with the Dem
ocratic State ticket Their rightful position
would be in the ranks of the Reformers.
Their instincts and sympathies are naturally
with fair elections and an honest admins
tration of the State and city governments.
They doubtless feel the truth of the charges
made by Mr.. Wallis and his fellow Reform
ers against the Democrats now in power,
and regret their inability to confute them.
But they deem it too late to retreat A few
days will serve to release them from the
miseries and anxieties of their present false
position. Relief will come by the channel
of defeat, but its sweets will even then far
exceed the bitterness Of failure. There is
never any satisfaction to true patriot in
the winning of bad cause. No one has
better appreciation of this fact than Mr.
johnson.
This merchants meeting was pretense
and q fraud. A few respectable names
were loaned to it, or were used without
the consent of their owners to give it an air
of genuineness, but the glaze was too trans
parent to deceive any one, and the affair
passes into history as another addition to