Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-03

Previous to and since the election OF
November 2d the leaders of tie coalition
party and its Organ have been very loud
ly asserting that violence at the polls pre-
vented a fair expression of opinion by the
people. Such charges are easily made
and not unusually follow an irret.ievable
political defeat. The complaints have
been mainly directed at the polio. force
Of Baltimore, and without shadow OF
reason the american, in the most violent
terms, has repeatedly charged the members
Of that body with knowingly permitting
violence and bloedshed to go on without
any effort at interference. And more than
this. 1t has even been said that police
men on election day were themselves
guilty of direct acts of intimidation, and
that innocent parties were frequently ar
rested. We have not thought it necessary
to reply at length to these charges of cor,
ruption for the simple reason that the ex-
travagance of statement and violence Of
language used were a sufficient recitation
Of their falsity.
But as they mainly related to tie char
acter of our city police force, an oppor-
tunity has now occurred to shov their
ridiculous features by contrast which
will probably suggest itself 10 whoever
WAS familiar with the bitter experience
which the derloving citizens of Balti-
more underwent during the years jmt pre-
ceding 1867, and especially 1864.
On last evening several hundred citizens
among whom were 4 number of cstiuable
gentlemen, who, convinced that they had
been foully dealt with. met nj the Mary
land Institute for the purpose of holding
what they were pleased 10 term an "irdig-
nation meeting" as they had n perfect
right To do. Speeches were made bitterly
denouncing the victorious party at ;h, re-
cent election. II is noticeable that tAt
speakers failed 20 furnish any basis Of
fact for their bitter inycctives. Corrup.
ton IN the abstract received marked 1T
tention. \ memorial, however, Ia the
Maryland Legislature, asking for a redrus.
of grievances, and a series Of resolution.
were adopted. 1t is = significant Hee aind
one which will be readily 1ool b.
the people of this citx- tk1ii6lis -
not every one OF the pharisaical Reformed
who addressed the meeting of last night
are scheming politicians. in full commsn
ion with the Radical party.
No one VINO was at the meeting could
have failed to notice the perfect quiet and
good order which prevailed Throughout
the evening. Through the exertions o
several members of the much-abuset
police force the slightest efforts To Great,
disorder and confusion were quickly sup
pressed, and this in spite of tho unpleasant
fact. as already stated, that the burden o
all the speeches was unqualified charges
Of corruption against the Police Commits
sioners. The Radical politicians from
different parts of the State were allowed
to formulate their reformatory philosophy
without the slightest interference from
any quarter. But mark the contrast.
In 1864, when the government Of Balti
More was under the guidance of the party
which, If the american is worthy of ere
dencc, carried the city safely and econo
mically through.the critical period of th,
war" an effort was made BY eminent
citizens of Baltimore late in the campaigr
of that year, in this same Maryland Iusti
tute, TO organize a meeting to ratify and
support the nomination of George b. Nc
Clellan for the Presidency, as they had 1
perfect right to do. What was the result
Before the meeting was fairly under way
it was broken up, and the proceeding.
entirely stopped by the 'loyar Radical
mob which had gathered about the door,
Of the Institute. Not the least effort was
made by the policemen present to prevent
the outrage, and on the contrary they en-,
couraged in every possible way the high
handed proceedings. This interesting
and suggestive feature of our city's history
is recalled for the benefit Of those well
meaning, but ill-advised Democrats who
still seem to cherish the thought that good
can result from an alliance with the relics
of Radicalism and its servile mouthpiecc
the american. 1t is unnecessary to dwell
on the lesson to be learned from this com
parison. Last night the citizens of Balti
more were allowed to assemble in peace
and quiet to denounce the very men whe
secured to them immunity from outside
interference. In 1864 body of respecta
BILE and law-abiding citizens, while this
city was enjoying the blessings of Radica
iule, were driven from the hall of the In
stitute by drunken and disorderly mob
Baltimore Gazette.