Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-09-30
TO THE PEOPLE OF MARYLAND

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in this State has had control Of it's gov.
ernment since the adoption of the con.
stitution of 1867. In the two contests
for Governor and other State officers il
has elected its candidates BY overwhelm.
ing majorities.
1t has again presented to you candi.
dates for the highest State offices in
the persons Of some Of its best and
ablest citizens, and in anticipation Of
your action on the I'd day of Novem.
Der next, we, speaking in behalf of that
party, desire to submit to you q few
considerations. In the past few years
its principles and the conduct Of those
into whose hands the administration
of State affairs was committed have
stood the test of public scrutiny. The
opposition Of the Republican party has
been futile to disturb its hold upon the
public heart, and to-day, while the Dem
ocracy is rising up everywhere in it's
might and giving promise soon to re.
gain its hold upon the national admin.
istration, to which in former years it
gave SO much force and lustre, the
Democracy Of this State would really
have no considerable opposition in the
field to contest with it the power it now
wields in Maryland were it not for the
extraordinary exertions made by its op.
pdnents through gross misrepresenta-
tions to excite dissensions aud differen-
ces in it's own ranks.
These efforts have been undertaken
with the purpose Of diverting the pnblic
gaze from the violations Of the consti.
tuition 10y the republican party; from
its plunderings of the treasury at
Washington; from its revenue and In.
dian frauds, and from the common
misconduct of its officials under the
general government, and thus to make
"new departure" to the end that it
may recover, by sinister and indirect
means, the control ofthe political power
and patronage of our State government,
and plague us once more with the dis
franchising and iliberal constitution Of
1864. The revival in our midst of the
dangerous expedients of secret political
organizations. intended to prescribe
citizens of our State because of their
birth or religious opinions, with reckless
and irresponsible secret councils, threat
ems the peace and good order Of this
community. and no honorable citizen
and well-wisher to republican institu.
tions remembering the evils which SIM
liar organizations have inflicted, will
willingly contribute to bring the peo-
pie of this State under the control of a
party SO constituted.
The recent nominations Of candidates
for office in Baltimore city by secret
conclave, and the concurrence therein
by some good citizens who have no,
sufficiently reflected on the ultimate re-
snlts Of their action, are but repetitions
Of the incipient movement in 1854, which
led to the subsequent and shameful
sutjugation of that city by q band OF
desperate ruffians. whose acts Of violence
were encouraged by the acquiesence OF
q partisan police. The duty, therefore,
10 upon us to warn you, at this early
stage of the proceedings of this new
party, that it may I've expected, if sue
cessful, to repeat the outrages inflicted
upon the people Of this State in 1854,
and in subsequent years.
The republicans Of Maryland, wea-
ried by constant, defeats under their
own leaders, and bolding those doctrines
and views of policy now being repatiia-
ted in the State elections eyeryw here.
seek, under cover Of this secret orsani-
cation. 10 drive the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ative party from power, and while
yielding temporarily to the leadership
Of meu whom they have in the pas,
treated with cruelty and bitter hostility
hope, after the destruction Of the pow.
erful democratic organization, TO retaks
the field rs a distinctive party organi.
cation. and to carry Maryland in be.
half Of the republican candidate 70,
President in 1876. The return 10 pow.
er Of secretly organized party, with
proscriptive doctrines and un- American
tendencies, would be bad indeed; bu,
equally injurious, If rot worse, in fact
would be the restoration Of the radicals
60 the management Of our State and
city governments.
Can il be possible that the people ol
this State can so soon forget the -pasi
history Of the republican party. tha,
that party should be allowed BY an,
schsases Or devices. orsuader any spari
Gus cry Of "reform," to obtain cOntro
Of MARYLAND and its great heart, Bal
timore city 2 Can your memory be Q.
treachereus rs to blot out the infamous
means by which defeated candidate
fnr scx.ruor was installed oxer Nh,