Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-26

charge, let the whole subject be fully ven
tilated. So long as the charges animated
from such unsavory sources as the Ameri-
can, they were not worthy of notice, but
now the matter has assumed different
shape. What before was floating, unsub-
stantial rumor, has now become tangible
and substantial. 1t is due to the people
bit is due to the Democratic party, that
the investigation should be full and COM
plete. We should show that when Mr..
Wallis left our party all the decency did
not depart with him, but that we have
enough left to do justice to him, and even
such as his distinguished friend" Mr..
Harris.
We have always been and always will
be the bitter opponent of la xlessness any
where, and especially when it invades
that sanctum sanctoruma, the ballot box.
The purity of that must ever be protected
tevery hazard and every risk, and whether
at the expense of friend or foe. When
that is endangered, we must sink the
partisan in the patriot. Then we must no
longer be either Democrats or Republi-
cans. and be ready to join all good men in
the necessary measures to protect that
precious ark of our liberties. If it were
possible for such thing to be, as that
Morrison Harris should be honest in adj
vocating reform and decency, we do not
know but what we might even suffer our
self to be found in his company in such a
cause; though we fear that then we should
begin to doubt our own honesty of pur-
psse Under no circumstances can we
ever defend or justify ballot box stuffing
by our own party, and we are willing to
go to any lengths in Furnishing the bad
men who do it. That such a thing should
be done by Radicals we should not be
surprised at because fraud and rascality
of every kind has been permitted and en-
Outraged in all branches of the Federal
Government whilst under their control I;
and it is almost necessary in order to be-
come prominent in that party, to be pro-
ficient in those arts. But with us, it has
ever been different. The purity of the
ballot-the unrestricted ballot-has ever
been upheld by our party, and when it
ceases to do so it will be time for US to
"cuss and quit
We want the investigation if entered
into to be complete in all its parts, and
extended to this and other counties. We
think that perhaps if this is done, some
gentlemen who have been declared elected
in this county will find themselves out in
the cold. We therefore are in favor of
the inquiry, but we want it to be so
thorough that when it is ended all shall
be satisfied that it has been honestly and
fairly conducted, and then there can be
no further complaints or dissatisfaction.
Our party should not fear such an inves-
tigation, because if rascals have stolen the
livery ofDemocracy in which to perpetrate
frauds on the ballot box, they should be
exposed and the party purged of their I'M
worthy membership. lion the other hand
the charges are false, our party would stand
all the higher in public estimation for
having vindicated itself from these foul
charges. We sincerely hope, therefore,
that the Governor will go to the full length
Of his powers in this matter, and if under
the language of the Constitution he posi-
bly, can have full and thorough investi-
cation, that he will order it at once. and
push it with all the vigor he is capable Of
We see great difficulties to be encoun-
tered-much labor and vexation to be
gone through with, but we think the
cause.-the vindication of the sanctity of
the ballot box-worth it. We have every
confidence in the Governor. We believe
he will do his duty manfully, fearlessly
and 'impartially. And if he should be
forced to the conclusion that he is not in
vested with the necessary powers to 60
into the investigation, we are sure that he
viii abandon it reluctantly. But we hope
sincerely hope-that his determination
will be otherwise.