Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-11-01

BALTIMORE, October 80, 1sTe.
Editor Star: To one who has been very
often In Washington, yet belonging 70 Balti-
more, there Is much In common between the
two cities-one resting where its godfather
(the first President) placed II, upon the right
shore of the Potomac, and the other, bearing
also an illustrious name, eracipg the hills on
the right shore, also, OF the Patapsco-both
upon the domain OF Maryland, where the
broadest and best prime pies OF civil and re-
ligious liberty found first, not only utter
arce but practice. III you will permit col
pmns so practically utilized as those of rHE
STAR have ever been in the interest OF one of
these cities TO point out some charac teris tics
OF both, your correspondent will try with all
the unavoidable haste common 10 an occa-
sional writer, to do SO, with more truth than
grace OF style.
Twenty years ago Baltimore was probably
the most lawless city within the boundaries
6fty years IL had carried the soubriquet OF
"mCb'town." In 1872 Its rioters mobbed
houses, broke open jails, as well as murdered
Reyoluttonsry generals, and crippled the
because they were federalists, belonging 10
school OF politics countenanced by WASH
ington and created by Alexander Hamilton.
Forty years later the Empire CLUB, an
organization of democratic ronghs and gam
blers, found arrayed against Its political
power, the fapatical scum of the know
Nothing" party, terrible election riots en-
sued, and the result was the dominion OF
Americans on guard" for six years, ending
with the year 1850. The direct remedy for
democratic violence was worse than the
disease, elections became q reproach aud a
mockery, and nomination by the ruling
party was equivalent 10 an election. The
condition of affairs caused the rulers to have
very little respect for public sentiment, but
strange to say at no time within the history
OF Baltimore did the city achieve more ma
krial progress than within this period OF her
history. Her parks we're acquired. the FIRE
department established, water works organ
lied under city auspices, the fire alarm and
police telegraph system put into service.
street lines Of railway Constructed, the new
city hall authorized, the new jail built, the
lew aims house designed, the public scnool
system greatly enlarged, and other progress.
sive legislation all leading to the material ad-
vantage as well as the moral progress OF the
city contaminated. The old fire department
which had been the wet nurse OF rowdyism,
was ex tiTpated. Education had its succeed
Ing moralizing effect, and the city cars diff
fus ed the TiOteus crowds, that formerly
gathered in the CENTER TO so many new but
accessible places Of resort that the very
deIed them TO great extent harmless.
Therefore IL came to pass in this city that
the strong mind then at the head OF the city
Govern mept, realizing that much could be
accomplished without immediate RESPONSE
oility TO the people (tOho rarely permit their
servants 10 De enterprtsuigl, boldly took the
Initiative, being backed In his councils by
others equally willing, did the work-which
now meets with no cODdemnatory criticism
The fact that he could for a while defy pub
lie selfishness, (Which is too often but anoth-
er name for the public wiII,) was In itself of
vast service to the city OF Baltimore. In
1860 the caIbuncle of lawlessness came TO a
head and bursted of its own force. The
courts were reorganiZed, the police recon-
structed, the IRE department annihilated,
and public education expanded, and we are
but now reaplng the result OF the drifting
work OF score OF years in the present peace
Idl character OF the city. The mayor then
OF the city, to whom this letter alludes, be-
came afterwards governor of the state. He
has been electe 1 TO Congress repeatedly, and
at one time he had within his control
a Senatorial position. He was ut one time
unpopular in Baltimore, but that feeling
soon gaveJ way 10 sense OF gratitude
as q conviction came over the people afSer
his acts had ocular Demonstration" that he
mad been, both as mayor OF the city and gov
eTner of the state, 'the right man In the
right place" Ny letter is growing long, aud
II you will permit this retrospect to be fol
lowed by another letter treating of Balti-
more at the present time, as well as possibly
still another making some suggestions as TO
her future in connection with Washington,
shall continue TO write. HAMPDEN.