Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-08-23
CoMnuSicsr.D.

.3GyOs. kosf0rs NOW that The Q0eS-
ton is settled Cat least for the time) in
regard b future elections, trust we
shall once more have harmony within
the democratic ranks. The political
dissentions which have disturbed the
tranquility cfour county for the past few
years, have been felt and regretted by
every honest and well-informed man.
The present system, am sure. will not
be approved by all. II is impossible to
please every one. II the mass Of the
people, however, are satisfied, we should
not be otherwise. The time has now
arrived for each and every man who
CLAIMS TO be q democrat to 20 to work
with a will. Let the past be with the
past" There can be no excuse under
the Crawford System for leaving the
party. The field is open to all alike.
Let Us have but one object for the fu-
ture, and let that be to build up the par
ty, 50 that in the days to come We shall
look back upon our work with pleasure
and have no cause for regret. What
tenn We have adopted, there is one point
to which it can never be improper to
call the attention OF our fellow-ci.izens
it is the importance and necessity of
exercising the right of suffragss This
right is of inestimable value. 1t is
equally the security against power and
against disorder. As q general thing,
the farmers Of this county forming as
they do large majority Of the voting
Glass; are too slow to act. 1t is true we
have but little leisure, and this little but
few Of US are willing to devote to polit-
ical study. II seems. however, that
we are much too Indifferent about the
affairs OF State. We are too fond Of
procrastinating. Often it is that one
waits for another to act, and finally con-
cludes that there are enough without
him. This is net only the case at our
primary meetings, but even on the day
Of election there are many who absent
themselves altogether from the polls.
In my immediate neishborhood there
were at least dozen, and in this dis
trict more than Fifty who did not go near
the ballot-box in November last. We
hope this will never be the case again.
Let no man excuse himself with an opin-
ion that he NAV remain at home and
that the election will be secure without
his assistance. On the contrary. let cv-
cry man do his duty. There is work
enough for all if we expect to defeat the
combination which has been formed in
this county. This combination is form
liable only in certain point of view.
The leaders who conduct it (for the
most part are those who have much a.
stake as individuals and but little sym
pa,hy for the working class. as | ex-
pect hereafter 10 prove. These men,
touched not IN the heart with a spirit of
patriotism, but rather with a selfish
greed for office. are willing TO resort to
almost any thing to rob the poor deluded
negro Of his vote in order TO accomplish
their object. For this purpose, they
have an organized body formed for ex-
tending their influence into every dis
.rict in the county by spreading dis>en-
tons and sowing the seeds of discord in
the hearts of the faithful old servants
against their former masters. In a short
time this body will be Matching some
new story 10 mIsrepresent the demo-
cratic party, and 10 mislead and intimi-
date both white and black. The mis-
representations which have been circu-
lated and the perseverance with which
they have been dit.used, naturally make
an impression on individuals who have
heretofore had but little experience in
political affairs. These individuals, il
cannot be doubted, would ultimately
form correct opinions OF the state OF af-
fairs If lest 10 their own good sense I'M
biased by party. The events, however,
which have taken place within our
view, prove to US that such will not be
the case, unless we take means TO re-
flute the absurd stories which have been
circulated. The time has now arrived
for Us to do so. The colored man is
getting too wise to be longer gulled. He
is beginning TO look upon it a. reaec-
ton upon his race land truly it i>) to
have repeated to him year after year
the slavery question, the forty acres and
the mule story, aud last though not least.
for in nv mind it is the most contempt
ible and absurd, the most de>picable.
mean. low. vile, wicked, trcacherous
and outrageous Of all, viz: "Thaf gro
ceries wiH be cheaper BY haring a poiifi-
cal change IN some Of our local Offices"
If such stories are told with view to
the public welfare, we cannot see how
good can be derived from deceit. II
they are told through motives Of pstri-
oti>m, then God forbid that ever a drop
OF patriot blood shall flow within our
veins.
Exer.ions will be continued. howev-
er, To proven; the mi>informed from OBJ
tanning correct information and to in
crease their prejudice toward the dem
ocratic party. 1t is to be expected that
a nomination formed as has heretofore
been done will be circulated with un-
cea>ing activity, and such is the disci-
pline which prevails in the republican
ranks that the vote OF every man will
be cast in the support of their ticket.
The fact Of this proves TO Us the neces-
sity Of unity in action. The form Of
our election is such that the will of the
majority may be defeated should We not
be united. Let US, therefore, not make
a common cause with those who NAV
coalesce with US from policy and not
from principle, and whose object is
either to make US the instruments or
sacrifice US to their ambition.
Let US Danish. lie, us destroy every
circumstance that can excite or keep
alive difference of party. Let our ad-
versales know that they shalt find Us