Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-08-31
Discussion N ecessarY.

To The Editor Of The Sentinel One of the
most remarkable things about the present can
vass is that some persons should complain Of
| the public discussion of the different lines of
| policy the various candidates represent. They
urge that il will produce discord, that per-
sonal animosities will run so high MS to lead
many to reject the decision of the party and
bolt The regular ticket. We concede that this
may happen when candidates resort to mis-
representation, abusive personalities and
anonymous attacks but there is no danger
of il if the controversy be conducted in an
open and orderly manner.
Public discussion is at once the school and
the safeguard of the people by it they learn
the state Of affairs, and are warned against
the intrigues Of political knavery And the
man who opposes public discussion is the
enemy of the people-he wishes either to keep
them ignorant, or to conceal from them some
plans Of lis own which he knows they would
condemn.
The nominations made this Autumn will
determine the policy of the party as to State
affairs for two years to come, and involve
questions Of the gravest importance respect
ing which the mass of voters and some of the
Office holders have but little accurate infor-
nation.
In the face of all this some candidates for
monstrous doctrine, repugnant TO every prin-
ciple of intelligent free government, that the
press should be gagged, that public meetings,
public speeches and detailed statements by
candidates Of their position are all alike to be
condemned and discountenanced This is not
in 50 many words the position of your CORE
spondent "Hdrm0ny' (whose letter, by the
way, is entitled to every consideration on ac-
count of its reasonable and gentlemanly tone, J
but il is the logical result Of his propositions
The undeniable dangers of controversy have
distracted his attention from the far greater
evils it prevents. Stiflie public discussion aud
you will indeed get harmony, but it will be
the harmony of blindness and ignorance-the
concord of community dead to its interests
and prey to the vultures of intrigue.
Still there are some who might find it to
their interest to foster such condition OF
things
An ofliceseeker who wanted TO keep alive
dead issues and perpetuate the power of q
| clique, who in sixteen years 'hdUe learned
nothing and forgotten nothing" might well wish
to prevent the interchange and explanation
of opinions.
A would-be candidate who had been bar.
gaining with German & Co. and presumably
trading off his future vote in the legislator,
for influence to send him there, might very
naturally object TO having that fact ventilated
And, in a word all professional politician,
who see in public trust only means fol
private advancement and who hope to gair
office by intri ,ues, combinations and persona
influence, or by promising to make the inter.
ess Of their constituents subservient to thos,
OF the little ring of Baltimore politicians VIII,
have for so long monopolzed all power AM
influence in the State-ai these find il desira
BILE and even necessary TO throttle discussion
which would expose their schemes.
1t is for us 10 say AT the primaries If we ais
approve of this system. CLEoN.