The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-10-13

1875. when the Carroll. Hamilton Con.
vention simply perpctuated its exist
ence by granting it fresh lease of
power in the State For it is fact
universally conceded, that if the voice
of the true Democracy Of Maryland
had then found tongue, it would have
sung the resonant requiem of the Ring
That no such political hallelujah then
gladdened alike the ears of taitAless Re-
publicans and faithful Democrats, among
whom Dr. Mackall was deservedly con-
spicuous is due mainly to the ambitions
and aspirations of one single Elkton
gentleman, whose great expectations,
alike with the small realiZations of Mr.
Hamilton, found burial in one common
political grave. But Dr. Mackall's adj
missions cover the present as well as
the past existence Of a Democratic Ring
in Maryland The ofense that his zeal
Gus denunciations of it gave to a few
local leaders, proved however but a
partial remedy for the party disease.
| The Ring still lives, breathes, and has
its existence Not its normal and natu-
raj life, thinks the Doctor, but by his
diagnosis of it, modified or abnormal
vitality. a sickly sort of being
Weaker in physical health, but stronger
in pious resolutions. More discreet, per-
chance more virtuous. We join issue
again on this declaration, and in repli-
cation, maintain: That certain cote,fe of
Democratic leaders and office holders, technt-
caUy known as "tAe Ring," is more potent,
politically IN Maryland this oery Aour than
eger before.
What are the facts briefly stated !?
Two years ago, on the 23rd of July,
1873, when John Richie made his ring
ing speech before the Carroll Hamilton
Convention, protesting, with an elo-
quence that startled his Bourbon breth-
rem, against the corrupt domination Of
the Ring leadership, said that the fact
itself stares US in the face Of wide
spread and indignant conviction that
the party machinery is employed for
purposes of intrigue and aggrandize-
ment; that the supremacy, which the
patriotic sentiment of our citizens has
committed to us as a sacred trust for
the promotion of the public veal, is
being wrested by mercenarN men, whose
habit it is to infest and fatten on the
strong side for sordid and selfish pur-
poses; that unworthy combinations Sc
cretly conspire to monopolze all the
chief places Of emoument, parceling
out offices, poluting the ballot box and
sitting the voice of protest in order to
rivet their corrupt supremacy; that
even the avenues of legislation are
blocked by rapacious swarming lobby
which makes honest industry pay tri-
butte for the protection of the law D
there was then, we say, enough indi-
vidual spirit and party independence
still left among the Democrats of MARY
land to challenge, in stirring contest,
the combined power Of an offensive party
combination The force of the state
ment is not weakened by the fact that
Carroll finally succeeded. His success
was foully achieved the disgrace of
the outrage still rests an unseemly blot
upon the escutcheon Of the party which
Dr. Mackall so fondly idolizes Then
in face of the fact that large ma
iority of the Democratic voters of the
State were openly hostile to him-by
trickery and corrupt methods Carroll
became " de facto" Governor of Mary
land, and the chains that bound indie
pendent Democrats slaves were finally
| llNttCu. bul lllC WIS Hol easily
wrought, nor without obstinate resist
ance by the better element of the party
1t was indeed memorable fight, and
well the champions of an honester De-
mocracy bore themselves throughout its
irving ordeal. But how now with the
opponents of offensive leadership? Two
years more of undisputed control have
sutlced TO weaken the opposition within
the party. Patronage has been skill
fully and cunningly dispensed. Place
has placated the sullen indictments
against an obnoxious party despotism,
until by degrees, growing stronger 10y
the political food it fed upon, the behe-
moth Of the ring now carries in its capa-
cious nav nearly every Democratic
leader of prominence in the State. Now
Mr.. Woolford undisputedy dictates his
own successor, and Thomas j. keat-
ing, the Ring candidate for the Comp
trollershlp, ana the partisan presiding
officer of the Carroll Hamilton Conven-
ton, hears not a dissenting voice to his
nomination made by acclamation-
| Why did not the bitter anti-Ring con-
testants of CAROLS nomination throw
down the gauntlet to the Ring cham
pions in this year of grace 1871? They
offered wager of battle to the champion
of tainted title in 1915, why not drive
a free lance against the Ring champion
Heating in 1871? Simply because, in
the Intervening years, the Ring had not
only lived, but had outroon Democratic
opposition Indeed since those memo
rable scenes, witnessed in the political
arena of the MARYLAND Institute. even