Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-06-07
1CoMNUylcArEp.

L
.Messrs. Ed;iors FL have noticed re-
peased editorials in your papef ufx-
ing the necessity of party Organization
for our Fall esmps,gr. That tIis l. :
seeessify. we.think beyond the range of
arguments Our Defeats in the pest, 20
of, should teach rs wisdom for the fu-
ture. ~~We-.may have been defeated
over and over again. but per<istency
would at last have crowned our efforts.
Our sister county. Charles, is IN exam
pie in this direction. Charles County
had greater majority to overcome, and
she will succeed at the next election.
There has been no election IN 81. Ma
rvs County since the enfranchisement
Of the blacks, that the democrats BY un-
ity could not have elected their entire
ticket. 1t seems as jf your pleadings
have been in vain 50 far, and We now
urge upon the people a new plan. en-
braced in yours, but on the "half Loaf
principle. If We cannot get all, we can
at least get some by judicious manage
ment.
We think that the most important Of.
fee to The material interests Of our peo-
pie is the Commissioners Court, and TO
that we now propose TO address ourI
selves. In all Offices in which the life
or liberty Of the people is concerned,
every one effected by that office should
have a voice in the selection Of the Of
ficer to fill it, either directly or Indirect
ly. but for the office of County Commits
sioner, no one but taxpayer is inter-
ested-therefore no one but tax-pa
should aspire TO that position, and no
one but taxpayers should have the Sc
lection of officers for that position. That
thisis position of right and justice is
undenlable. We do not propose to make
any attack upon our present Board. but
for illustration will give the formation
Of IT., as present constituted, three re-
publicans and two democrats. We will
view them as representatives ofthe ma
terial Interests of the county. The ma
jorlty were elected by non-,ax-paying
voters. We can safely say that nine
tenths OF the votes received by them
were OF this class, while the minority
of the Board are the true representa-
tives of the tax-payers-yet, as consti-
tuted, this minority, representing, as they
do, the taxpayers of the county, have
no voice in The business Of the Court.
1t has been principle admitted by all
political economists in our latter dav
civilization, that there should be no tax
alton without representation, and this
principle is plainly violated in this ex-
ample. The violation Of this principle
caused the coionists TO revolt against
Great Britain.
OF course. this cannot be remedied
efiectually without change in the fun
damental laws Of the State, which
would Decessiiate much expense. We
will leave that TO future legislation.
But there is yet remedy for us in par
ty organization. We can elect five
democratic County Commissioners, pro-
vlded five aspire TO the position. We
can elect four fisk offer. We can elect
three II seven are ambitious, and we
can elect two if eight enter for the
sweepstakes, as was taught us by cur
last defeat. Let us then run only FIVE
for the position, TO be selected from the
business men and taxpayers of the
county-men such as could be easily
named. In this connection, we could
suggest at least three men i'm each dis
trict for our choice, but for fear ofiden-
titving them with the movement which
we propose, we forbear. II is but JUS
ticc TO say that A. F. Fenwick and Jas.
II. Alvey, who constitute the minority
IN the present Board, should.be endorsed
for their respective districts. We do
this for the purpose Of giving them some
chance OF showing TO the people oe st.
Mary's County that they can discharge
their duty, provided they have the OPP
Portunitv. II is fact that thew together
have separated from the other members
OF the Board in every measure, where
the party separated, and where the Of
tices of the county in their gift. were
given to parties in opposition to the in
teres's ofthe taxpayers. We should en-
dorse them. Two districts in the county
would be cut out, but some arrangement
could be made to satisfy this disaffec.
ton. Anyhow, try the thing once.
Certain it is, that the past should teach
US lesson, and should make US wary
in the future.
We hope, Messrs. Editors, that your
plan will be adopted in regard to all the
Offices in the county, but most especial
ly in regard to that of County Commits
sioners. O.