Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-08-10
Our Leaders mus Come from the Ranks.

!
writer in your last ISSUE styles "One such
cdndiddte meaning and conceding thereby
that there is now a wishy-washy Republican
before the people, seeking nomination from
the Democratic party for some important posi-
tion--perhaps the Senate
The proposition of the author of the article
in your last issue, signed "Cleon," is absurd
and he might as well advance the idea that
on the field of battle where two contending
armies confront each other, one of said armies
should seek to strengthen itself by Offering
and giving command TO the generals of the
opposing army-could there be 0ui one result
Would not the new and treacherous leaders,
! ANONYMOUSLY obtained as aforesaid, give such
commands as would lead their silly followers
into the midst of their comrades and there
! order them to surrender, and if this were not
done involve them in untold confusion and
destruction No, fellow-ciIizens, the proper
way TO recruit nn army or party is to put
the newly enlisted into the ranks and after
they have been fully tried ind proved then
advance them cautiously to the front.
''Build up the Party by placing Republi-
cans in the front BY entrusIing to them all
that is dear 10 us and for which we have
struggled and fought these many dark days of
our adversely, now that we flushed with
victory, now that we can succeed, especially
in this county, better without than with
them Great God 1t would be suicidal,
worse than that, infamous, to turn down those
that have been born, bred and trained in our
ranks 10 make room for such Office seekers
In the last congressional contest what was
the secret OF our success2 Was it the recog-
milton of 'Cleon's'' treacherous and destruc-
tive counsels? was it the united efforts of
enthusiastic veterans following with unfater-
| ing aud conhding steps in the command of a
true and tried Democratic leader Did not
that contest show when old Montgomery
hears the familiar buge-sound of Democracy
she can prick up her ears like the war-horse
fond of battle, when he feels the strong aud
| friendly reins of his old master drawn upon
his mouth, and roll up as then her never to be
neutrality-suspicious. 1856 majority for William
Walsh-redeeming this District aud keeping
this State pure from the polluting touch OF
| single Republican in the halls of our Congress,
e0en though said Republican may hare been
man after "Cleon's own heart" moderate D."
The victory Of that day ii is true depended
upon the capture Of deserters from the Repub-
can cohorts who came over to US, mol for office,
6m for principle, of such is the kingdom of
Democracy. Rather than "Build up the
Party" by enticing so-called moderate"
Republican into our ranks by the bribery of
Office, let us put those to the front whose
every instinct and impulse is Democratic
who have not become experienced by life
long service in the van of the Republican
camp in all those IDEAS views and wicked
| practices SO subversive of good government
Let us not be over-ready and anxious to
| turst those who have never cO-operated with
us, and whose first introduction into the party
is coupled not with a request, but demand
for Office Will "Cleon" please inform the
voters il this such candidatc in the last-life-
struggle cast his vote and influence openly for
Walsh or McComas, for Tiden and Hendricks
or for Hayes and Wheeler, the moderate
Republicans choice, or at other elections for
the nominees of the Democratic party. His
traudulency, Returning Board Hayes enter
tains precisely the same views and bids for
precisely the same class Of men that this self
CONSTITUTED adviser, "Cleon' does Just such
arguments led to the nomination Of that old
humbug( peace be to his ashes) Horace Greeley.
and instead Of Building up the party it led
us TO Waterloo defeat.
The whole history of the Democratic party
emphatically shows that the Democrats have
never won more brilliant and lasting results
than when true to their party men, aud have
never met such disastrous defeats as when policy
swerved them from the path of their princ
Piles and placed them under the leadership of
a hybrid.
Those Republicans who came over to us
/
from the restrictions and acknowledgements
enacted by the Legislature of 1862 and 1864
pre- worthy &c DC trusted rs they have shown
their faith by their works.
"Cleon' proposes now TO build up the
party by allurng with the glare of Office the
paltry and insignificant residue of Rcpubli-
cans into our ranks, or should say into our
Offices, who have done all in their power to
bring about the present condition of affairs,
III. IL 81. -
| 10 earn his daily bread by the sweat of his
brow by persuing policy for the last sixteen
years, which has resulted in the upheavel OF
the whole social fabric and the destruction of
| all business prosperity. Remember fellow
citizen, that this class of Republicans in com
mon with other Republicans are those who
have imposed upon us negro suffrage and
| fraudulent President. 1t is wcll-known that
such men have the sympathy and influence
OF the great bulk OF the Radicals of the county
in their success III Obtaining a nomination from
| the Democratic party. And it is stated here
by leading Radical that the Republicans in
tend to try TO vote in our primaries in order to
nominate such moderate I" Republican as
"Cleon's' one such candidate" As long
! as the Republicans could use the negro element
IN mass throughout the South they hurled
defiance in our faces but now that the sceptre
is about TO depart from Judah, and since
the out-croppings and damnable principles of
that party have been weighed in the balance
and found lacking, and since the ''mene, meme,
teket uphdrstn' that caused the blood to de-
part from the Ease OF Belshazzar, has prompted
the oilice-seeking element among the Radicals
to silently steal into our fold, they are now
seeking office at the hands of those they so
| lately prosecuted. Drive them not out from
us, but let them be watched closely less they
prove ut tho midnight hour to be ravening
wolves in sleeps clothing and more the dam
gerous 10 us from the fact they are among u.s.
viii "Cleon" tell the people what clique in
the Democratic party he refers to, and also
whether he is not the man who originated the
expression, that must be a smart ddministrd-
tion that can change quicker than ~"
agree with "Cleon" when he says 'let the
dead past bury its dead, and conduct not
the campaign OF ~ with the war cry of '6l :"
But shall not the living present gather wisdom
from the past, aud, guided by the lamp of ex-
perience, decline to trust those men who when
they had us down tried 10 keep us down by
their outrageous laws, and have only made
oyertures to us when we are fully able to take
care of ourselves "Whie readipess to for
give indicates maguanimity and christian
spirit we are not sure that forgetting is de-
manded 10y any rule of morals or expedeney
II Is well to pardon wrong and injustice and
TO let the dead past bury its dead, but the
lessons which it taught should never be tor
forgotten. "-TheSun, dug. 6, 1877. Especial
ly is this true when "Cleon'sp zone such cam
diddte' refers to his past life and The manner il,
'chich he discharged former public trust as afford
ing the best guarantee and assurance what he
! will do If nominated and elected The dis
tinclion between the Union meu, who, when
we were down, did all in their power to al
, leviaie the individual hardships entailed upon