Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-03
Home Rule.

Mr. Editor The citations in py last arti-
Gle in favor OF home rule and local sei-gOvern-
ment led me 10 speak of the authorities given
by Jefferson, Seymour and Bay ard as very
high Democratic authority. made this refer
ence in no party sense, but to name auihori-
ties worthy 10 speak for and be cited when
looking for correct Interpretation and trne
meaning Of Democratic doctrines aud princi-
plies. am glad 10 find myself supported by
such authority, as am quite aware that some
of your readers are not willing TO accept anN-
thing which may say as worthy OF consider
atioa. 'Oh he's not worth listening to-
He's no Democrat, &C." This is with some,
! hope not many, the ready, dogmatic and
stereotyped reply to anything which | may
write or say Mr.. Bayard describes such as
"unpatriotc animosiiy," md he classes il
with 'unclean dishonesty. disregard of truth
| and honesty and INSCRIPTIONS private greed ="
| For such, of course, do not write ! can
only pity their ignorance, bigotry and iatol-
erance. ] quite agree with Mr.. Seymour when
| he says THAT party names, Democrats and
| Republican, are fictitious like John Doe and
Richard Roe in law, introduced and adopted
to cover up and conceal real names and
things" prefer to be judged by acts rather
than by imaginary and fictitious names; and
when the search after truth leads me TO find
| its origin, even though it were with political
opponent, ! hope ! have magnanimity enough
to acknowledge it. All happy 10 this in
stance to do so and cheerfully quote what
Mr.. Jefferson left on record on the subject
In writing to a friend in the anlunIn 1861,
regarding the adoption OF new State coust-
tuition for Virginia he sad The article,
however nearest tn my heart is-the division
of counties into wards or towns These will
be pure and elementary republics-the sum of
all which taken together COMPOSE the Stale,
and will make Of the whole true Democra-
| cy." Again he SANS: Chow powerfully did
we feel the energy Of this organization in the
case of the embargo. | felt the foundation OF
the government shaken under my feet by the
New England Townships" Again he saws
! "Let the coun les be entrusted with the local
| concerns of the counties and each ward
(called in New England towns) direct the in
teres within itself 1t is by dividing and
subdiyiding from The great nation down; by
| placing under every one what his own eye
may superintend that all will be done the
best, and conclude every opinion with the
| opinion-Divide the counties into wards, town
ships.
trust have quoted enough to show not
only Mr.. Jeferson's opinion, but his deep
anxiety and earnest wish that the counties OF
Virginia should be divided up into wards as
elementary republics Mr.. Seymour says
| they are nurseries of education and manhood
He says: "This plan of carrying down classes
| OF districts TO those who have a special inteli-
geDce with regard TO them and peculiar inter-
est in their wise and honest execution is
wonderful educational system, without which
| 1t would be difficult to carry on our govern
| ments.
How much of complaint have we heard in
Montgomery, both OF our State government at
Annapolis and of our national government at
| Washington Think you, had we have had
| thnco l.,lI
operation, that the Sd, 900, 900 bounty bill
would have so easily have passed through the
| Legislature OF 1868, or sundry $500. 900 hills
have passed through the last Legislature with
the repeal of sundry laws near aud dear TO the
hearts of The people? Never, never
In the study of the United States by Mr.
| Talleryand, visitor to our great centennial
in 1876, he contrasts the 1876 With l776, and
after glowing tribute to the virtue, intelli-
gence and patriotism Of the latter period, he
refers to the present as follows:
1.-THE thirst for money is the all absorbing
passion, and of course the business of govern
ment is left TO the least honest least capable
and least worthy of its citizens, who Gil posi-
| tons of trust and honor only TO put money in
their own pockets at the expense of the pub
lic Honesty intelligence and instruction
still exist, but they are pushed to the wall by
knavery and intrigue
Mr. Mobissari another observant French
traveller and writer, puts in effective contrast
the traits which make Americans successful in
private life and unfortunate in State and
Municipal government. He says, "ln private
life, the American is intelligent, shrewd and
modest. 10 public his interest, his passions,
his national pride blind him absolutely, and
put him at the mercy of professional polit-
clans" lie estimates the politician at two or
three hundred thousand who coatrol ten