The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-10-18
politital Sfairs.
From the baltimore Bulletin, October II.
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE.
Republican Record in Maryland.

neered over the people of this State, we
submit, in order to prove it, the following
historical review from that day to the
present;
This hungry and corrupt ofiee-seeking
crew have nothing so much at heart ia
Baltimore as the restoration. Of their su-
premacy in the city, such as it was when
John Lee Chapman was Mayor and John
J.. Thomas city counselor. Does any one
outside Of this hungry pack believe that
change from Democratic to Radical rule
wouldbebene6cial either 1.-THE city or State?
Have we not already had enough Of Radical
rule in our city and State, as well as in the
maladmiristration Of Federal affairs !?
Was Radical legislation, prescription agd
oppression so pleasant to US during and
after the war that We are anxious to Cxpe-
rience once more q return to the tender
mercies of that party? If Gary, The rad
ical candidate for Governor, imaG zes that
the people Of Maryland have forgotten
the wrongs that he and his party committed
upon them, he mistakes their temper and
public spirit. The peopleg of Maryland
cannot forget that under Republican rule
SPIES AND ISFoRMERs in this State
swarned like vermin in Egypt. Servants
were suborned to lodge against
their masters or theF families; reproof
or unpleasant task might be avenged by
imprisonment or esile. Whoever had a
petty grudge had the offenders liberty
within his power. Evidence was scarcely
needed when treason was assumed TO lurk
in a school-boy's gray jacket, in 4 glrl's
scarlet ribbon, or in the striped socks Of
an infant in arms. Secret denunciation
was encouraged, and the delator's personal
animus, though notorious, or his charac-
ter, though infamous, was not allowed to
invalidate his accusation. Private letters
were broken open; dwellings ransacked;
women treated with the grossest personal
indignities, and men Of unimpeachable
character subjected to arrest by rufians,
and prOtracted Imprisonment without trial
upon charges that could not be learned, Oh
if learned were in nine cases out Of ten as
frivolous as they were false. The most
melancholy part Of all this miserable bust
ness was the fact that the better class Of
radical citizens, like Mr.. Gary, Mr.. Stock
bridge, Mr.. Hooper and others, whose in
Auence was potent with the government
and its agents, raised no voice Of condem
nation at these outrages, but looked OF
with acquieseence, If not with satisfaction
while law was violated, liberty tramplet
under foot, and their fellow-citizens AM
ancient friends were dragged to dungeon
or driven into exile.
Under the plea Of military necessity
troops were then used at the polls an
allowed to override liberty. They wer
subsequently used in 1870, in 1872,
1874 and 1876 to carry out the plans q
the Republicans, and what is to preven
the fraudulent President from massiu
bodies of troops in Baltimore, as Grant di
in 1866? A pretext can easily be in
vented, and thousand will be found,
necessary, to excuse such interference
He may scatter the whole available Dol
tion Of the army among the great citiei
and supplement the troops with anothe
army Of supervisors, marshals, generI
deputies and special deputies, with tn
promise Of s5 day.
"The machine" ," President Lincoln ono
said, depends mainly upon the sort O
people who run it, and as the people Z
Maryland have bad some experience wit
the "radical machine" they will not fol
get its lessons at this time. The constitr
tion Of 1864 disfranchised by er post taci
enactment some two-thirds Of the citizen
Of the State. At the close Of the war Ii
minority, which had been ruling by yirtu
of the sword, devised plan to perpetual
their lease Of power. Accordingly,
March, 1865, the Legislature passed a
act Of registration which disfranchise
every voter whose political views wer
opposed TO those Of the minority that hel
sway in the State Thus it was that thos
who had been inducted and maintained
Office by the aid Of Federal bayonets clun
frantieally to the Hesh.pots, now that III
bayonets were no longer at their servic,
BY their inquisitcrial additions to the tc.
oath provided BY the constitution Of 1856
they constituted themselves accusers an
judges Of their fellow.men, and SO COZ
strued the constitution and altered tn
laws Of the State as to limit the politics
franchise to themselves and their polite.
adherents, yainly hoping thus to monopc
lie and hold in perpetuity all the Office
Of honor and profit The scheme worke
admirably. The officials were plant; tn
officers Of registration were supple an
subservient, aud the work Of dislfanchist
ment for opinions sake went on until III
little close corporation had secured to iise
supreme control over the affairs OF IN
State.
individuals were refused registration o.
the most frivolous grounds, and in man,
eases without even having heard that an
reason whatever was given for their dil
qualification. In defiance Of the plai
meaning Of the law itself, citizens wer
interogated as to their concealed opinion
and secret sympathies, and on account .
these stripped OF their rights. BY thi
means large proportion Of THE PEopLl
or MARYLAND WERE pIsFRANoHIsEI
The list Of registered voters betrayed III
the fact that of forty thousand voters 4
the city Of Baltimore but ten thousan,
were thought to be worthy Of registration
by the judges. Upon comparing tn
number Of voters registered Throughout
the State with the number excluded from
i n a