The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-16

fiif ln1H.
| am Informed by your committee that
| have been nominated by this convention
as the Democratic Conservative candidate
for Governor and that it was the desire
that | should appear in your presence.
In appearing before you to give my per-
sonal acceptance Of this nomination, / beg
leave to express to you how deeply SEN
sible | am of the confidence reposed in me
and Of the important responsibilities aud
obligations, must assume if your action
be ratified by the people. We all live
with knowledge Of the late past. The
present is before us aud we expect to die
in the hope Of better future for our
country.
Emerging from civil war Of gigantic |
proportions and accompanied with the er-
rors, the wrongs, the passions, the vices
and crimes and evils Of all such wars, We
found ourselves confronted with every
question involving our free form Of gov
ernment.
After an eyentful struggle Of more than
decade, we now find ourselves, / am hap
py to believe, emerging from this dreary
and repulsiyc past into the bright sunlight
of rational and constitutional liberty.
There was such prodigal expenditure
Of the public resources, such waste of
treasure, such reckless creation Of in
debtedness-both national, state, munich
pal and indiyidual-such Needless de-
sire to do anything and attempt every
thing, such wreck Of institutions and Of
property, with almost every branch Of
the public service teeming with contracts
and schemes and jobs The avenues Of
administration and Of legislation threaded
with cupidity and cunning, debased
fuctuating and demoraliziug currency
forced upon the country Fundamental
laws disregarded or perverted and primal
rights Of the people, trampled under foot !
There indeed seemed a strange ianatieism
to brood over the public mind and weird
fascination to catch up the public spirit
that gave for time to the public force a
fearful direction against our free institu-
tions.
But step by step with undated courage
aud uufagging zeal we have pressed on un.
til there is the fair promise Of complete
relief aud restoration Again we have
our trial by impartial jury; again the free
dom Of speech and Of tho press; we have
our habeas corpus, aud We hope VIC have
assured to the people once more sound
T stable currency for their use and wants
and, above all and over all, we have thC
States, one and all, once more free from
Federal domination-once more repre-
sented in Congress by men Of their owl
choice, and once more possessed Of III,
constitutional right to control their owI
domestic concerns; and more shall it be
, if our united efforts can make it so, tha
the conduct Of their own elections mus
! be free from the presence Of Federal sol
q diers and from the interference Of Fedora
marshals and their deputies.
! With no offensive desire to applaud III
a Democratic party for the brunt il bore j
5 the achievement of these great results,
4 is only simple justice TO il to say that
never failed in its devotion to the consti
tuition never failed to vindicate the tru
e principles Of our government and to resis
: every invasion Of them. At times wit
e diminished and fearfully diminishing nun
!. bers, its organization never once failed i
g the great purpose which gave it being un
!. der Jefferson.
n But the result to-day--from a mer
II handful in authority few years age
y now majority in both houses Of Congress
q "a majority of the States--an honest ma
/. jority Of the Electoral vote and popula
n majority of near three hundred thousan
at the last Presidential election.
# With this national progress and thes
a national results attained other matter
which may be said to be Of a subordinat
e character aud yet Of great Importance, no.
!. arrest the attention Of the people.
J. The great principles Of responsible GOV
/ ernment being at all events measurably n
established, and the regular order of thine
9 restored to the accustomed channels, th
+ People are addressing themselves to ii
It true condition Of their local Government
1t is prominently right that as 500
| as their attention could be properly draw
h from the grayer matters Of general concerl
that il should be directed TO rigid scrl
|. tiny Of their domestic or local affairs, an
q it is gratifying to know that intclligel
e gentlemen of all parties are engaged in
e non-partisan spirit in bringing to publ
:. consideration whatever actual or suppose
le wrongs and abuses may exist for legisli
4 tive and administrative redress and CORE
n ton.
,e Amid the general demoralization, abus
n both great and small crept into the diife
q ent branches Of our local service. I'll
n contagion was universal aud penetratiI
.. and affected more or less all classes Of :
te ciety and men Of all shades Of opinio
n Prompt aud efhcacious measures should
4 taken TO correct them--the smallest
N well Us the greatcst-not one too small
,e escape observation and not one too gre
: to defy our power, and, if the Executiy
"a it shall be considered one among my hig
est duties to cooperate with every lan
nj able effort to this end
i The most rigid economy should be pra
a. ticed in every department Of the pub
a. service. The peoples money paid into 4
ie treasury for the support Of the State Al
r. municipal governments, is the product
n. toll, and most sacredly should il be appli
n to its honest purposes. The man u
q despoils it is worse than the common thi
Il for as against him We have individual Vi
a. lance as wcll as police ingenuity, viii
ir the other is left more to the general ca
sr and confidence Of trust. Every wrongI
\. appropriation Of Il Is an absoldte spoIiaii
n and should meet with the severest reproi
Il tion.
a. Superhuous Offices and employments d
4 required for the public wants should
a dispensed with and their places abolishs
rs Whilst there IS an honorable ambition
the patriotic desire to serve the Sta
b where service is necessary, and at rs
= sonable compensation, il is upon the 9th
4. hand dishonorable to impose ones ).
a upon the State, under the rfetenss Of q
m vice when it is neither required nor re
:. dercd. The former reflects honor os
Is duty, whilst the other beirays The vice
4 the parasite.
Il II is to be remembered that ID Il
publican government Offices are not ere
~ ted fer the beneas of indisiduals, but uols