Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-01

in the land must feel vitality interested-the'
great privilege of suffrage, when he says
The right of suffrage had ceased to/cxist
except when it was exercised by their per-
mission and in a way which suited their
purposes. Destroying all the election laws
of half the States in the Union, they filled
the State offices with notorious thieves
and crowded Congress with redemptionless
rogues who did not pretend to any title ex
cept what they got by force and fraud, and
in all the States they claimed the right to be
represented at State elections by the bayo-
nets Of their standing army. Would you
have me enumerate the corruptions gener-
ated by this infamous systemr Count the
stars if you can; try TO number the sands
on the seashore.
Touching the question of Capitalization
or strong government, an idea which has
become so prominently interviewer with Re-
publican legislation and so conspicuous in
all of their political assemblies, he draws
the following striking and truthful picture.
Those who have not closed their eyes upon
the march of events will at once perceive that
it is not overdrawn either in dimension or in
coloring, but is truly pen photograph of
the political canvass under the control of the
Republican party--it reads as follows;
Their idea of a strong government was
fully developed Six years after the war
fraud and force had made it SO much stronger
than liberty, justice and law, that the Con-
stitution had but seven friends in the Senate
and less than third Of the members in the
lower house. But the principles of free and
honest Government were not destined to be
crushed out forever The moral influence OF
the Democracy was itself power which
abashed the Unconstitutional leaders and
benumbed their faculty of evil doing Thou
sands of true men, who in moments of error
or alarm had wandered from the track Of
| their principles, "hastened to retrace theiI
steps and regain the road which alone leads
to peace, honor and safety" Truth and jus.
tice gradually regained their natural ascend
| ency in the popular heart, First, the Fede
raj House of Representatives was redeemed
| then the Senate, and in 1876 an overwhelm
ing majority of the people attested their de-
votion to free principles by voting for Demo
cratic President. This looked like a success
full vindication of free government, but it was
not. The anti-Constitutiona party has an
advantage which more than counterbalances
the strength of the people. 1t can cheat at
elections, it can falsify the count, it can forge
returns. There's the respect that makes
calamity of so long life"
When we come to remember that it was
neither the vengeance of Marius, nor the
prescriptions of Sylla, neither the aristoc-
racy of Pompey, nor the genius of Caesar,
which finally Frustrated the liberties OF
Rome, but the centralized government OF
Augustus which forged the chains which
could never be broken, we can but tremble
as to the test to which our institutions have
been subjected, the progress towards CEN
tfalization which we reached under the adj
ministration of Republican rule. Expert
ence has shown that with parties as with
Individuals harvest of prosperity has never
been reaped from seed sown in injustice
Parties have no Immortality, and that final
retribution, which is often postponed to out
ward appearance, comes with certain and
unerring wings upon the despoilers of rights
common to humanity.
Extending his views upon this subjuct
Judge Black concludes with the following
expression:
We are about to repeat the experiment
We may beswindled again, but there is not
any doubt that our honest majority is greater
than it was before. The issues are all with
us and the accidents are not against us. Our
candidate is not only unexceptionable, but
admirable, and has the unbounded conf
dence of the the whole country in his tai
ents, integrity and patriotism.
1t will be seen from the above that Judge
Black is by no means confident that the Re-
publican party will not again attempt to set
aside the verdict of the people, that they will
not commit another fraud, install into office
a man who has been rejected by the people.
He asserts that we have the force of healthy
and honest issues, the confidence of the peo-
plea candidate whose courage, ability and
honesty commend him to the intelligent
consideration and support of the whole
country-whose sense of duty has ever been
synonymous with patriotism, and with
whom patriotism has been elevated into re.
ligion.
In dealing with Gen. Garfield, his intel
lectual requirements, his private and public
record, Judge Black rises TO that exalted
dignity of impartial criticism which few
public men of such splendid abilities have
been able to attain. Mindful of the personal
friendship existing between himself and Mr..
Garfield, he does not forget his duty to the
public, nor is he wanting in courage to ar
iaign Mr.. Garfield for those political delin.
quencies and inconsistencies which have rem.
dered his political record so obnoxious to
every honest man. After speaking in rather
complimentary terms of his private life, he
continues:
But in public affairs he does not act upon
MS convictions, when he passes into the do
main OF politics his conscience loses its grip !;
and for his party he is willing TO do any
wrong which will promote its interests. or
play any card how false socycr which will
WIN Them power. This surrender of his
moral and mental integrity is the condition
upon which he holds his high place in the
anecuons ofthe party he belongs 10. Treach.
cry 10 his country is fidelity 10 his faction.
II at any time in the last fifteen wears he
had given way 20 his own sense of right
supported the Constitution and laws m a
spirit of pure justice, refused 20 defle him.
self with election frauds, withheld his coun.
tenance from executive corruption or Dc.
nounced the forcible installment of thieves
m State offices, he would have converted
himself into a Democrat and been expelled
from the communion OF the anti Constitu.
tional party.
This moral prostitution 10 bad political