The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-04-15
A Letter from Gov. Hamilton.

that journal vainly hoped, would rend the
Democratic party into fragments. On Tues
day the promised "bombshelr exploded, in
the shape of letter from Governor Hamilton
to several prominent gentlemen of Balti
more city. 1t is evidently disappointment
to the Republicans, for the Ame1Tcaa calls the
Governors manifesto "a little hand grenade,
from which the powder has been extracted
some past campaign"
There never was time when the party
out ofpower did not point out mistakes and
allege wrongdoing on the part of their op-
ponents; but when elevated to the control
of affairs themselves they instantly become
blind to those things which before affected
them so deeply. Adverse criticism from
their opponents is what the Democrats
might have expected, but as things go
in politics they did not look foranything of
that kind from their own side. 1t is, there
fore, sign of healthy life in the Democratic
party when one whom it has honored by
eleyating him to high and responsible posi-
tion does not hesitate to point out what he
considers matters for reform in the admins
tration of public affairs. The party is strong
enough to stand little criticism from one
of its own members, and will consider what
the Governor says, and act up on it,
without allowing itself to be rent in twain
and destroyed in useless struggle between
contending factions. The Governor right
ly says that "agents are wanted to carry out
the purposes ofgovernment, and it is O small
matter whether it is this one or another, so
that the duties are fully and faithfully per-
formed"
There is certainly honesty and ability
enough in the Democratic party of Maryland
to secure all needful reforms in good time,
without revolution in the party and they
will do it.
Governor Hamilton declares that he makes
no personal issues. He reaffirms his devotion
to Democratic principles and processes to be
actuated in what he says solely by regard
for the public good He reverts at length to
the late Legislature, and charges that body
with failure to carry out the pledges of re-
form made by the State Convention of 1879.
1t will be remembered that Governor Hamil-
ton, in message to the Legislature, urged GER
tain measures which, in his judgment, would
be ofadvantage to the citizens of the State
Some of his recommendations were adopted,
some were rejected, and others failed because
of failure of the members to agree upon the
details for carrying them out properly.
The Governor alleges that the expenses
of the last Legislature were extravagant, and
shows how to economize, namely, by
strict adherence to the law regulating legis-
lative expenses
He refers to the public printing and the pub
LEGATION of the laws. In his estimate of the
amount which could be saved in the matter
of printing, we imagine he speaks in "round
numbers" without perhaps, any accurate
knowledge of what would be proper charge
for the amount ofwork required to be done
The cost of the publication of the laws is
enthusiastically small to each taxpayer, and
the people desire to know and have right
10 know what laws are passed by the Legis-
lature affecting their business and other in
terests. 1t would seem, also, to be rather
hard on tile newspapers if taxpayers should
object to paying fair compensation to pub.
fishers for knowledge which comes through
their columns, and which would not be pub
lished by any newspaper in the State unless
paid for rs advertisements
The Governor alludes to the alienatio n of
the sinking fund for other purposes practice
han "A
rigid adherence to constitutional require.
ments in this regard, and on this point we
thoroughly agree with him. He thinks that
by applying the public money to the pur-
poses for which il is raised and then with
the gradual accumulation of capital in the
sinking fund, with its reinvesting interest
process, eve will, with our present rate of
taxation and without increasing it, and from
other ordinary resources, soon put the State
on the high road to freedom from debt and
this, too, without disturbing the good securi-
ties we still hold, rather leaving them to be
consolidated into n permanent school fund.-
which, with local resources and the surplus
of the usual receipts into the treasury, will
give generous and efficient support to our
schools without calling upon the State at all
for general taxation And then, once out
of debt and free from State taxation, we can
relegate all those controverted questions of
taxation having reference to exemptions,
whether of mortgages, plant of manufactures
and whatever else may be thought expedient,
to the counties and the city for their own
local settlement and as the interests of each
shall be supposed to require"
The Governor also advocates an effective
registration law and the legalizing of primary
elections Both of these measures were
recommended by him to the last Legislature.
While there are, no doubt, many defects in
our present registration law, and opportuni-
ties for fraud upon the part ofdishonest reg
istrars, it is difficult to see how any law can
be framed which will absolutely prevent
fraud. The surest safeguard is in the purity
of the people themselves and the honesty of
the officers of registration.
Governor Hamilton paints the following
glowing picture as the result of the reforms
he recommends:
I'm the enjoyment OF these blessings-out
of debt, free from taxation, with fair and
honest elections, with, in short, good and
honest, simple and frugal government, hay
ing the finest of climates, cheap and fertile
land, accessible by water and railroads con-
structed or in course of construction, with
gateways wide open for immigrants, invited
by every consideration Of location laws and
goyernment-we can hardly comprehend the |
progress of our material prosperity"
The Governor closes by declaring that it is
not his desire nor design to be nersnnnl OF |