Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-05-12

pearance oil evff can attacn 70 WuaA VIC
write. The present editor OF this paper
has published Maryland newspaper
since 1866, except three years--and mas
never received q penny from the State
for publishing the laws.
We come now TO notice the charge
that the democratic press OF Maryland
has been subsidized. The charge was
directly made by Gov. Hamilton m has
special message TO the General Assem-
bly, in 1880. II has been made again
within the month by the Hagerstown
Mail, a democratic newspaper. The
alleged subsidy is the amount paid to
the newspapers by The State for publish
ing theIaw The charge means that
the support Of the press has been
bought. 10 our judgement the allega-
tlon is totally without foundation; and
we think there are facts that will de-
monstrate it. Gov. Hamilton could
claim with equal justice that he has
bought the men whom he has appointed
10 office by the salaries that are paid
them for services performed. Does
Mr.. Briscoe's pay as Secretary ofState
subsldize hlms Did the governor buy,
or the party buy, or the State buy Peter
Hawkins by making him tobacco inspec-
tori Is Adjutant General WatFfnsAss
salary subsidy, OF course such sug.
gestions are preposterous and if we do
not show that il is just as preposterous
TO charge that the newspapers have been
subsidized. We arc ready 10 abapdcn the
case.
Is il The charge that these papers are
Democratic because they are paid This
moaey. From 1861 TO 1868 The Dem
ocratic press in Maryland had no State
patronage. II cost something in those
days to be a Democratic editor; they
were days that tried the sincerity OF a
mans convictions aud tested his cour-
age. They were days when Democratic
newspaper offices were destroyed, aud
Democratic editors wee put in prisons
or sent beyond the lines. II was in
fnhely less periIOus to practice law or
till the fields away Oh among he seclu-
ded hills OF Western Maryland than it
was as a Democratic editor 10 uphold
the freedom OF the press for conscience
sake. Tried. they were moi found true
Tested they were iound iucorrupii-
bile. Weighed. they were not found
waning. Gov. Hamilton, il you
charge that The Democratic press Of
Maryland il pUrohasable, you charge
what the enemy never did.
Is il the charge that the Democratic
newspapers Of the State have sold their
support 10 what the .haii calls "'fhe
| Ring The consideration beng the price
paid Tor publishing the laws : Let Us
examine This proposition, and begin just
prior TO the last gdbe rnaIorial nomfna-
ton. Fairly in 1879 il was said that
the managers --Messrs. German, Col.
ton, Baauon and 0 hers---had selected a.
their candidate Tor this domination Gov.
Thomas, OF Talbot, provided his consent
could be Obtained That gentleman had
been a member Of the preceding legis-
lature, and the Tact that he was on
friendly terms with tho "maaagers
and had generally scied with hem a.
chairman Of the House WAYS and Meas
committee 10 hose matters thei reguir-
ed consultation among the Democratic
members, was perfectly well known q
the "subsidlzed" democratic newspa.
pers. -Four years before, VIM. r Ham.
Il,oa had been beatcn FOR the nomina.
ton by The Ring which supported
John Lee Carroll. II became perfect.
Nv well known BY the Sprug Of 1879
That Mr.. Hamilton was not the choice 81
1.-The Ring for this nomination., W.
l'were then receiving all the Democratic
newspapers ofthe States and we cIlpPct
everything that was said about the gu
bernatorial nomination. What course
did these subsldized newspapers take
OF course they supported The alleged
candidate OF "The Ring" that subsi
died them. Being bought, they o.
course gave their support 10 their pur
chasers. To make out the case, thin
mus, be proved, and just here The proc
will utterly fail, because, long before i
was time for the primaries TO be held
iour.fiiths of the democratic newspa
pers OF the State had declared unequiv-
oeally for WIN. T. Hamilton as the dem
ocratic siandard.bearer. They did this
so far as the files disclose, because the,
believed Mr.. Hamilton TO be pure
true man who had only barely Jailed tS
gel the nomination four years before and
was thus entitled TO II IN 1879, and moi
because Of any lack Of confidence IN
Gov. Thomas, MIR. Archer, or other mer
who had been named. The result was
that by the time The convention met
ring and snii.ring alike were supporting
Mr.. Hamilton aud be was nominated by
reclamation.
This Impeachment Of the press Of the
a State is very grave matter ia TAI
more serious mstier than The PROPOSE.
ton thai The money paid for publishing
| The laws is wasted. We have thought
that The subsidy charged against The
newspapers was Inadvertently made il
the Governors message, and il may BE-
4 that il was so, inasmuch as il does mo-
seem TO be repeated IN hts recent letter
in which there is so much that Is wise
and commcndable, as we have recently
pointed out. But the fact that our abb,
contemporary. the Hagcrsiown .Mai1