Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-02
The Democratic Outlook.

23d inst, the campaign for 1881 is
fully inaugurated in the re nomination
of the Hon. Thomas J. Heating for
Comptroller of the Treasury. What
ever bitterness Governor Hamilton has
succeeded in creating in Baltimore city
and throughout the State in the party
which has so signally honored him in
the past, eliminated in the State Con-
vention, where an unusual scene took
place, commenced by men who claim
to be the only Simon-pure Democrats
in the State. 1t reminded US entirely
of the gag days of old Know Nothing
ism, and it could scarcely be realized
that Simon pure Democrats were the
actors. Governor Hamilton's violent
and unjustifable denunciation of Hon.
Thomas J. Heating and Hon. Barnes
Compton to The end that he might sue
coed in destroying their good reputa-
ton before the people of the State and
thus defeat MIR. Heating in the canvas
and MIR. Compton in the Legislature,
for the purpose of gaining possession of
the Board of Public Works (the darling
idea of his life,) was rejected by the
Convention with signal unanimity.-
The scene was an unusual one, entire
ly unjustifable, and shows TO what
length the Governor has driven his
partisans in attempting, first, to force
a delegation from the city upon the
Convention, when the body he claimed
were entitled 20 seats had not obeyed
the call ofthe State Central Committee,
and, failing in that, to break up the
Convention, if possible. He did not
accomplish either of these contingent
cies, and, from the threats which
emanated from the violent and unrea-
sonable men who attempt to brow-beat
the Convention, it is apparent that the
Governor will now endeavor to nomi.
nate some Democrat for the office of
Comptroller and thus go before the
people, and, with the aid of the Re-
publicans, if possible, defeat the Demo
cratic party and install himself as the
ne plus ultra "boss." All who know
the Governors mode of warfare, know
that he has powerful will and a pow
erfully awful way of enforcing it by
speech and action.
There is no use longer to mince
words. The issue is sharply defined
Governor Hamilton's determination is
to control the State government as
represented by the Governor and the
Senate and House, and thus add the
Board of Public Works or, the usual
success Of the regular Democratic ticket.
as represented by the people, must be
the result.
That there may have been shortcom-
ings by the Democratic party, we do
not for moment deny, but they have
not been of a heinous nature. and we
doubt not the Democracy is willing to
bear whatever odium may attach to it.
Bad practices sometimes creep into all
parties, and the Democratic party is
liable to them as we'll as is any other.
But, these practices, though reprehen.
sible, are not destructive of the liber-
ties of the people. They can and must
and will be corrected.
So, in the language of a distinguished
old American Revolutionary patriot
"England, with all thy faults love
thee still !"-we say, Democracy,
with all thy faults, we love thee better
than Radicalism in its mildest form."-
If the people of Maryland prefer the
former to the latter, they will SO indi-
cate; and let it be recollected, that
should Governor Hamilton, with the
aid of the Republicans, succeed, it will
be with the ruin of the Democratic
party, which has honored him in dis.
tinguished manner in the past. We
opine, however, the Democracy will
determine in November that they love
its good old organization better than
they do the ambition of any one man,
no matter how great he may be, or
how great he may imagine himself to
| be.
The Democracy should understand
that Governor Hamilton means fight.
Let them buckle on their armor, place
an unexceptional county ticket in the
field, and we do not fear the result.
George Gillespie, well-known Cecil
countian, died at his home near Port
DeDosit on Wednesday week of Rrioht's