Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-05-30

ton. While the course the Republicans
vil take = still in doubt. One thing,
however, il certain. The country will
Welcome the overthrow of Boufbonism in
Virginia, as we'll ~ in the rest of the
South, no matter which party or what
man is the lever.
An Honest Governor.
We cannot see any justice or consist
ency in the failure of so many of our
Democratic contemporaries in Maryland
to make common cause withtheir excel
lent and practical (Democratic) Governor
Hamilton, in his determination to wage
relentless war on the abuses which have
crept into that state government, as they
creep into all governments, especially
where one party is strongly and continu-
oas1y entrenched in power. When Gov.
Hamilton was candidate for Office those
abuses had assumed such dimensions as
to put his party on the defensive and
almost threaten its supremacy. 1t met
the crisis and recommended itself to pub
lie confidence anew by nominating a
man like Gov. Hamilton, who was in
telligent and honest, who embodied in
his character the principles of the plat
form then adopted, and who repeated, on
every stump in every county where he
spoke, his adherence to these pledges of
the convention which had nominated
him:
It will be the duty Of the next General
Assembly to tighten the burden of taxation
in this state by abolishing all Offices not
necessary for the public service by TO-
ducing all salaries and fees subject to its
control to the limit of the compensation
of persons engaged in similar employment
in private life by compelling tho prac-
tice of economy in every detail of state,
county and municipal expenditures, and
by enforcing tho observance of the consti-
tutional rule that every person in the
state, or person holding property therein,
ought to contribute his proportion Of pub
lie taxes for the support Of the govern
mont, according to his actual worth in real
or personal property. Public Offices were
not created for the benefit of individuals
nor for the purpose of rewarding political
services, but were intended solely for the
public advantage. The perversion of
their use to any other purpose is injurious
to good morals and to good government.
The maintenance of free institutions in
this state and the essential interests of its
people require that all elections should he
free and pure. The General Assembly
ought, at its next session, to provide
further security for fairness in such ,lec-
tions by providing for correct and accu-
rate registration of the names of all per-
sons entitled to vote in this state, to he
made by competent officers at certain fixed
successive periods of time, and by direct
ing the first of said new registrations to
bSmade at the earliest practical period.
Gov. Hamilton had not been long in
Office before he discovered that an ele-
inert of the politicians in his party, who
found their profit elsewhere, meant that
these pledges should be kept only to the
ear and broken to the hope. He formu-
lated them into propositions for legisla.
tive enactment, but his party failed to
effect the necessary legislation. The de-
sired and possible retrenchment in ex-
penses and sinecure Offices was not effect
ed; salaries and fees were not duly re-
duced instead of economy in every
detail" being enforced, there was ex-
pended in the first session of the Legis-
lature under his administration for sta
tionery, mileage and per diem of senators
and delegates, the sum of S57 ,767, and
for officers and employees pay Including
one newspaper correspondent, the sum
of SIS, 1925; the Democracy were
shamed by an enormously false registra-
tion in Baltimore; taxation was not
lightened nor made equitable, and plain
constitutional directions regarding the
diversion of certain revenues TO the
sinking fund were ignored. The news,
papers are richly patronized with legisla-
tive advertising, and are thus narcotized
into silent submission to neglect of the
state assembly's highest duties.
Under these circumstances Gov. Ham,
iltOn appeals to the rank and file of his
party and the people of his whole state,
to agitate by popular discussion the
questions which he deems himself
obligated by his own and his party's
pledges to press to the forefront, and Ito
take such action as will most likely pro-
mote the common object and most GER
tainly secure to the people of the state
correction of admitted abuses, the aboli-
ti0n of sinecures or unnecessary offices,
the enforcement of a rigid economy in
every branch of the public service, and
the establishment upon a fixed basis, in
reorganization Of the treasury depart
ment, of an absolute observance of every
of the constitution and the
laws in the application of the loan taxes
to the payment of the public debit
There is nothing in his position to war
rant aspersiOns upon his character as a
publicist or a Democrat. He is right in
holding his party to its pledges and in
them out himself. He may
have in view purpose to aggrandize
his own interests, though our knowledge
of the man leads us to believe he is above
that. But, whatever his motive, his po-
sition is impregnable and the politicians
Of his party would do much better for
and for it to join in with
him. The Democracy of Maryland are
strong enough to command the situation
and reap every party advantage from
out Gov. HamiltOns ideas