Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-05-14
Governor Hamilton and the
'sSubsidized Press"

particular knack" We cannot think
of a better phrase to describe ID OF gov
erniug others. They can influence and
control them and get them to do just
what they like without the persons so
controlled suspecting the facts of the
case.
Ou the contrary, some meo, aud not
a few are totally destitute Of this pleas
ant faculty Cf governing. can make
enemies by the score OF the very per-
cons who want to DO their friends.
Whether born uGder the special innua
ence Of the planet Mars, or whatever Of
peculiarly may have been attendant
upon the natal horoscope of such. Rust
be determined by some one more skill
ed 10 the mysteries Of astrological lore
and 10 casting nativitics than ourselves.
Were it 10 human power 10 remove
the baleful influence and smooth the
wriDkled lives Of such, no philanthro-
pist or saint could address himself to
labor more helpful or worthier Of bless
ing. 1t il, alas the irremediab'e des.
tiny aBd curse of some to work. as it
we're, against the grain of human life.
and thus to labor ever ht disadVan
tsge.
In rejecting upon the course pursued
by our present Governor sioce bis ad-
vent into Gfioe we cannot but trace Q
singular inielcity as making bis official
aud public dealings With many promi-
nent men and leaders Of popular thought.
A blunt, brusk way, akin to rudeness,
will answer we'll for driving oxen, but
avails little save to irritate men.
In the excitement of debate word OF
angry insult may be dropped which
cooler moment makes one ready to re-
call. THIS we can understand. But
for man in high Office to deliberately
square himself for free eight with bis
party and his friends. dealing blows
upon all sides and at random, lie certain
ly a phenomenon.
To dream that any one outside the
walls of an asylum would desire TO
achieve notoriety by this uncanny meth.
cd is surely but to conjure up the tricks
and devices OF harlequin. A danger.
Gus attack OF Indigestion or an OCCASION
al freak Of inebriety might explain, IL
not excuse. such conduct But for 9
weather beaten statesman. whose lessons
10 self-control must have been infioite,
TO perform such antics for general
amusement or personal notoriety is hard
ly q supposable ease.
Could venerable age with it's sad
wreck aud fragments of 9 former self
"sANs everything !" be invoked 10 ex-
culpation of such extraordinary proce-
dure. we should bow 10 recognition of
the mysterious hand OF Providence aud
in sympathy with the one 81 sadly ber-
eft OF iOrmer faculties. But ability yet
scarcely on its wane can hardly seek
refuge beneath such Subterfuge.
| We have read of ancient auiocrais and
their despolic acts; but autocracy is a
plant whose seeds, if germinated. will
fail to grow iu this iavoIed age sDd
country. To be honest about this mat
ter we can scarcely suppress the excla-
m alton, what splendid autocIat our
Governor would have made if bis nativi-
ty had occurred east instead of west OF
the broad Atlantic; or, il bis lot had
only been cast few centuries earlier
10 the wild woods of America. aud ere
his DerVed fingers had been trained to
steady the isvOrite bow. some fond To-
dian squaw bad dashed to his g. lullaby
on the tree-top" this f,vored pappOOse
Of the forest
To be plain. Governor, and we do
not wish to mince matters, You have, it
appears to US. prepared aud published
declaration OF war against many good
citizens and leaders OF your State, in
GLIDING in the category The leaders of the
press, as we'll as those who, like our
selves, are the more humble camp-iol
lowers IN that "noole array of martyrs
Before the eyes Of our sister States
aud to the civilized worll you bave held
up the press OF your State, the press
that few years ago did all it could to
battle for you. your stauuch old friends.
AS CORRUPT! You have pointed at i,
the finger Of scoyn as q thug loathsome
and iull of unclesDness. From The lofty
pedestal Of Marylaud's highest post OF
bouor aud authority, you have proclaim
ed with the sound of Q trumpet that
the press Of Mary land. without reseEva-
tioD, has been subsidized Such un-
mitigated SANDER from such Q source
must reflect primarily upon its author.
To make the sta.emeot that the ap-
preparation for publishing the laws was
larger than it should have been or. in
other words. that certain men were
paid too much for certain work, 10 a
distinct ADD proper statement; one that
has been made aud admitted by the
press itself.
But the gravamen of The offence
charged by your ExceIlsucy is not that
the payment for the publication of the
laws was too lsrge-in other words,
that newspapers had charged aud been
paid too much for services rendered il
the matter of publication of laws. Not
this but that, 10 fact. the moneys paid
and received for the publication of the
laws were paid aud received for SOME
THING ELSE. And to express that SOME.