Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-04-22

HAMILTON's B0MBsHELL.

state reforms promised in the last campaign
by the Democracy, Gov. Hamilton has writ
ten the following letter:
You are pleased to direct my attention to
certain questions of public interest and for
information respecting them, and your in
quiries have reference TO those common
place operations of our state government
that should always be kept in the public
knowledge for its constant supervision and
criticism. .
Anything in this respect that cap do in
connection with yourselves to subserve the
public interest freely do. In doing it there
need be no personal issues, and ] wish it to
be understood in what | say that l shall
make none. A great many wrongful and
unwise things are done, often innocently or
with good intentions, but that does not make
them right; and, whilst honest intention but
| ignorant action may excuse the individual,
it by no means justi6es the wrong itself or
prevents well-timed efforts to correct il. A
dispassionate and non-personal considera-
ton of the concerns of our state government
and of those things that require either atten-
ton or reformation, should be regarded as
the highest duty of the citizen. II should
be equally removed from any motive to ad-
vance the personal objects or aims of any
one, or to improve any one in his person or
estate other than that which may naturally,
legitimately and honestly flow from The ref
ormation itself
| Individuals sink out of sight before the
real and practical fact of government Per
sonal ambitions are not TO be considered
when the common good is involved, but in
free government can only be tolerated by
the people when they are made subordinate
to the public welfare and invoked to secure
IL; and then instead Of being evils to be
condemned, they may develop spirit and
an excellence to be commended
II is with great satisfaction that we all can
recur to the political canvass of 1870. We
then had a united Democratic party ac-
knowledging the necessity Of reforms and
resolutely declaring its fixed purpose to
make them; To economize expenses and to
correct abuses wherever existing in the gov
ernmcnt Indeed, the people, without re-
spect to party, seemed 10 be inspired with a
common sentiment So much was this the
case that had 1t not been for the rivalry OF
candidates, no one would have supposed any
difference to exist among the people. There
fore, anything In response to you must be
made in that elevated sense which compre-
hends the whole people of the state and
their comdlon interest. Always Demo-
crat, and conforming to the strictest rules of
conduct and discipline, and believing in the
just and benifiicent purposes Of Democratic
government, but affirm them in my earn
est desire for its continued supremacy in
the state.
Differences do exist upon national ques-
tons between the great parties of the coun-
try that go deep down into the primary
thoughts OF the people, and which naturally
give rise TO a national and consistent antago-
nism, and upon which questions our people
are Democratic and wish faithfully to re-
main so; but upon our local affairs the
whole people practically think alike are
intent upon the same common good and
would do the same things TO secure it, and
| it is only necessary for the Democratic or
ganizatlon 70 recognize and keep tone 10
this universal sentiment 10 hold contiguous
power
As you truly say in your communication
the Democratic State Convention which met
in June, 1879, announced, among other
things, that public offices were not created
Tor individuals nor to reward political ser.
vices, but for purposes Of government alone
for the abolition OF useless offices for the
reduction Of salaries 10 conform 10 the com
pensation of others in similar private en-
Payments; for pervading economy; for
the gradual payment of the public debt: for
free and pure elections and for correct
and accurate registration Of voters andco
cuded the declaration Of principles and
measures by an eloquent appeal that the
Democratic Conservative party Of Mary
land, having no other purpoes to fulfill ex-
cept TO secure the good government of the
state and TO aid in the reformation OF federal
affairs, expects all citizens Of the state who
share its opinions 10 unite cordially In the
attainment Of these great objects" And the
people did respond, The legislature met and
adjourned. II was felt by everybody that
the just expectations Of the people were not
realized.
IL Is not for me 10 say how IL came, nor
do propose 10 attribute blame TO any one.
The fact of failures lies somewhere, and il
may be the general fault, with which every
body is somewhat b. blame. Charitably 70.
gardng that fault "a general one, the fact
itself Of failure is distinct enough in almost
everything hoped for by public sentiment
The important question now for the ele-
waited aud just consideration Of the people
il not 10 dwell on the past but b see b II
that their future action brings the certain
results Of their will, There is no mood for
discouagoment; steady, persistent and con.
sideraie effort will end In final triumph
The abuses Of years cannot be reformed In
single effort any more than chronic dis.
ease can be removed by single prescrip.
ton.
Allow me b. suggest IN connection with
your inquiries, that individuals in one sense
arc not 70 much 10 blame at times rs tho
system, or the ioant NJ wstcai, that affords
the opportunity for the commission Of either
deliberate or uninlentional wrong. In all
well organized governments there are syste.
matte rules OF conduct VIII ch are made 10
protect the inviting points Of attack from
encroachmenis Of all kinds Our present
Constitution was wisely framed b. that end,
and there h hardly anything that Il left IN.
protected, and especially that object Of gen
eral assault, the 7roasury lbe atrictest
rules Of accountability are prescribed, with
the most specific powers of appropriation.
Notwithstanding, Ny some undehnoi right,
the growth of year, Of repetition, the bar.
riers u defence and protection have been
broken down, and our perfect system Of cx-