The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-10-27
The Judgeship.

A comparatively short time has elapsed
since the announcement by the Hon. Steven
son Archer of his candidacy for the Chief
Judgeship of this judicial circuit in opposi-
ton to the Democratic nominee for that
place, but it has yet been long enough to de-
yclop decided disapproval of his course in
antagonizing his party in such fashion,
Chiefly is it charged that Mr.. Archer's repu-
tation and personal influence are being EN-
ployed for the advantage of Republcanism.
His triumph-if il were possible he could
achieve triumph-would most undoubtedly
be hailed in this and other States as victory
for that party, whose Convention adjourned
twice to embrace the opportunity of selecting
him, by their endorsement, as their standard
bearer. The pretensc that this is but lifting
the judiciary above political influence is
merely a pretense at best. AS ex United
States Senator Whyte so forcibly says, in an
extract from that gentleman's speech else
where printed in these columns, when did
Republicans, @hen they had the l'Oacer, seek
for one not of their own party upon whom
to bestow judicial honors? And it is poor
compliment, indeed, to Democrats, that the
voters of their party are unfit to name cand-
dates for any position.
With no allegation or preteuse of unfair
ness, much less of fraud, the Democratic
nomination is to be ignored, forsooth, by Mr.,
Archer and his friends, and the reason as
signed, ahypocritical expression by Repub
lican convention about judges and politics.
Who dare say or can successfully affirm or
prove that the gentleman regularly nomi-
mated by the Democratic convention was ever
biased in his official duties by partisan con.
sideratlons? Should Mr. Archer succeed,
who would claim party triumph? Repub-
licans, of course.
1t is, indeed, an anomalous state of affairs
that Democrats need to be reminded of the
necessity of adhering to their principles at
this time. Reason the matter, and it amounts
to this at the best-that Mr.. Archer has so
many personal friends who are so anxious to
see him personally succeed that they will
follow him, even out of the party, to serve
his interests. This is indefensble He has
so often called for and received the assistance
of those friends within his and their party
that he has no right to call upon them now
to stultify themselves and disrupt their DO
litical ties and associations for his personal
benefit. Were his friends as numerous as
those of the celebrated Hare in the fable, it
is shamefully treating our sister county of
Baltimore, to bolt the nomination regularly
and fairly made and leave her alone to COM
bat the common Republican foe.
Fellow Democrats, remember that Mr.. Ar
cher is deserving us, we are not leaving him.
When he calls upon us to worship strange
gods and sets up Col. Webster's golden Gus.
tom House calves, with the declaration
"These by thy GODS o. Israel !" it is our duty
to rebuke the idolatry. Thus alone can we
secure our safety rs an organization, and only
thus preserve our consistency and selfrespcct
as Democrats
We are loath 10 charge unworthy motives
upon gentleman OF Mr.. Archer's standing
in this community. What we say is said far
more in sorrow than in anger but can we
blame the strong expressions of dissatisfaction
by the Democracy of Baltimore county, whose
patience has been so sorely tried by Mr.. Ar
cher's course in this matter Put ourselves
in their place, and we, too, would remind
any man in Baltimore county, no matter who
he is, whom we had helped, nay, of ourselves
had elected to four terms in Congress- that 1t
was indeed ungrateful treatment to antago-
nize their and our regularly nominated can
didate, because he is Baltimore county man,
and her choice as between two of her own
citizens. Because, had Judge Grason Teen
nominated, we would still have had Balt-
more county nominee. No wonder she re-
minds Mr.. Archer of benefits conferred, and
in the language of her excellent Democratic
organ, the Maryland Journal tells him how,
when weighed down by the unfortunate Gree.
ley campaign, Mr.. Archer flew to her for
succor, she "did not suk in her tent" but
rescued him from overthrow and defeat at
the hands of his now Republican friends.
No, Democrats of Hartford, the advice of
Hon. Henry W. Archer is the only safe ad-
vice to follow in this crisis. He was sent as
your accredited representative to that judicial
convention which placed the names of Vel
lott and Fowler upon your ticket. Did he