Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-09-01
INJURED INNOCENCE.

editorial columns to what it is pleased to
call, and very properly denomiuates, the
"black list" and at the same time to heap
its accustomed vituperation and misrepre-
sentation upon Senator German, the Chair
man of the Democratic State Central Com
mittee.
That this list evidently prepared with
care from the criminal record of the State
and almost entirely composed of worthless
negroes who have been convicted and sup
ported at the expense OF the taxpayers of
the State should have disturbed the poiti-
cal equanimity and called forth the virtuous
indignation of this vitrolized journal, does
not awaken any surprise with those who are
accustomed to glance at 8 columns or who
are at all cognizant of the absolute political
depravity to which it daily stoops in order TO
emasculate every noble impulse of the mind
and heart of the body polite and thereby
poison the political current of the country.
As public journal protesting the inter-
ests of all that tends 10 the support of the
public good, it should not only be vgilant
but willingly lend its influence in just
and impartial execution not only Of the
letter but the spirit of the law. The object
anticipated in Furnishing those who offend
against the law is to deter others from a
similar offence, and thus protect society
from those abuses and wrongs which would
otherwise inevitably follow.
1t was wise and healthy provision in
corporated in the constitution of the State,
which provided that "No person above the
age of twenty.one years, convicted of lar
ceny, or other Infamous crime, unless par
doned by the Governor shall ever thereafter
be entitled to vote at any election in this
State" The right Of franchise is the high
est and most sacred privilege of an Ameri-
can citizen, he is not only beneficiary un-
der the law, but he remains powerful fac
tor in the making of the law The trainers
of that instrument rising to high appre-
citation of this privilege, and evidently de-
string to impress upon every qualified voter,
not only its moral influence, but its price,
less benefit, have virtually said that if you
become an offender against the law-of GER
tain defined natures you forfeit this sacred
right-and with the evidence of your guilt
monogramcd upon your countenance-your
name shall be enrolled upon that tablet of
infamy and shame which the Ame,fcan has
so justly termed the "black list" The pun
70 hut
nifty of the crime-every obligation to the
best interests of society has been ignored,
every sense of right and of law has been
repudiated and disregarded, and hencefor-
ward the criminal, who.has served out his
confinement Of silence and infamy, remains
in our midst unworthy of confidence or re-
spect, and with no voice in the formation of
those laws which are intended for the pro-
lection OF property and life.
Senator German, as Chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee, in accord
ance with every obligation of fealty to party
discipline and every sense of duty to the
best interests and protection of society, has
caused to be made list of these violators
and called attention. of theregistrars though
out the State to the same. To have done less
he would have been guilty of gross negli-
gence in the proper discharge of the ardu-
Gus duties to which he has been assigned as
he would have been found wanting to those
obligations which he owes to the community
at large.
In so meeting this emergency, he has but
displayed another specimen of executive
skill which has in the past commended him
to the confidence OF the party and emphati-
cally proclaimed him not only as a party
leader, but as a citizen in the protection of
law and order.
The Baltimore american, however, want
ing in prudence and foresight, but with its
daily malignty, and without any legitimate
defense of its injured innocence, hurls its
Shiny anathcmas upon the honored and
trusted Chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee because of his rightful
province. These attacks as in the past so
in the future will prove fruitless to deter
Mr.. German in the exercise of the oblga-
tons he has assumed and which he has the
nerve and manliness to carry out.
Public criticism of public officials is ever
the privilege of the custodians of the press,
but when it cuts loose from the boundaries
which define the courses and distances of
honest and honorable journalists, it sinks
into pity and disgust. With this latter class
OF journalistic pirates the american stands
prominent, and the black flag which floats
at its mast head only catches the filth and
garbage which is characteristic of that char
acter of voters whose names are attached to
the "black list"