Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-08-16


response to u communication from
several thousand of his fellow demo-
Gratis of the State requesting him to
address the people of Baltimore upon
important questions of public con-
Germ, Gov. Hamilton has written a
letter for publication, in which he
reviews the bad political situation in
herited from the republicans in 1867:
calls attention to the perpetuation of
not a few of their abuses with some
additions till 1889; cites the sub
stantial reforms accomplished in the
latter year; enumerates the large
number of reforms still needed, and
makes recommendations looking to
better methods Of legislation and the
unity and success of the democratic
party in the future. With individu-
ais the Governor in the outset de-
clares that he has nothing to do. 1t
is not for him to seek to make or un-
make candidates, 1t is only with the
concerns of government that he I'M
dcrtakes to deal. ut is with meas
ures of public policy, Of legislation,
and with methods Of administration
and of party management" AT the
conclusion of the war public senti-
ment was consolidated against the
republican party" Beginning with
their access into power in 1867 the
democrats were for "a number Of years
engaged in removing from the stat
ute book "the exceptional and op-
pressive measures imposed upon the
people, during the war. While in
tent upon this many of the details
of our own State and party manage
ment escaped critical observation
and the framework of party organi-
cations became "the instrument of a
compact and thoroughly organized
personal power" * Every
sort of abuse hourished in the public
administration. Offices were multi
piled, assessments levied, loan taxes
lnisapplled, the sinking fund oblitcr-
ated, and every species of extrava
yance and corruption exhibited itself
nnblushingly. The public
became discontinued. To such Il dan
gerous height did this discomfort rise
that it became clear that nothing but
reform and amendment could protect
the party from ruin. The convention
of 1879 made declarations and prom.
Uses embracing what the honest mem,
bers of the party thought necessary
for it's salvation, But, as has been
said already, the acts Of the Legisla-
ture of 1880 did not correspond with
the expectations created by the dec
larations of the convention Of the
preceding year. The Legislature OF
1882 did better, A fair
registration law, a law putting pri-
mary meetings under legal sanction,
Il law dividing Baltimore into voting
precincts, the abolition of a number
of sinecure and other offices, putting
public printing out to contract, and
reducing its cost, large abridge-
ment Of the expenses of the Legisla-
ture-these are some of the fruits of
the session of 1882. But they fall
short Of what the reforming sentiment
of the State demands. x "To
get rid of the gnats and flies as well
as of the hornets and leeches,' the
Governor urges upon the party the
propriety of lessening the amount of
patronage it has to bestow, Among
the offices which the Governor thinks
may be abolished without loss to the
efficiency Of the public service are the
following The office Of tax commits
sioner, "a made Office created in
1873; the Office of insurance COM
missioner, the land office, one Of the
offices of the fish commissioner, the
offices of the weighers of grain and
weighers of hay. The oyster service
requires radical revison,; much more
the tobacco service. Compulsory in
spection should be abolished, and
the "maligu touch of machine poll
tics" be removed from the conduct of
the warehousing system. The canal
service also demands the application
Of "the exact principles Of civil-ser-
vice reform The Legislature should