The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-09-21
Custom House Interference with Har-
ford Politics.

Much more than ordinary interest appears
to prevail on the part of the Republican press
of Baltimore city in reference to Hartford
county politics. Once in while our local
ticket is canvassed and the most extraordi-
nary statements promulgated, with dsre.
gard of facts that betrays tue boss hand of
the politician and puts us country folks to
the blush. We might at first glance attri-
butte this TO our recent more intimate con-
nection with the metropolitan city OF the
State by means of the Narrow Gauge, but
upon second thought it is more truly attribu-
table to certain Custom House interests
which are centred there, the influences of
which are now intimately connected with
our local politics.
The Republican machine is thoroughly or
gained to accomplish its work in this State
this fall, and Hartford county is one of the
pivotal points that claims its earnest atten-
ton The best office in Maryland in the
gift of the Federal government is held by
Col Webster n citizen of our county, at the
hands of a Republican President. His coun-
ty has been and now is largely Democratic
Every incentive, therefore, naturally exists
to rcyolutionizc Hartford and turn her into
the Republican ranks In addition to this,
every inch of territory will be carefully mani.
pulated this year, in preparation for the
Presidential contest of 1884 Every Repub-
lican gain, were it but one man, on our coun-
ty ticket would be hailed with acclaim
throughout the State as an evidence that
Maryland is departing from her landmarks
and is about TO become Republicanized The
appointment of the Collector of Customs
from Democratic county would be justified,
II he can secure the nomination and election,
in such county, of even part of his local
ticket. The election of United States Sena-
tor might depend upon the vote of IIarfords
representative in our General Assembly, for
a United States Senator is to be chosen Mt its
| coming session. Besides all this, the local
advantages to accrue to their party by tri-
umph in Hartford is incentive sufficient of it.
| self to secure the employment of every means
in their power to accomplish it, This latter
| superadded to the first considerations named
makes it apparent that the great attention
paid us by our Baltimore neighbors, as vel
as the strenuous eXertions put forth in oul
midst, means that the Republican party will
do the utmost in their power TO carry all OIL
part of their ticket this fall
| Now, in the language of Judge Phelps in
his address at the Teachers Institute in Be
Air, last week, we sincerely wish to avoid
"false alarms" relating to the "crisis of the
times" or to sound note of warning that is
not justified by the facts. But it is true, il
the language used by the same speaker, thai
vigilance is the price of liberty" and wha
is here meant by that is simply this-tha
any Democrat who at this time splits his
ticket and casts his vote for Republican
nominee, contributes much more than he or
dinarily would do at a county election to de
feat the principles of his party and faster
the slackles of Republicanism upon u.s.
| That vigilance is to be peculiarly exercised
at this time, in order that the designs of Re
publicanism in the State at large and here Al
| home, may be foied.
If we want advice rs to how to manage
our affairs we can get it here, and will cal
| upon Baltimore politicians when we nee(
their assistance. The campaign upon oul
part is one of principle, and we need only
adhere to that in order to defeat that "best
laid scheme" of Custom House Republican
| ism to revolutionize Hartford