Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-08-24
A Card from Thos. Waters, of S.

Mr.. Editor!-I have been urged, by po-
litical friends, in person and by letter, to
become a candidate for the nomination for
the next House of Delegates, and recently
one of such letters was accompanied by a
copy of pressing call which was notified
by said letter would appear in the M0ntgoDa-
cry AdD0cdte last week, but as it did not ap.
pear should not have felt called upon to
give any public notice ofthe political course
| had determined upon had not call APP
peared in your last issue Of the SENTINEL.
AS II is couched in strong and compliment
AIRY language feel that it is incumbent upon
me, through the same channel, by your per-
mission, to answer promptly.
The position | took two years ago when
| entered the canvass for the nomination,
outlining policy which, as the record will
show, supported in the Legislature, aroused
a fierce opposition in the party, and although
was sustained am confident that that op-
position has not in the least abated, is united
and well organized. On the other hand,
the Reform wing of the party is composed,
to great extent, OF men who, being neither
oflice-holders nor Office. seekers, have an
aversion TO political strife, and being con-
stantly engaged with their private affairs
and individual enterprises, seem to forget
that they have any duties OF a public char
acter devolving upon them; hence there is
with them no organization and no unity be-
cause of their discussions upon questions of
IL purely local character.
Under these circumstances it would be
useless for an Outspoken Local Option and
Financial lteiormer to announce himself as
II candidate without entering at once upon
vigorous campaign with view to gen
eral rally and organization in every district
in the county.
While ! would have been supported in
such an engagement by the conviction that
right was on my side, and such pursuit is
by no means distasteful to me, could moi
undertake it for the following reasons:
Flrst-Because my private affairs seem tn
demand my constant attention.
Second-- Because there is strong and
growing public sentiment against PROBES.
sional politicians and oiiioe.scekers, and one
cannot repeatedly canvass personally for a
nomination without being classed, IN the
minds of the people, as among those who
make politics trade, and have their eye
singly upon the spoils Of office.
When one is nominated by the volun.
tary action Ot his party his position is al.
together differently be then goes forward
to battle with the common enemy as the
representative of his party and its principles,
and last but not least, il, perchance, during
this spirited campaign within the party for
the nomination there should grow up such
a bitter personal hostility against the sue
cessiul candidate as IL X said has grown up
against Gov. Hamilton that II might prove
irreconcilable at the general election, as we
have been notified, he would stand upon II
fiimsy foundation while doing battle with n
common foe well organized and already
flushed with partial victories in various
quarters OF the State. Therefore, while
appreciate the high compliment paid me in
the manner of the call, feel compelled to
decline permitting my name 10 be presented
at the primary election.
II may be that the Governor has been un-
fortunate in his manner Of dealing with
important subjects and in his department
among public men, but Notwithstanding
that and the fact that some of the most
ardent advocates of reform differ with as TO
matters of detail, il is my firm conviction
that the general broad outline of public
policy marked out by him is the true and
only one by which the party can carry the
State; this was evidently realized by the
last Legislature, and will doubtless be acted
upon by the State convention, and il is to
be hoped that on both State and local tickets
the characters of the nominees will be such
as 10 inspire confidence that we are sincere
In our professions and will redeem our
pledges.
II is the policy that tho people Of Mary.
land will ultimately adopt, because, il they
are not prepared for il now, il they have
not been sufficiently chastened under the
regime of the State ring, taste OF some.
thing Of the order of what is known as cur.
pet-bag government will bring them TO H.
a lew years experience OF mixed schools,
mixed offices, mixed iuries, the encourage
mept and promotion Of monopoies and ex.
cessiye taxation will arpuse into life and
ACTIVITY that dormant public sentiment that
overthrow the Republican party here i'm
mediatoly after the war and which will re.
peat Il should il get the ascendcncy; II so
he y that we are 10 eschew the great evils
Of financial eWbarressnent and Reputation,
and Maryland is destined 10 stand abreast