The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-10-06
is MR.. McLANE A MAN OF THE
PEOPLE?

Qe1eaC III tne coming elections, unless
some active steps are taken to arrest
the threatened disaster, and consolidate
and harmonic all the elements of the
party" is the language of an address
issued by the Reform Democrats of Bal
timore Just before the assembling of the
Democratic State Convention. 1t is Il
pertinent question to ask-Whether the
nomination of Mr.. McLane has so con-
solidated and harmonized all the ele-
ments of the party as to avert the threat
ened defeat?
To this question any impartial man
will answer: ''No."
And why?
Simply for the reason that Mr.. McLane
is not the representative of all the de
ments Of tile party; nor We're they in any
sense instrumental in securing his nomi-
nation.
That this is a fact, is not only apparent
from the manner in which the Ring lobby
dictated the selection of delegates to the
Convention which nominated him, but is
equally evident from the tone of Demo
cratic newspapers not under the control
of the Ring managers. Says one:
Since the nominations, scores and hundreds of
Democrats in Baltimore have declared the head
been made, and unhesitatingly assert that they
viii NJ nj Tr rI. in mhnr I,n
Democracy desire a man of the people and for the
people-one who is the same yesterday, to-day
and tomorrow. For such a man they have Il
likin and sympathy that would enlist their
whole heart and for whose election they would
labor with will. There are many such men in
the Democratic party of this State but they We're
all ignored, and the seeming .'rule-orruin policy
adopted.
Here it will be seen that one objection
to Mr.. McLane lies in the method of his
nomination. That it was not the spon-
taneous act of all the elements of the
party, and which unanimity was, as as
serted in the Reform address, necessary
to the success of tho nominee. More
over, it was conceded that there are men
in the Democratic ranks who, if nomi-
mated, might have led their party to vic
tory. This fact the same journal IT,
gretfully states:
There are scores of gentlemen in the Democratic
party against whom there could have been but
little, if any objections but these were not sought.
for they did not suit tho members OF the Ring
lnhh hat
Just the men who are now and have been long
identified with the Ring, who months ago saluted
Mr.. McLane as their candidate for Governor
whenever they met him, and would not for mo-
ment listen to the name of any other man in con-
necton with the high Office.
But the objection of large class of
Democrats to Mr.. McLane does not stop
at the method of his nomination. 1t
covers personal disqualification for a
popular candidacy, which the common
sense, everyday voter recognizes in the
following striking pen-picture of this
pretended friend of the laboring man:
A fastidious gentleman whose soft hands have
never known labor In any form, who cannot posi-
bly, have any knowledge of or sympathy with
the interests of working people; who, when he is
not governing the Masses, passes his time in
the aristocratic salons of Paris, from which he
comes to pose as the especial friend and cham
pion OF the laborer-that is the honorable Mr. Ne
Lane, Democratic candidate for Governor.
Outside of the intellectual ability ne.
cessary to the success Of a candidate for
so important an office, there must be
some popular recognition of personal ac-
ceptability; some common ground Of
sympathy between the people and the
candidate-based either upon some con-
spicuous public service in their behalf, o.
upon some exhibition of personal quail
ties which impresses favorably the
masses.
With all due respect for Mr.. McLane,
we doubt whether he has ever rendered
such public service, and feel certain that
he has never cultivated any extended ac-
quintance with the masses of the people
of Maryland. On the contrary, he has
kept aloof from them. His wealth has
secured him the means of personal indie
pendence, and he has preferred to mingle
in the exclusive circles of Paris, New
port and Washington rather than come
down to the popular level OF personal
contact through daily business pursuits
with the horney- handed sons-of-toil, for
whom just at this time he seems SO solicit
tous. We think we are speaking within
bounds in asserting that possibly no man
in Maryland is less or so little known
to the working classes of our peo-
pie as Robert NJ. McLane, and no man
has fewer personal acquaintance among
voters than he. He is pre-eminently Il
kid-glove and silk-stocking gentleman,
who about election time falls suddenly
in love with the uorking man, and evolves
from his prolific brain Utopian schemes
to better the condition of the labor-soiled
sons of industry, whose hands he low
ing grasps because he sees a ballot in
them.
That his nomination has failed to ex-
cite any popular enthusiasm in his party
is therefore no surprise, Notwithstanding
his studied appeals to class OF voters
whose support is so essential'to his sue,
cncS at tho pollS