The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-15
A BOMB SHELL
IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAMP
Governor n.mlltep, of Maryland, Ls. sormar
andth Other Bosses Hare Is-rhe Party's
Broken PrOuiIsts-Ths Law D,a'd and
the PsOpis'. Money sqasndsred. :.

Senator Gorman is the head. The letter
makes four columns in the Sun. Itis de
liberate and scathing indictment Of the
party management, and means war.
A conference Of the friends OF Governor
Hamilton was held on the 18th Of last
month, ut which q circular was adopted
addressed to Governor Hamilton, manifest
ing deep concern for the continued suprem.
acy OF the Democratic party in Maryland,
and requesting him to give a public ex'
preston OF his views on the issues affecting
that result. The circular, having since re.
ceived the signatures Of between three and
four thousand citizens, was formally sub
mitted TO Governor Hamilton few days
ago. The points upon which information
was especially sought, ss set forth in the
circular, were: First, what further meas
ures Of reform are necessary for constitu'
tional and honest administration OF the
government Of the State? Second, wha;
measures have been adopted during, your
administration 10 effect these desirable OBJ.
jeCts? Third, what are the proper means
by which they may be secured to the
people?",
This gave the Governor his opportunity,
and ne has used tito good purpose. In his
letter he says:
The popular demand for some years pas;
for reformation and amendment, for econ.
omy and purity, made impressive by popu:
lar manifestation before conventions, and
afterwards at the polls, demonstrated the
convictions ofa cause felt to be Just. There
was too much volume and force not to
have moral convictions and urgent necessi-
ties behind, and the end :s not yet. The
causes that begot the present distrust, com.
motions and inquiries are not exhausted.
No zone can doubt but that there is in the
Democratic mind y profound anxiety, and
hardly q question but that there is a settled
discomfort brooding in our Democratic or.
ganiz4tion that threatens disaster unless il
be timely met and removed or assuaged.
Tse Democratic party has had uninter.
rupted possession Of every brauch ot our
State Governnentslnce 1857. It's absolute
power naturally attracted men who were
disposed 10 use ii generally, it may be said
for lis own distinctive principles and meas
ures OF policy, and then specially for them
selves.
Some old abuses were continued, whilst
others from time to time crept in, many oI
them quietly and insidiousIy, until at last
that which was coyertly practiced came to
be openly avowed, as it was found that the
power possessed was supposed TO be iorti
fed into perfect security by every kind
of political ,agency and enginery. And tht
masses OF the Democratic party at last
woke up TO the rigorous fact that there wat
no abuse or wrong or evil complained o.
bu. that had its open defenders or It's silen
friends. Hence the antagonism that doe
not compromise with wrong aud the per
sistence that demands reformation and
amendment
THE RING oN TOP.
| At the conclusion of the war public sen
ltinent in this State was consolidated agains
the Republican party. Because of it th'
Democratic party at the first opportunity
| in the year ls67-was crowned with an IN
fettered party power. The public mine
was then steadily engaged in removing tht
exceptional and oppressive measures i'm
posed upon the people during tue progres!
! II the war, and Of bringing the State bacl
s1a N to. the natural relations OF peac,
welcon; 3 to all classes OF its people. Thence
TOO. for wears tho great question OF recon
struction and :he grave affairs OF ou
Southern States absorbed attention ant
political effort.
Amid all this many Of the details OF oul
own State and party management escapet
critical observation. But returning 70 pul
normal condition we we're at once adtnon
ished by the impressive fact that to great
and dangerous extent legislation and ad
ministration and party management hac
become the property or instruments oil
compact and thoroughly organized persona
power.
Instead Of o free Democratic party We
had an oligarchy OF men whose system o
government was as perfect and US regal 10
commanding resources and OF directing re
gults as that Of any authoriZ I'd government
with plenary powers.
The Democratic mind was most pain
fully impressed ,.aud in realizlng more and
more the condition Of things wRs shocked
The registration in Baltimore and iu
some of the counties was fashioned into D
systematic wrong; primary meetings, IN,
tended rightly TO interchange opinions aud
concentrate party strength, were made to
deliver this will OF this supreme ruling
power; and elections were but the formal
, Instruments 90 reg er its tdicts aud give
the iorce OF law to its false authority, and
40 eey,aiuly done as all this machinery
could be made 10 do j; whether by fsrce
or fraud or rorrnptivc or wrong OF any
kind. IThese three primary :nstrumentalt'
tics in free government and III leaI!hy
party acuJtl, aud which are Instituted to
AZ cure tho perfect right vi all 70 BnVt 9
free, pure and CtiVe exercise oi lhc poiiti
cnl rights aud u their political q lnscienee,
, become .inthc city aud in GerHin other
toealities the nSulruct Il p'ts p.r'onal
ncwsr, Julius Cesar never exercised more
abs%SltltA ccUtrol OH the great eiecslon days
in RS,ns through his election mAchlnefy
'"Ts Fvsry S iTsncl, Of the prblic E:rvica wat
,,oiI nseu and .'0sIjuct,d wi1h pne or
lau discipline, yigt tand cup!h'H.
ApRRrDGr aAcuIss
Assessments were levied upon all bold
IN, ctliss. aad down at tiWef ~ the poo
work,penl II. the service, aud Tithss muct
regularity aud ,yslem as tiiSt Of any con
s,iin,sd sove,umeit in imposing taxation
onS ne,Saps more thoroughly exacted, Al
ths % nonp. yment was upon the peril ot los
inv i plsrr. Not only was i had 10 be :
duy 10 DAY brch as ee!ul"nIs, Gnt tue al
S,tionsI and equally IN ,ottant dity wa
az xpecttd 10 n,old pnblic orin,oat 10 cngl
n,sr pt,ulsry meetings, to hrIp lnAnsg'
ouvsntiorE, aud allerTsra 10 tss ,ISo,. ~ ~. :,
ot,Iro II distinct c. ~ IN lGc ta-iy aud a
/ mprb separated if1Di t6u iiiics of IL or The
ni,S,Ie as the Alainalukes OF ETp.
lienc, tfie 'imdfGtp ptfTiaa6'' tfGtictS and q
officers, S1nv created i"r speGM' indi
yiduals aud Olbtrs for uhe peU sr&l purpose
Tht greater Tue numb " 'jhee-noIden
thel1rer tlie revenue iroh' assessments
anil tbs more to manage aud ,lreet. th
,,n,nIoatinv and election machinery.