The Cecil Whig., 1885-06-27
AN APPEAL TO REPUBLI-
CANS.

The Democrats of Cecil closed
sharp and bitter contest over party
nominations on Tuesday last. How
far into the campaign the bitterness OF
this contest will be carried we are not
able to predict. Democrats we know
have happy way of quarreling bitterly
over nominations, but before the cleo
ton rolls round, fall into line and sup
port their nominees. But notwithstand-
ing this noticeable characteristic of the
Democrats, it is no less evident to the
ordinary observer that the number of
independent voters has wonderfully in
creased of late, not only in Cecil coun-
ty, but everywhere the country over.
The last Presidential contest showed
this.
The voter of average intelligence no
longer wears patiently the party yoke.
He is more impatient of the personal
dictation of party leaders, and resents
more readily the tyranny of party man
ayers. He is, moreover, inclined to
scan more closely the personal qualifi-
cations of candidates.
Indeed, we live at a time when 1t
behooves each party everywhere to put
its best foot foremost in the shape Of
its very best candidates.
Therefore, without indulging any un-
favorable criticism of the ticket just
nominated by the Democrats, and con-
cedlng it in its entirety all the merit its
friends claim for it, we seek this oppor,
tunity to urge upon the Republicans of
Cecil the necessity Of recognizing the
exact political condition in the county,
and Of meeting its requirements ac-
cordingly.
The Republican party is the minority
party in Cecil county. Not largely so
either, for the loss to the Democrats Of
less than a score of votes in each of the
nine election districts of it, would wipe
out their average majority.
But still it is in the minority, both in
the county and in the state, with the
additional advantage in favor of the
Democrats of newly organized Ad-
ministration at Washington, and the
bulk of the. Federal patronage yet to
be distributed.
At banquet given in Baltimore last
winter, Senator German, whose inthl-
cnce with the new Administration is
considered potential, declared that pros
pective patronage is source of power,
but realized patronage source ofweak-
ness. By this political axiom the Sen
ator meant that as long as the Promise
of patronage and place could be held
out to men, and the induCement of
office could be o6eyrd party workers,
that patronage was valuable to those
who could WELD il.
This promise of prospective patron
age the party associates of the Senator
are holding out in every county in
Maryland. 1t is far game in politics,
and they are just the men who know
how to use it to advantage.
The revolution in Democratic party
politics just witnessed in this county is
largely attributed to this influence. The
party workers in the county want to be
in line with the distributors of possible
patronage.
Thus it can readily be seen that
while the independent, non office seek
ing element IN party has been growing,
the number of aspiralts for public office
, has temporarily increased in the state
and county. This numerical increase
in the office seeking class of course
strengthens for the time the Democratic
organization, and identifies mems indi-
vidual interests with party success.
This being the case, how can the
Republican party, being in the minor
ity, hope for success?
We answer, by making better nom-
nations than their opponents.
By selecting as candidates for places
of responsibility and trust men of busi-
ness experience and ability, whose
special fitness for such positions is rec