The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-10-30
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
The Municipal Election-Some Views on
the Subject ofElections The Eastern
Shore Railroad-Sunday Law, &c.

the Subject of Elections The Eastern
Shore Railroad-Sunday Law, sc.
BALTIMORE, October Goth, 1885.
Messrs Editors We are to have municipal
election here tomorrow for City Council. 1t will
be over. however, and the result known before
your paper goes to press. 1t is very much mix
up in political sentiment. There are four parties
in the field and there may be some of each senti
ment elected, but what is termed Democracy is
likely, as usual, to be in the majority. The thing
in which all honest men most interested is to
get an honest vote and count of the ballots. The
truth is person who ia base enough to abuse the
privilege of franchise does not deserve the privi-
lege of voting at ALL regret to say that in past
years some men only tried to vote, honestly or
dishonesty, not caring much what the result might
be, if they could accomplish their nefarious pur-
poses. So hateful and abomnabe had such pro-
cedure become that decent persons did not care
whether they voted not. pure and honest
vote put into the ballot box with honest inten-
tions was but to be killed or offset by one foul and
rotten, unjust and stepped in corruption, the per-
son voting it not entitled to the right of citizen
ship. So rotten had this mode become that de-
cent men become so that they did not value the
inefable franchise bestowed upon them. They
come to look upon elections as farce and voters
as merely purchasable material, to be sold as
cattle to the highest bidder. This sale, too, was
BILE to sell, being fraud from beginning to end
ing, the voter himself not being citizen. Thus
q good vote-a mans pure franchise-was thrown
away. He saw himself and vote set OIL by some
worthless villain who was fraud and who was
neither citizen nor voter. Thus his good in
tentions were of no account. common rufiian
and fraud held as much power in elections
honest man, that a man felt he was of no ac-
count and that the sacred right of franchise was
a nullity. Thus people become Disguised and
lost all interest in the election. They in fact, did
not wish to be found in such company and were
disposed to let the thing 60 by default. 1t is 80
now to some extent and plenty of citizens do not
about going to elections at ALL SO 1t Will be
so long as such rascality finds countenance. L
regret very much that some seemingly honest
voters think that if they catch voters and get the
majority, no matter how, it is all right. Thus we
often hear men say sit is use for me to vote, L
will be counted out anyhow" Instead of getting
better I regret to say it is getting worse. The
great object should be to get pure box, no
matter how it goes. This is far more important
than to get the political or partizan majority on
one side or the other. Then let us strive to have
honest elections and an honest count, come what
may. Let us find ourselves in honest company
on election days so that if defeated may feel it
has been done honestly. What are we to say OF
the common loafer, with no legitimate rights, who
can go up to the polls and kill our legitimate,
that decent people become disguised and have de-
termine to stay away from the polls and refrain
from taking any part in parties or politics.
man who is of no account and fraud becomes
thus of as much account citizen who is earnest
and honest. Let us then of all things have fair
elections A man ought to know how to vote
right, or at least vote his own sentiments without
being told. This is one reason why people are
divided so much in sentiment. They have SO
often been deceived in politics by willy individuals
who have striven to use them for their own SIMS
ter purposes that they have lost all confidence
Efforts are being made to purify the polls and the
counting of votes, which 1 hope may be effective
If it does not then may abandon all hope in
our mode of voting.
Mayor Hodges has vetoed the Eastern Shore
railroad bill to endorse its bonds for 00,O0h.-
He has probably done right, but no great enter
prise can start without commencement. What
would we as city be now had this policy been
adopted regarding all other railroads and improve
ments. We would only be place for the hootng
of bats and owls. We would have no business,
commerce and no means of getting any. No rail
road has paid at first. We are not to expect i'm
mediate returns in money. If Baltimore had no
railroads and all other competing cities had, then
where would we be in point of business. We,
therefore, should be willing to help our neighbors
without being so selfish. The time tight come
when it would be useful and profitable Give it
a trial The ordinance to endorse the Western
MARYLAND bonds, which is to be voted on to NOR
row. will, have no doubt be carried. This
road was long time before it began to do well or
pay Suppose it had not been encouraged by the
city at the beginning, it might not have been built
yet and we losing its present valuable trade. We
should think of our poor friends well as our
rich ones. Even the Baltimore and Ohio was
long time before it got on its feet. Now it has
penetrated New York city and is one of the rival,
prosperous trunk lines. We must not depise the
day of small things.
The Sunday law, regarding its strict enforce
ment has fzzled out. The people pay no further
notice of it excepting observing it as they did be.
fore. About as much intoxicating liquors can be
gotten now as obtanable before.
learn that Mr.. Lambert Cuttings, who had
paralytic attack some days ago, is improving some
what. He is still confined to his room. He is
over eighty years and of course improves slowly
in consequence of his age. / knew gentleman
who was afflicted similarly in 1870 and still sur
wives, enjoying tolerably good health, though now
in his eighty seventh year. He goes out at times
and walks over his farm.
The oeomargarine law goes into effect the LIST
of next month. 1t has very little countenance
from good farmers and others in the country, nor
should it have 1t ought not to have been legal
lied. There is sure to be cheating in it. We
want good butter, no humbug.
The Mercantile Library, after having existed
so long, is to be broken up. 1t has gotten in debt
some 1000 and can't pay. I one of the
aiders in founding this most excellent institution.
1t has had its day and been the means of much
good. Other institutions of the kind take its
place. was an honorary member. NBsToR.