The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-02
Speech OF Mr.. McCOmas at the Hagers-
town Convention.

1f'. President and Gentlemen of the Convention ::
1t is an honor to appear before this
gathering of representative men of
Western Maryland. Montgomery has
sent hither the high minded leader of
our last State ticket, who with great
ability and nnfiagging courage made
a compaign for reform which Will
some day yield fruit. Alongside l
see brave Union soldier and stead
fast men who for years have fought
against heavy odds, but never sur
rendered in Montgomery.
AT the head of the delegation from
Frederick comes my honored prede-
cessor in Congress, who with equal
fidelity and credit served our section
and State. Always a fayorite with
8. 'asssiagton=eouHty, he has endeared-
himself to her people by the manly
and generous support he now affords
her candidate. Garrett and AlIegany.
along with my own county, are here
represented by some of the most
ardent Republicans, some of the
ablest exponents of our faith. And
now, my friends, to you all and to
the generous people whom you rep
resent, | am deeply grateful for this
denomination for the Fiftieth Con-
gress Coming spontaneously as an
approval of my efforts to dc my duty,
| am proud of this renewed conf
dence. 1t is the best reward. I take
up the banner you have again placed
in my hands. and with your help we
will carry it westward to the tops OF
the Alleghanies, and thence eastward
to the dome of the Capitol. We will
carry it to victory.
Plainly, my friends, you are in high
spirits. Plainly you are not alarmed
at the boast now made on every street
corner, that Democratic money will
buy the election in the Sixth Dis
trict. call my Democratic neigh
bors who sincerely hope for purity
and reform under President Cleve-
land, to witness that never before
were cOrrupting and fOl hidden in..
fiuences against the ballot box so
loudly proclaimed, so shameIessly in
voked. Our opponents control the
patronage of the State and Nation,
and with all the contributions of
officeholders, and all the zeal that
springs from Office seeking, and it
may be that their candidate may
have pIethoric purse. We. on the
other hand, have no patronage. Our
Republican party is as poor as when
it first elected Lincoln, and your can
didate must confess toa rather meagre
pocket book. But, in behalf of all
good citizens, take up the challenge
and to set off the cry for purchasable
votes, will appeal to the Republi-
cans and Democrats whose votes are
not for sale, to resent the charge that
the people of Western Maryland are
venal. | will appeal to the working
men to Yindicate their right to elect
men to office without the influence
of money, as the Plymouth Rock,
whereon to build the first demand of
labor. What next do we hear from
the press and some of the politicians ?
They say the crying need of the hour
is to elect Democrat to get offices
for the district. l do not admit that
the search for few Offices is the
noblest duty of statesman, but this
cry misleads all Democrats who want
Office. The postoffice they now have,
and are steadily filling those of lower
grade, and the highest when their
terms expire. The great Maryland
offices have already been given to
Baltimore city and county, and How
ard county and the Eastern Shore.
Did Mr.. Findlay secure Mr.. Rasin
the naval Office. or Mr.. Hayes the
United States district attorneyship
Did DR.. Shaw name Mr.. Brown as
postmaster OF the city of Baltimore.
or Mr.. Cairnes United States mar
shall? Did Mr.. Gibson make ex-Sen-
atOr Groome collector or Mr.. Bishop
treasurer If five Democratic Con-
gressmen were poWerless to combat
the influence of the senior Senator
from Maryland, the grand almoner
of federal patronage, what would one
more avail? But these offices are
filled and their staff appointed. The
civil service law closes every door to
a clerical office. | estimate that in
two years Democratic member
might secure a messenger and two
day laborers, and q man in the print
ing Office. This is fnir average un-
der the civil service law. This law
is being evaded, and some of the
brethren are continuing further to
evade it, but you cannot repeal it
without the Senate and the President
opposing you. Then, you are asked