The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-04-07
Let Down the Curtain.

record IT Is one VIII look In vain
to find its equal. Elected on plat
form filled with pledges of reforma-
ton, il has achieved a worse reputa-
ton than any of its predecessors,
whose scandals have given rise to the
cry of reform within the party.
Called to correct the evils which
former legislatures inflicted upon the
people, it has outdone them in waste
and extravaganza, in the hampering
of the States trade, in attempts to
create sinecures for party workers, in
subserviency 10 the ring masters, of
whose rule the party promised to rid
itself last fall, in shameless disregard
of the rights of the minority and local
self-government, ana ia a lack of
comprehension of the duties and re.
sponsibilities of legislators. That the
bosses were not powerful enough to
carry out all their schemes was not
their fault. The city delegation did
It's best to aid them. The gerryman-
der scheme, the mayorality extension
project, the various inspection laws,
the bills for the creation of useless
offices. the Emigration bill. had in
jthe city delegation their most ardent
advocates. The city delegations cor
ner was bossism's city of refuge {;
seemed and rejected by the counties,
the bosses knew that in the city dele
cation they could find succor. Think
fog moment what the result would
have been had the House in all
things been guided by majority of
the city delegates; imagine what
sort of legislation we should have
had, had the county members been
as compliant to the wishes of the
managers as the bulk of the city's
representatives The Indignation of
the people against boss control must
be heightened by the reflection that
had there been a city delegation in
the House equal in independence to
one-thlrd of the county members, the
legislature might have closed its SER
vices at midnight tomorrow with a
clean page. The eighteen members
of the city delegation in the House,
constituting one fifth of the mem ber-
ship of that body. WELD potent in.
duence in legislation as well as in
example. An anti-ring delegation
might have accomplished an inn
mense deal of good for the state. 1t
is too late now for the Democrats
who supported the ring in the last
election to cry out against the scan
dals and disgraceful proceedings of
the session. Bossism has never de-
scended to lower depths than this
winter the lobby has never piled its
trade as openly; contributions to the
Grandmother's Fund haye never
!, been levied more boldly. Yet, that
was the inevitable result of the last
election. The men who voted for the
bosses candidates did it with eyes
open, and the responsibility rests
with them ; they would not listen to
the appeals of Independent Demo.
Gratis, to send the bosses to the rear.
Ring organs and ring orators WaXed
warm in their Indignation at the as
sertions of independent orators who
predicted what has just come to pass.
The session has proven that many OF
the ring champions stopped to false
hood and deceit last fall, to elect the
ticket of the bosses. Take the Dem
ocratic platform, with its multitude
nous promises. and then review the
results of the session! In less than
forty-eight hours the curtain?Will fall
on the wretched farce. which opened
with the adoption of the "reform"
platform, and ended with the steal.
ing of the Gas bill. One of the anus
Ing performances in the comedy was
the reconcilement of George Cotton
with the old ring combination. The
klss-and. makeup act took place be.
hind the scenes. 1t is said to have
been the most touching sight since
the day that Henry ". kneIt bare
footed in the deep snow, at the gates
of Can0ssa, humbly beseeching par
don for his transgressions while a
kicker, and promising to be kicker
no longer. More tears were shed on
the interesting occasion of Mr.. Col
TONS return to the true fold, than on
that equally joyful occasion eight
| ) ears ago. when after the caucus
which elected German United States
Senator, and George Cotton police
commissioner, the two insisted upon
sleeping in the same bed, hugging
and kissing each other, and tears of
gratitude running in deluge down
their cheeks. Mr.. Cotton has since
denied that he was responsible for
any of the weeping and kissing, and
that Mr.. German was the sole weeper
and kisser in fact, that there was no
necessity of his kissing German. be-
cause while he did the work, German