The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-05-25
FAIRNESS IN ELECTIONS.

Above everything else, the people want
the principle proclaimed that when pub
lie offices are TO be filled, the best men of
The best character should be pressed to
the front, and men of no character sent
to the rear. They want ticket nomi
mated for the legislature that will com
mand the respect and confidence of the
party, men of recognized integrity, who
are not pledged to any BODY for anything,
aud who will serve in the interest of the
people and for no other purpose. They
want the doors thrown open, and abso-
Lutte fairness in the method of election,
so that the candidates, when chosen, will
owe their choice to the people, and to no
one else. This is reform from within as
distinguished from reform from without;
this is a fusion with our political friends,
instead of fusion with our political enc
mics. THIS involves no sacrifice OF party
fealty, and Io suDdering of party ties
The character Of the result will determit e
the fairness of the methods. Too much
significance cannot be attached to the
legislature. 1t is of more Importance to
the people of this state than the presi-
dency or the Congress of the United
States. 1t more closely affects their in
terests than that which emanates from
any other department of the public SER
vice. What is required is integrity more
than ability 1t does not take any great
degree OF capacity to pass the eXamina-
tioL for Annapolis.
In an assembage Of this sort man Of
untiinch!ng integrity is worth any num-
Der of shrewd or wise men, because
shrewdness and wisdom can sometimes
be purchased, but integrity never because
it has nothing for sale. The next legis
lature will have number of important
duties to perform, among others, the
election of a United States senator. We
have upon our statue books a law that
the senator is to be alternately chosen
from the Eastera Shore-a law which is
recognized to be as absurd as it is uncon-
stitutional. Wherever he is to come
from, however-Eastern or Western
Shore-let it be understood that he is TO
be the choice of the people, and that the
legislature is to voice its will.
TOO MANY POLITICAL CLUBS.
question the propriety of organizing
the whole nation into political clubs an.
the government into machine, whose
principal duty it shall be to grind out
chine can work. We have too many cleo
lions now.
There are at least thirty five thousand
out of the forty thousand Democrats in
this city who do not belong to political
clubs. On the other hand, the whole
Republican party here is a congregation
of clubs. They are all united now in the
bonds of fraternal love, embracing one
urit ,ffa and H.,
we know how soon the lovers will separ
ate and with what avidity they will cut
each others Threats, fguratively speak
ing, when the President announces that
Mary land's turn has come at last and
that the plumber is ready to be served
upon the government table The Re
publicans always love each other when
there Is nothing to eat. When this feast
is over these clubs will all dissolve As
far as any benefit to the public is cUu-
cerned, it were far better If they were
never formed, because they are demoril- |
izing in their tendencies; they degrade
the political sentiment of the community, |
and they inculcale loyalty.
If we are to have Democratic clubs or
societies, let them become the centers |
for disseminating true Democratic doc
lllbtS, "HtEt lutu Cal Ut INSTRUCTED III |
the school of pure Democracy. Such |
societies will grow and prosper, and may |
become the c;adels and stropgholds of |
the party's strength i'll the time of the |
party's dangers, while those that subsist |
upon public patronage may gather in
their converts for a while, but as the
plumber decreases their ranks will scat
Ter, and instead of being help to the
party III the hour of need, they will be
come a constant element of discord and |
weakness The Democratic party of this
city is suffering with no incurable or vital
malady. What it requires is an enlarge
ment Of the circle OF Its acquaintances.
plenty of sunlight al d plenty of society.
Let US unite the party not by tying one
faction to another by ropes of sand, but
by tying together the party with the in
iissoluble bonds of Democratic principle
and Democratic policy acceptable to
hose upon whose sutfrages it depends for
success. A leadership that will announce
! policy OF this sort will attract fDllow-
ng that will carry with it the assurance
If victory. II this is done, as hope aud
rust it may be, it will no longer be nee
,ssary, year alter year, to plead for the
party's lie. because it will possess the
principles that will give it life