Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-11-22
THE DUTY or THE VICTORs.

Inc 1amlilar pOllllCdl dAiOLn, ~ thc VIZ |
tors belong the spoils," may be proftaby
changed into this: ITO the victors belongs
the responsibility" In this form it was never
more conspicuously true than in the att
tude of the Democratic party in Maryland,
at this time, towards the people of the State.
Earnestness and zeal in the prosecution of
campaign, do not call for unmanly exul-
tation after success has crowned our efforts;
but rather for calm consideration OF the
things we have undertaken to do, and care
full study of the means to be employed to
accomplish them. The deliberate promises
Of the party platform, In the underlying
principles of which the people believed,
land therefore supported them at the polls)
cannot be disregarded without loss of char
acter to the agents Of the party who fail in
their duty, and ultimate disaster to the party
ITSELF The State Of Maryland is as soundly
Democratic as any State in the Union. Her
people have proved their faith year in and
year out, amid all manner o: persecution,
In defeat as well as in triumph, in sunshine
and in storm. OF the Republican party
Its principles and its methods-they have
profound and abiding dstrust; and no
man In his senses would venture to predict
that the State could ever be carried perma-
nently into the Republican column.
There are always fundamental questions
underlying political contest such as we
have just passed through. If there were
really no more in elections than the choice
Of men TO fill few offices, the result would,
generally, be beyond the prophecy Of the
most sagacious, and professional politicians
would be as scarce as strawberries at Christ
mas. The strong party fealty, which is the
politicians chief reliance, springs from deep
roots Of conviction upon subjects which the
individual citizen regards as vital To the
maintenance vi government, and which are
vital in a larger sense than those whom par
ty ties bind lightly are disposed 10 admit
The dominant party is, therefore, bound,
first Of all, not 10 endanger fundamental
principles by practices which disgust and
dishearten self.respecting and pubic.sprit-
cd men. This duty confronts the Demo
cratic party in Maryland. With the causes
which led to discomfort with party manage
ment we have not time to deal now. 1t is
sufficient Tor our purpose to recall the fact
that discontent-more or less widespread
prevailed, and that earnest men in the Dem
ocratic ranks said with emphasis that it
was not altogether without foundation. A
wise party will not overlook facts like these,
and will SO rule its conduct as to merit the
respect and allegiance of those who, upon
general principles, agree with its tenets To
little who is Governor, or Comptroller of
the Treasury, or United States Senator,
provided always he be honest and capable;
but il is u matter of deep interest TO them
that their taxes shall be levied upon equ-
table principles and expended with econo-
my and iorethought that false idea of pro-
lection shall not dominate the customs laws,
that the rich shall not be pampered and the
poor oppressed, that the Federal govern.
ment shall not control elections
The acknowledgement of a party, the self
ish domination OF faction, the tricks of q
clique, the tyranny of boss, the failure to
meet just demands in local government,
may land generally do) place in jeopardy
the prompt solution of questions which
affect n continent, and delay for genera
ton reforms for which n nation cries aloud
Tammany and the County Democracy dis
agree about an alderman or mayor, and
the cloud of Republicanism overspreads
the land
The late election in Maryland resulted 10
decisive victory Tor the Democratic party
For the twenty third time, consecutively,
since the soldiers heel was raised from her
PROSTATE form, the people Of this State have
given TO that party new lease OF power
But the lease was executed under crcum.
stances differing from those of former years,
and contains covenants more solemn in
their nature, and more specific in their de-
tails, than any former grant. The reasons
for these facts lie easily within the ken of
all who look and read. The day of mere
sentiment has past Questions which affect
the material, every day affairs Of men are
now uppermost in their minds; and they
realize that the progress, the growth in pop
ulation, the change in economic conditions
and the relations To society OF corporations
and other vast aggregations OF capital,
wrought by quarter of u century, have
rendered inadequate and inefficient laws
which were enacted under widely different
conditions. The people demand, to use
homeiy phrase, more elbow. ROOM" and
such statutory provisions as will equaize
the opportunities and burdens which well.
ordered government provides and imposes.
The demands made by the people were rea
sonabe, and the covenants were cheerlully
and voluntarily entered into. What the
people expect is their prompt and unequiv-
ocai performance.
We shall call attention to them more in
detail from time to time before the meeting
Of the Legislature, contenting ourselves at
this time with the edmonton TO the party
leaders and their followers that no child's
play, no evasion, will satisfy the expecta-
tons of the people, and that they will be
held 10 strict accountability There has
never been larger opportunity for wise and
progressive legislation, and in many OF the
fields we are about TO enter, we have the
experience of other States to guide and
warn us. II We are true to our pledges, not
only will the hold OF the Democratic party
upon the affections of the citizens be indie |
finitely prolonged, but an era of progress |
and happiness will bless our people.
Wade Hampton's letter to the truly good
John w. Wanamaker will, of course, arouse
that truthful gentleman's indignation. To
lie told that he had better exhibit himself to
his own Sunday School class as a graphic
illustration of the biblical story of the sin