Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-04-05
Intimidation.

Our political opponents in this and
ether counties Of the Fifth Cougressiou
al District. are inst now lDilins over
with Indignation about alleged intinlda-
son and ostracism sati To have been
practiced by colored Republicans TOWARD
r,lorcd men who wished to vote The
Democratic ticket. Ifsuch intmila'luh
II y. acticed, an horesr aud fair-minde,.
men who believe ia free ballot can du
not ling else but condemn it, anil should
do all that can be done lU prevent it
But in luoking for violence AS h intim
i,latinn. social ostracism, bribery and
rther means tunlhuence vo'e 3 it would
lie well n examine the record Of the
Democratic party IN this county, aud
throughout the State. IN tha cas- W.
have no doubt tllm evidence in greater
rrrpondcrance could te found to ic'
the Democratic pnaiy Of the rracticcs
which they BOW 20 much condemn -
White men, mcp whw honestly and con
scicntiously d snlcd their political opn-
inns. and had the ourace TO stand up
fir them, have been lencunccd by Dem
oeratic toughq, and by the Democratic
press, ms "renegades," aud ''m.Ero-lov
crs, " and many other similar erihets, too
numerous to mention have been appli d
To- them because of their change This
was done in the hopes, we presume, that
thsv. would 4 be brought bck to,
brothers would be prevented from leay
lug the Democratic party In many
c,ses such. course has had the desired
effect, for many of those who formerly
voted the Republican ticket in this coun-
ty, now vote with the ID moerats. And
there are. hnfdreds of 9TH n white people
in the, couaty to-day, We are fully con
vineed, would unhestatingly vote the
Republican ticket-being satisfied that
j, is to the best interest of the country to
10 so, but for the fear of social ostra 1sm,
personal abuse, and such like practices
Many instances could be cied to show
that such course has been praciced
here in this county. One of the many
IS that Of a poor young nan of talent
and ability in this county, who express
ell himself during the past summer i'll
favor Of the Republican principle of pro-
trcti0n, and announced his intention of
voting for the Republican nominees for
presidcn. and for Congress He after
wards made an address to Republicans
arging them to stanl together in behalf
of that principle Shortly after this
speech was made he was besieged with
arguments, aud they falling intimidation
aud ostracism which our Democratic
friends are striving to show is all done
l'y Republicans, was practiced, and one
jealous worker, who holds IA position III
tine government printing office, was heard
to say to him that he would be no better
than negro il he voted the Republican
ticket, Such talk continuity used pre-
vented this young man from casting his
first ballot Us he desired, an we are in
formed. he staiG away from the polls -
A year or two ago a mechanic, white
man. in thus county had besome convinc.
ed that he should vete the Republican
ticket. AS soon as it was known that it
was his intention to do so, he, too, was
hesicged by the committee" aud falling
in their arguments the same tactics OF
intimidation was used and he W s in
formed that he would get no more work
IN that neighborhond it he voted with
the Niger party" So satisfied was
this lard working mechanic that the
threat would be carried out, he informed
enc or two of those for whom he intend
oil to vote on the Republican ticket of
the situation and told them he did not
know what to do, he was advised by
them not to vote for them, as they did
lot care to have his interests injured -
1t is also currently reported, and honest
Nv believed by many, that a prominent
physician in the county has repeatedly
asserted that if persons in his vicinity
voted the Republican ticket they need
not call upon Linn to attend them, or
their families when sick. And it has
alSu been asserted that persons have sent
for him and he refused to attend them
because Of their political opinions. This
III community where the services of a
physician was hard to secure, was, il
true as all ged, a means of keeping many
laor men from voting their honest sen
timents. These cases arc given to show
tat ostraciSm and intimidation, has long
lsrn practiced by Democrats towards
tie and colored Republicans. lntimi-
cation, ostracism and bribery is wrong and
deserves the condemnation of all honest
luen 20 matter which political organize
tion practices il And for fear that y
irlse impression might be created, as tc
the ssapdiag of the two political parties
in the counties of this congressional dis
trict in reference thereto, We suggest
that it would be good plan to summon
in rebuttal in the Mudd aud Compton
s.asa Soma ofs rho n1any un0n wt0O SO.b