Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-11-29
The Mischief and the Remedy.

In our local column to day We pub
lish call from the Democratic CEN
trail committee for meeting of Dem
ocratic voters in Port Tobacco, on the
11th pro1imo, for the purpose of de-
vising means and appointing a com
mittee to present the grievances of our
people, resulting from the colonization
of nonresident colored voters, to the
Legislature with view Of procuring
a remedy to the evil. A number of
our most prominent and influential
citizens had promptly signi6ed their
readines, to append their names to
such call, but, as the matter is one
of essentially political significance,
and as all of our white people, with
q few exceptions, are Democrats, it
was deemed sufficient to have the call
issued by the Democratic Executive
Committee and addressed to the DEM
ecratic voters of the county.
The TINES has heretofore fully dis
cussed this great evil of the coloniza-
ton of eolored voters from Washington
It is an injury of such a pslpable and
threatening character to the resident
citizenship of the county, as not to re-
quire much amplific.tion or repetition
to make it appreciated. 1t has grown
to be most important matter, and,
unless steps are promptly taken to
make an end of it, there will be little
use of the Democrats and tax payers
of the county making another
effort to redeem the county and recov-
er the control Of their loc.l govern
ment. From small beginning. this
evil has now grown to be an intolers-
BILE hardship; and every consideration
now demands that our people should
take prompt steps in the matter
There is every indication that the peo-
pie are now thoroughly aroused to the
importance of the question.
That the means now proposed of
obtaining q remedy of the evil are
practical and feasible, there is every
promise. The other counties Of South
ern Maryland are already stirring them
selves in this matter, and each one OF
them that has Republican representa-
ton in the Legislature. will appoint .
similar committee to that proposed to
be appointed here. These committees
will confer together and arrange def.
inite plan of action in the premises;
and We have assurance from influen-
tial men, in and sut of the Legislature,
that the remedy will be provided ss
thus formulated and requested. Amend
ments to the registration law, can Be
made, deGning the meaning of the
words "reside" and residence as used
in the first article Of the Cons nstitutiou,
in such way as to leave no leop hole
for the future admission Of these peo-
pie. This amendment will be for rmu.
lated at joint meeting of the South
ern Maryland committees and will be
duly incorporated in the registration
law.
These committees will also have to
deal with two other practical questions
in connection with this matter. These
are, 6rst, whether an entirely new reg
istration Of voters is necessary or sd-
visable; and, second, whether the Aus.
tralian ballot system will be condu-
Give to fair elections in our section.-
Itisimportant that these points should
be maturely considered. We incline
to negative opinion upon both of
these points. In another column of
this issue We have given our views re-
garding the Australian system; and
in the next issue We will have some
thing to say regarding an entirely new
registration.
1t is highly important that the call
should be responded to by a represen.
tstive meeting of citizens from every
section of the county. 1t is not ex-
pected, of course, that there will be a
general. outpouring of ali the voters,
aud such q meeting is not necessary /;
but every section should be we'll rep
resented. The Importance of the mis-
sion upon, which this committee will
be sent, demands that it should have
the backing Of full and representa-
tive meeting: and, for the same rea-
son, every citizen is interested 10 hav-
ing this committee properly instruct.
ed. There ought to be good attend
|ance.
Hon. Geo. H. Pendlet0n Dead.
Hon. George Hunt Pendleton, late Unit
ed States minister to Germany. died in
Brussels Sunday night. He had been in
failing health for more than two years past,
and in April, 1888, he sustained . paraly-
tic stroke Wiesbsden, and for some time
thereafter his life was despaired OF. He
rallied from the stroke. however, and by
fhA hA0innin1 Of fhA nresanf uaas. Haa