Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-08-15
Address of the State Central Commit
tee,

Democratic State Central Committee, last
week issued the following address to the
Democratic voters Of Maryland, under reso-
luton of the State Central Committee at its
meeting, July 10th:
TO the Democratic Electors Of the State Of
Maryland:
The time is at hand when, in the exercise
of his constitutional right, it becomes the
duty of every citizen to prepare himself for
in telligen participation in the selection OF a
representative 10 the Congress of the United
States and it is under profound sense OF |
the Importance of this election that we address
you. We shall refrain from detailed and |
anal ytical discussion of the questions at issue,
and content ourselves with a general state
ment of the case as we understand II.
We live at a period in American history
when minorities are denied recognition in
one house OF Congress; when debate is stran-
gle1 by the arbitrary rule OF the majority ;
when vicious laws are enacted with indecent
haste, and when the right Of the American
people to local self-government is endangered
by the partisan rule OF the Republican ma
jority in the House o. Representatives.
While peace reigns within our borders the
people groan under a burden of taxation
greater than that which supplied the woeful
necessities of the civil war while 10 the great
cities poverty congregates and labor lam
guishes while in the broad land farms are
mortgaged and crops are pledged before they
rpen to the harvest; an i'll begotten, unneces
sary surplus drawn from the arteries of trade
is squandered under the guise OF patriotism,
20 purchase and reward the mefeenarles q
the Republican party This party 10 1893
bought the sparages Of the people in aolo.es
OF FIVE" with money eStfacted from the cot
iers OF monopoIies !ostered by tariff privi-
leges.
Without the semblance OF rule or the ex
cuse of precedent in spite OF the opposition
OF the press ignoring all protest refusing
all appeal falsely counting majorities, and
arbitrarily creating quorums, and by metho1s
hitherto unknown in the histork OF legislative
bodies, this party has deposed Democratic
representatives and seated Republican con-
testants, to the end that they might perpetu-
ate their party supremacy, regardless OF the
liberties, privileges and iinmunittes of the
citizens of the United States and to-day,
under the speciouS pretense of constitutional
right, this party, having thus acquired polit-
ical power, propose to repeat the history OF
'carpet-bag" rule in the Sou uthern States by
the passage of a law, operating only by the
peiilio of private citizens, which supervises
| State registration, dominates State elections,
prosecuIes State officials in federal courts,
and surrounds the polls with the military
| We deprecate and condemn this course Of
| political action and partisan leg gisation MS
calculated to unsettle business To produce
sectional strife, and to rekindle animosities
and prejudices which are dying out.
| Against this party and It's methods We do
most solennly protest. la the words OF The
Democratic platform, adopted by the nation
al convention at Chicago, July 10, 1884, and
re-aiiirmed at st. Louis, June 7, 1898, we
say that the fundamental principles OF De-
mocracy, approved by the united voice of
the people, remain, and will ever rem, ,n, as
the oest and only security for the conlinu-
ance OF free government
The preservation of personal rights, the
equality OF all citizens before the law, the re-
served rights of the States, aud the suprem-
acy of the federal government within the
limits of the constitution, will ever form the
true basis OF our liberties and can never be
surrendered without destroying that balance
of rights and powers which enables a conli-
nenl 10 be developed in peace, and social or
der TO be maintained by means OF local self
government
The preservation of these Fundamental
principles o. Democracy against the assau It's
of the Republican party, is the issue of to- day.
We are confronted by vigilant aud we'll
drilled foe. No restraining principle hinders
him in the pursuit of his object. 10 control
the machinery Of the peoples government to
the use and interest OF his party, is the one
purpose in view, and with him mnorites
have no rights it is necessary to respect. To
oppose this well disciplined force, supplied
with those munitions of Republican warfare,
so eifectually used in the last presidential
campaign, it is important that every means
should be taken to perfect the organization of
the Democratic party throughout the State.
In view of the important results which this
election may determine in the future history
OF the country, mere local aud personal con-
siderations should give place to a broader and
more liberal conception of the duty of citi-
zenship, and individual interests should be
merged in public necessities.
Conscious of tbeir untenable and indeiensi-
BILE position and record, involved in the pres
ent contest Republican leaders will seek TO
divert your attention from the real questions
in controversy. Be not deceived or led away
by any such attempt on the part of the Re-
publican press or partisans to conceal the real
Issues in this campaign We are concerned
in this election with questions pertaining to
our general government, with which only
representatives in Congress are called upon
to deal. The issues involved are broad and
fundamental. The course of the present Re-
publican administration has made them so
plain and SO pronounced that no man can fail
to see and appreciate their force and effect
1t is increased tariff taxation versus tariff re-
form and reduction 1t is government in the
interest of monopoly versus government in
the interest of the people 1t is continued
concession to subsidized railroad corporations
and alien ownership of the public lands versus
the restoration 10 the people of all unearned
land grants, and the prohibition of the pur-
chase of vast tracts of the public domain by
residents of other countries 1t is an extrava-
giant versus an economical administration of
the government. 1t is an ultra partisan and
corrupt administration of the civil service of
the government versus II true reform, and
honest and capable administration of that
service. 1t is usurpation of the rights re-
served to the States and 10 the people bv the
Constitution versus the maintenance of home
rule. II is the perpetuation of the policy
which has piled up colossal wealth in the
hands of a favored class versus relief by proper
legislation to the agriculturistand the laborer
1t is the despolism of Capitalization versus
the preservation of the rights and liberties OF
the people. Grave as are the subjects of
taxation and finance and reform in the civil
service, important us all these reforms are to
the people, above them in this contest towers
one great issue. 1t involves the right of the
citizen to the untrammeled exercise of the
elective franchise, and the superiority of the
civil over the military power The quest ito
Is, shall we remain free citizens of our be-
loved State, loyal to our federal goverumen t,
or shall we become the helpless subjects of a
central despotsm? la n word, the issue in
this campaign goes to the very foundation Of
free government; it is, Repubicanism versus
Democracy.
The Democratic party, inspired by its cree
and alive TO ills mission, standing steadfastly
by the Constitution and its guarantees, ap-
peals to the sober Judgment and intelligence
of the people, Then in this crisis which ia