The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-11
Mr.. Stephenson Archer's Supper.

A'' CtCphcuoOl AiCIleIs Tue TedS.
urer Of the State and the Chairman
of the Democratic Central Commit
tee, invited number of the Demo-
cratic editors of the State to take
supper with him at Rennert's hotel,
in Baltimore, last Monday evening.
The advertised purpose of the gath.
ering was to consult over matters of
public interest. but what must have
been the chagrin of those who had
accepted Mr.. Archer's invitation in
good faith. to find that they had been
trapped together to receive instruc.
tiOns from Senator German.
The scheme of corroIling the edi.
tors of a State press and there under
duress of the biennial printing Of the
laws, to undertake to bully them in
to opposing measure demanded by
the honest sentiment of the party
throughout the whole State. and to
which nearly every editor present
had distinctly committed himself, is
the boldest design which has been
developed in this State for sometime.
How the honorable members of an
honorable profession will bear, or
did bear, themselves under this in.
suit, we cannot tell.
There is general and loud and a
determined demand upon the part of
the Democratic people of this State
for the Australian ballot system.
Nearly every Democratic paper in
the State has demanded it. The
wOrkingmen, the merchant and labor
organization, which are the bone and
sineW and the most steadfast adher-
ents Of the party, demand it as an
escape from the dictation and prying
eyes of employers and overseerS. The
honest people of the party demand i:
as an escape from the government of
bride takers and bribe givers.
1t is only they who oppose it who
conceive that it is necessary for them
to instruct their more illiterate neigh
bOrs how to vote.
The cowardly attempt at secrecy
will not increase the public respect
for those who were ashamed to make
a public av0wal of their sentiments.
We are amazed that Senator Cor
man should have ventured to call it
scheme to serd the Democratic
party to the rear. We rather sup.
pose the Democratic party in Mary
land is not more illiterate than the
Republican. 1t is true that in the
city of Boston the Democratic vote
fell off the first time this Australian
system was used. But that does not
prove it was due TO that cause. In
all the manufacturing towns of Con-
nertiCut and Massachusetts the Aus.
tralian system has enabled operatives
to vote free from their overseers, and
the result in every instance was a
greatly increased Democratic vote.
Many towns gave Democratic ma
jority for the first time since 1860.
With the Australian secret ballot
system, Maryland is safe to the Dem
ocratic party as long as fitting nomi,
nation are made. But with this
method of voting it would not be
safe to force candidates upon the peo-
pie whom they do not desire.
There is the rub.
Whatever Senator German or
Treasurer Archer may think of this
matter, or however editors may trim
their sheets and change their course,
we solemnly warn the Legislature of
Maryland not to trifle with and defy
the people much longer.
The Overlooking scourge will sooner
or later be upon US.
Shall the ak boast itself against him
that heweth Herewith, or shall the
saw magnify itself against him that
shaketh 1t ?-HaqerSto,Cn Mait. DEM
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