The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-11-07
Tuesdays Election.

The result OF the election last tuesday mas
broader significance than that of a mere
partisan victory, in which one political party
has elected its candidates over those of the
other. As a general thing, throughout the
country, both of the great political parties
nominated men of high character and ability,
and under ordinary circumstances personal
preferences alone might have swayed voters
one way or the other. In this election, we
believe, the principles represented by the
candidates were considered rather than their
personal qualifications or popularity. This
was markedly the case in the sixth district
of this State, where Mr.. Louis E. McComas,
one of the most popular men in his district,
after representing it for twelve years, was
defeated by Mr.. William NJ. McKaig. 1t was
not choice of men, but of principles.
The Mckinley tariff bill, which increases
the cost of living and does not increase wages
or the price of products of the farm, was on
trial. The people of the United States were
the jury and by their votes have expressed
in unmistakable terms their opposition to its
injustice and inequality. 1t levies heavy tax
es upon those least able to bear them and en-
riches favored few at the expense of the re-
mainder of their fellow citizens.
It is to the credit of many of our Republi-
can fellow citizens that, with considerate
regard for the interests of the whole people,
they refused to submit to the dictates of par
ty, and either remained quietly at home on
election day or cast their votes for the Dem
ocratic candidates, who represented opposi-
ton to the organized greed of monopolists
Many of our colored citizens in Hartford,
too, for the first time voted the Democratic
ticket, and thereby showed that they are free
men, in politics as in all things else.
The Democrats have a right to rejoice at
the result of the election on Tuesday. Their
cause was right. 1t was the cause ofthe geo.
pie against organized greed and monopoly.
The tidal wave in favor of their candidates
shows that the people were with them in OPP
posing the unnecessary exactions upon con-
sumers which the Mckinley tariff bill impos-
ee.
The shadow of the Force Bill, threatened
by Reed and his desperate faction, was also
factor in the contest. The spirit of liberty is
not dead in the land and thoughtful people
saw 10 that monstrous measure an element of
discord and possible bloodshed. The people
of any State in the Union would resent, by
arms If necessary, the effort to take the cleo
tons out of their hands and place them under
the control of partisans, backed by bayonets.
Republicans as well as Democrats saw the
danger which this bill threatened to the very
essence and life of our free government and
by their votes on Tuesday they condemned
the proposed outrage.
Congress will meet again in December and
it will be the same Congress which adjourned
in October, but it will, in great measure. be
shorn of its power to do evil. Reed may
continue to count quorums that are not pre-
sent, Lodge may urge the passage of his Force
Bill, but we fancy it will be difficult to get
Republican members who hope for re election
to fly in the face of the verdict against Reed,
against the Mckinley tariff and against the
Force Bill. A caucus may be called to force
recalcitrsnt members to carry out the despot-
ic demands of Reed, but these men received
warning on Tuesday which they will heed,
and we may safely assume that the Force Bill
will not be called up.
The fight against the oppressive tariff is
not over. The people have carried the enc
my's outworks, but the subtle foe is strongly
entrenched in citadel guarded by every cor
rupt combination, trust and monopoly in the
land. The contest must go on. The people
have had their eyes partly opened to the
wrongs inflicted upon them in the name of
law, and they will be still more enlightened
within the next two years. There can be no
truce in this warfare until the rights of the
farmer and the laborer in every field of in
dustry are recognized and acknowledged in
the legislation of the general government.
Forward to 1892.