The sun., 1890-01-04
The Democracy Must Stand by Uni
versal Suffrage.

| Inc democracy btusJ Bbamu py Ohl=
| versal Suffrage.
A considerable degree OF mystery and un-
| certainty seems to surround the precise
words uttered by Senator GoRMAN at the
| Rennert House in Baltimore on Monday
last. 1t was q private gathering OF
Democratic newspaper men, and Senator
GoRMAN is reported as having "avowed his
uncompromising opposition to the Aus
trallan election law, and gone 80 far as to
J say that a bill introducing the essential
features Of that law In Maryland would be
appropriately entitled a bill to send the
Democratic party to the rear"
| The Maryland journalists who were pres
ent have had little to say on the subject;
and those not present have not shown much
enterprise or diligence in the matter. Tho
Baltimore Sun remarks that report Of the
matter "has been telegraphed and pub
hshed throughout the country"
That a sensible and patriotic Democratic
leader like Mr.. GoBMAN should be opposed
to the Australian law, which, as he says, has
just extingushed the Democrats of Boston,
is perfectly natural. Changesin population,
the bringing in of the tariff issue, and other
causes have already combined to reduce
seriously the Democratic majority In Mary
land. In the Presidential contest OF 1876 the
Democrats carried the State by 10000; in
1880 by $4,000; in 1884 by Il, 900, and In 1888 by
6,0O0. Should such dimlnution continue, this
former Democratic stronghold might as well
be regarded as Republican in 1892, or at least
as doubtful. What alone prevents such con-
clusion Is the existing Democratic prepon-
derance in the city OF Baltimore, ten wards
OF which now furnish the whole Democratic
majority Of the State. So long as the
strength Of the Democracy can be preserved
In the populous part OF Baltimore, the centre
Of industry, activity, and Intelligence, the
State will be safe for the Democracy; but II,
by any Australian device, the Democratic
majority there can be either cut down or
wiped out, through the wholesale disfran-
chisement OF voters not holding diplomas
from the Johns Hopkins University or other
institutions oflearning, the State will become
Republican. What is intended by the pro-
scriptive ballot reformers Of Maryland, tho
lineal political successors Of the Know
Nothings Of other days, whose stronghold
was Maryland, we already know from the
columns Of our contemporary, the Times.
On Dec. %, this despatch from the home OF
Senator GoRMAN appeared in that journal:
"BnrrMoRE Dec 2l.-The Reform League Is busy At
work q election law. The idea decided on by
the Committee Liquidation IL modification of the
Australian system to at the peculiar conditions Of
this State In this modification the measure will be
unique and should succeed may become the model
for other Southern sateA The main trouble has been
making provision for the iterate vote. The deot
sion Of the committee that the tickets Of tho different
parties be printed in fer Instance the Demo
cratic party in a square the Republican in CIRCLE and
Prohibition In triangle some such marks - may
be recognized BY who could not read Tho draft
of the law will finished week. and copies will bo
printed distribution in the Legislature Jan. L"
In New York we have not yet reached the
circle and triangle phase, but Senator Cor
MAN perceives very clearly that the Chesa-
peake Bay reformers are after another by
2, non-partisan, civil service, Republican
scheme for the extinction of the otherwise
triumphant Democracy. Being far-seeing
and astute Democratic leader, he Is clearly
aware OF the fact that the Republicans are
not devising and advocating schemes to cut
down the Republican vote and keep up that
OF the Democrats.
To the judgment and foresight Of the
Senator from Maryland the Democrats Of
the nation are already indebted for warn
ing words at various critical junctures;
and at no time were his monttions more
forcibly spoken than two years ago, when
the free trade folly was about to be sad
died upon the Democracy at the threshold
Of the contest OF 1888. In tho election OF
1884 he shared with Senator BARNUM and
DANIEL MANNING the executive manage
ment of the party; and to him probably more
than any other man, with the exception Of
SAMUEL J. RANDALL. is due the success Of
that memorable contest 80 barren Of every
good result for the Democracy.