Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-22
MINING JOURNAL.
Independent Paper.

The JOURNAL could not learn the
source of such information, but it is
manifestly an emanation from some
body who has his thinking done for
him away from home.
The JOURNAL is neither democratic
nor republican. 1t is an Independent
paper-an adviser and censor of both
parties. 1t has never given a word of
bad counsel, or denounced good act
done by either.
Hence, if it has seemed to anyone
that the. JOURNAL has been more
critical of the democratic party than
of the other, it is because there has
appeared more occasion for it, and
especially because the editor, who is
hereditarily, congenitally, Instructive
ly and habitually democratic thinker
and actor, has felt more keenly the
DEGRADATION which the rule of the
minority in numbers and the reign of
the secondary in intellect impose upon
the better elements. 1t is said the same
condition atfiicts the republican party
in this county. Most likely true, but in
party sense we have not felt it. A re-
publican arrangement which allows
a possible 80 to outyote 81 delegates
in a county convention is not one for
democrats to cry over. But 1T is a
very different thing when the same law
Expresses their own household. A re-
publican arrangement, also, which
affords a little democratic district as
much voice as little big republican
district in county convention IS not
one to occasion democratic distress,
but when we see rice cersa it is no time
to laugh.
These are the conditions which give
rise to unfit nominations and prestige
to unworthy nominees; which bestow
rule upon rings and perpetuity of
office upon oligarchies.
These the JOURNAL has assailed, be-
cause they are the roots of the tree of
political evil. Other papers rail at the
"ring :" the JOURNAL has assaulted
the system which makes the ''ring'
the natural, inevitable fruit. Other
papers would destroy the result; the
JOURNAL aims at the cause.
For instance, were every district al
lowed delegates in proportion to the
party vote last cast, tile majority Mould
rule, ard a majority is very much hard
err for "ring" to handle than a minor
itv. In most cases, majority rule in
primary and convention is fatal to the
"ring."
So that to "ring" a system of
minority rule is absolutely indispen-
sable. A principle so undemocratic is
bad enough in either party, especially
the democratic party. In both, 1t
affords the people unfailingly every
election a mere choice of evils.
If, therefore, the JOURNAL gives
cause for the intimation that it is
growing toward republicanism by
advocating a change from minority
to majority rule, which is distinctiyely
a democratic proposal and ought to be
universally democratic desire, then
the democrats who make it are welcome
to their ignorance of the very first and
prime principle of democracy.
No Use Here.
J. Semmes Devecmon, registrar of
one of the Cumberland districts, as
serts at once his manliness and indie
pendence by kicking out panel of
the fence which encloses the registra-
ton combine.
He thinks the charges against the
county for his printing last year under
combine auspices, over $50, were out
rageous, and asks the JOURNAL to sub
nit bid therefor.
This the JOURNAL declines to do
on the ground that Cumberland work
belongs in Cumberland.
In connection herewith the JOURNAL
is reliably informed that when C. b..
Hambright, the registration half of
the combine, learned that Devecmon
was recalcitrant, he informed the lat
ter that meme, meme, tehel upharsm was
written on the walls of his registration
Office and that his official days were
numbered.
What the Times hemisphere of the
combine has said does net appear.
But Mr. Hambright is gentleman
said to aspire to the democratic NOM
ination for the Clerkship. Failing in
which he is willing to become the
final cynosure of the party's diversified
partialities for the Sheriffalty.
But if he has the cinch on guber-
material appointments, as indicated
by his ultimatum to Deyecmon, he
ought to forego interest in county af-
fairs and let Frank Brown remain in
Europe.
In the old Land Yet.
George Jones, of the New York