Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-10-14
IMMENSE SIGNIFICANCEy

Cooley and the Hon. Wayne Mcveagh, and
their accession TO the Democratic ranks have
immense significance
These gentlemen are not what may be
termed politicians, actuated by motives of
self interest or ambition. They have long
since passed the meridian of lifc-have
worn the honors of office. Neither are they
ignorant, tickle or corrupt. They have held
exalted places OF honor and profit in the
Republican party, and their official bearing
and purity OF private character have ever
invited the incest criticism, ever commanded
the respect and admiration of the people
without regard to party utilization.
What then does their desertion of the Re-
publican party at this time mean? Why do
they leave the party of which they have
been honored members and leaders for more
than a generation
There can he but one conclusion. They
are pure and honorable men and they have
abandoned the Republican party because 1t
has changed its character, because they have
discovered that 1t is the party Of fraud, cor
ruption, robbery and greed.
These gentlemen recognize and doubtless
each of them is proud Of the parts they
played in its organization, and which at
that time appealed to their patriotism and
conscience, but they now realize that 1t is
the party of the iron yOke-the party of
Capitalization, as declared few days ago at
Hagerstown by McComas, that the South
must be crushed until it is willing that the
negroes shall be their master.
They realize that the Republican party
is so corrupt, so debauched, so dishonest,
until at last it has become the mere instru.
ment of selfish classes to serve their selfish.
ness.
That the Republican party ignores the
broad and safe principles OF constitutional
right, esteems power and privilege above
duty and responsibility, and has contracted
itself to "a conspiracy of plutocracy and cor
ruption for service in defrauding, Cypress.
ing and debauching the people.
They see the wealth of the rich relieved
of taxation whilst the burdens are placed
upon the poor, with taxes upon every arti-
Gle of consumption and their implements OF
trade
They see and know that these burdens
this robbery of the poor for the benefit OF,
the rich, is not imposed for the purpose of sup
plying the government, but for the purpose
of augmenting the already immense wealth
of the manufacturers, millionaires and trust
companies who supply the campaign funds
of the Republican party.
They see and know that the Republican
party is the party of pillage and plumber
of continued and increased misrule-that it
is the PARTY of theft and lies. That before
its advent and triumph elections fairly rep
resented the popular will, that now they
buy, sell and steal offices with an impunity,
arrogance, impudence and brazenness that
would bring blush to the cheeks of the
most hardened and depraved criminal. That
the career Of the Republican party is one of
corruption and debauchery. That its pub.
lie officials and political emssaries, big and
small, white and black, are saturated with
fraud, and are the willing and corrupt syco-
plants of executive pleasure.
These gentlemen, from the standpoint of
experience, realize that the actual result of
publican party, and the vast accumulation
of wealth in the hands of the favored
classes is not only the greater poverty of
the poor and the creation Of vulgar arts.
tocracy of wealth, but the subversion of the
principle of equality in rights and privileges,
the corruption of the national life and the
debasement of public morality.
Seeing and knowing all this, these gen.
tlemen, from an elevated and patriotic plane,
and from patriotic motives, with nothing
to gain save the applause and endorsement
of the honest and patriotic element all over
the land, have stepped outside of the de-
bauched party, saying that they would not
countenance such iniquities.
The warning of these gentlemen comes at
the right time. They have done what thou.
sands of others less prominent and con-
spicu rus are doing all over the country.
Mr.. McVeagh, after reviewing the protec.
ton policy of the Republican party, says:
"But the economic evils, however great,
of the Mckinley bill, and the unreasonable
system OF protection it represents, are of far
less importance to my mind than the moral
evils which follow in their wake
While such system endures political cor
ruption is absolutely sure To increase, as
such system not only invites but it re-
quires the corrupt use of money both at the
polls and in Congress"
Although embarrassed by his judicial pc.
sition, Judge Gresham comes 10 the front
IN the following emphatic and significant
language:
81 would say that the control of elections
and legislation by the corrupt use Of money
more than anything else menaces popular
government and the public peace. If these
abuses are not speedily checked the conse
quences are likely TO be disastrous. The
most insdious of all forms of tyranny is that
Of plutocracy. Thoughtful men see and ad.
init that our country is becoming less and
less democratic and more and more pluto.
cratic. The ambition and self love OF some
men are 50 great that they are incapable of
loving their country"