Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-07-07
rot vet reached the state when it can get along

not yet reached the state when it can get along
without them, any more than it can get along
without civil government. For the best re-
suits Of both hearty loyalty is necessary-a
prompt response to all legitimate demands
upon the public spirit Of the citizen. States.
manship has been aptly defined as "the art
of avoiding revolution" and 1t would seem
that wise party leader would avoid those
things which produce factlonal animosities
The generous and manly rivalry of men
seeking public honors is to be commended
rather than deplored, for patriotic ambi-
ton is the best guarantee of the public well
fare.
tits because these obvious and trite truths
are being in measure-a large measure
disregarded at this time, and because those
who hold what they are pleased to term
"the organization" seem to be disposed to
rule with a high hand, that we venture to
warn the people of the county that they
the people-are the real possessors of power
and that their interests are TO be considered
first in the determination of the issues pre-
sented. 1t must be very plain to a man OF
common sense that the creation OF fractional
feeling can never lead to anything but polit-
ical disaster, and it is not singular therefore
that establishment should be expressed when
those whose especial duty it is to guide the
party are found using their official position
in the party TO advance those who hold one
set of opinions and to punish those who
hold different views.
1t must be equally plain that men who
owe their elevation to their subserviency to
party bosses cannot, in the nature of things,
give to the cause of the people that unbiased
and untrammeled judgment which men
should bring to the study of public ques-
tons. Observation shows plainly enough
that the weakness of our Legislatures, for
example, lies In the fact that the import ant
measures are formulated by outsiders and
pressed through committees named by party
managers, and carried by the same influences
through both branches of the Assembly, un.
less checked by resolute minority within
the houses or by some outburst of popular
Indignation. The assessment bill which
was reported by the Ways and Means Com.
mittee in 1899, and for VIII ich the commit
tee fought for days, was far from being such
as would have promised the welfare of
agricultural communities; and the Hays
bill was the outcome OF the expression Of
public sentiment which followed the discus.
sion and amendment of the Berret bill In
the House OF Delegates.
The subject of new assessment of prop.
erty is still pressing one 1t follows that
the people of Montgomery county should
be represented in the Legislature by men
who, while good party men on all party
questions, have the intelligence and man
hood to stand by their convictions of what
is right. They should be thoroughly iden
titled with the interests of the county, alive
to its progressive tendencies, and earnest in
their efforts to promote its welfare. They
should not be so welded TO the political or
personal fortunes OF any man or any set Of
men as to follow blindly where they point
the way. What is true of an assessment law
is true of nine tenths OF the bills that come
before the Legislature. In State matters
there are very few party questions pure and
simple. They are mainly business ques
tons, and men of business capacity are
needed TO deal with them. The attempt to
create a faction feeling, to excite preju Ices
and to lug into the contest matters which
have no real bearing on the situation, is in
tended only TO blind the people to the real
and substantial issues. Let the people see
to i'll