Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-09-21
CLOSE THE RANKS.

CLOSE THE RANKS.
President Cleveland in his Brooklyn
speech, took the ground that this being
the year before the great national con-
test, upon the result of which depends
the political complexion of the next
House of Representatives as well as of
the next President. local issues and
preferences should be subordinated to
party success. Unless the party nom.
nations are 80 bad that they could not
be voted for with selfrespect, there is
no excuse for factional revolt.
The party lines are strictly drawn
this year and there is no room for
minor movements. Even if the polit-
ical managers or bosses take advantage
of the situation for their personal pur-
poses or favorites, unless the men thew
exalt are themselves utterly unworthy
of public confidence or respect they
should be accepted, because the country
is beset with too grave a danger to
I tJht illN Ilchs.
The Republicans are exceedingly
adroit in making any and every Dem
ocratic defeat-no matter by whom
inflic,ed-appear imposingly signifi-
cant and conducive totheir advantage.
On the threshold OF the great campaign
of 1892, when the country will be
called upon TO elect President and a
new House OF Representatives, it is no
time to snarl over petty places or to
pay personal spites or grudges. Unless
the material on a local ticket is utterly
rotten and offensive there is no reason
why 1t should not be elected by the
party naming it. If it is bad, then
the individual upon the ticket should
be attacked and be shown to be un-
worthy-thus demonstrating and ac-
centuating the fact that the revolt is
entirely based upon local issues and
has no significance in a national sense.
But if the local ticket is even mod
erately good, and IFS members cannot
he successfully impeached, it should
receive full party support. For the
result of this canvass will be taken as
of national significance-whether we
wish or intend il so or not-and will
influence the result next year.
Should the Republicans win the
President in 80 they will more than
likely carry the lower House of Con.
gress. too. If they do, that will be an
unmistakable and unequivocal popular
endorsement of Reedism, of higher
tariff, of extravagant appropriations
and Of the Force bill or the power OF
the President to control elections-the
very death of Home Rule. Should
they succeed, extravaganza will UNI
doubtedly begin again and the Force
bill be caucussed into law. With
the ballotbox in such hands freedom
of choice will be at an end and free
institutions must go with it.
In the face of these important facts
the duty Of the Democratic party and
of all Democrats is to rebuke the party
now in power at Washington and pre-.
vent the threatened evil. Over all
local place-hunting these great issues
tower, and for that reason local dis.
sehsions should be subordinated TO
national duty.-Bdlto. Sunday Ners.
This is what we call good Demo
cratic doctrine and the conditions
which confront the Democratic party
are the same to-day that they were in
1891. IL is the same Republican
party in Maryland that we battled
with in 1891 Where are our soldiers .
Where are our trumpeters? There
stand the soldiers drawn up in true
Democratic array, they are ready for
the fight and they are confident OF
victory. The trumpeters are where
they ought to be, with two exceptions,
like Benedict Arnold these two could
not withstand the temptation. The
call TO duty will be well sounded by
the sturdy. uncorruptable country
press, and the sixth Of November will
witness another defeat for the Repub.
lican forces of Maryland. let no
Democrat be deceived, The issue is
not any more local one than was the
contest of 1891 and if the Republicans
can get hold Of Maryland this year
they will keep it in line for 1896.