The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-08-17
BALTIMORE, August 13, 1895.


realize that the acceptance of this nomination
carries with it a large measure of responsible
ity, but my knowledge of the people of Mary
land teaches me that they are always.Just and
tolerant in their Judgment Of the conduct OF
men in public station when that conduct Is
regulated by eandor Independence ! an
earnest and conscientious sense of dry. ana
| shall endeavor so to meet that responsibility,
and so TO act during the coming campaign and
in the office of governor, should be elected,
as to give me Just claim To their confidence.
respect and approval.
In coming before them for their votes they
are entitled to have definite aud explicit
expression from me Of nv views and purposes
in relation to the issues involved Ia the can
vaSs, and accordingly avail myself Of the
opportunity which this letter offers to make
known clearly aud without reserve my senu-
ments upon these issues. and also what may
be- expected Of me in the event Of my election
have carefully read the platform adopted
hy the convention. and unhesiiaiiugly approve
il. aud. in expressing this approval. II !
proper to add that ] am not one of those who
look upon party platforms aS mere devices 20
catch votes. and after election 20 be disre.
garded and ignored, but ! consider them as
declarations OF principle. to be adhered TO
aud carried into effect. and. Il, | may be- par
d0ned for the comparison, 10 be treated as q
bill of eNchange-When once accepted 10 he
faithfully houored. The platform speaks nv
sentiments upon the national questions Of the
tariff and til. currency. As 10 the tar1h iaw
now in force. am fret. 10 express my regret
that IT doe> mot 20 s. far in tae direction 1t
free raw materials a. the people hoped for and
expected. bai ! am M, unmindfal OF the great
difficulties that stoad in the ~ay Of the enact.
ment Of any law whatever upon the subject
Certainly. the law j \ grea, rrilet ;rota the
burdens and injustice % the Mckinley act
and in yiew Of the universal revival af activity
and prosperity in every department II business
10 which il has 80 largely contributed. Ne may
well congratulate ourselves alrou iiis import
ant achievement If oar party We have
reason to b. proud ~ the bald and wISr stand
taken Is President Cleveland and his admin
istratinn utou the silver question. and ] sab.
scribe VERY cordially in what oar state plat.
form declares upon this snhJset.
The question. however. which pa THIS state
canvass comes mure CLOSELY boone g. oar
people and whieh engage th~iF attention HioFe
ihaa ever. i thar 81 reassessrueai. I poa this
subject ! am ia hearty synpathy wtih The
declaration IL car platform aad The Feprss.lac>
iioa 81 that declaration ia y0uE letter.
complete and thorough reas,s4,sment j. aow
imperniiyelv demanded. and shoald y pro
yided for withouf fail by oar aext legislature
The history Of cur state leg8skatoG shows
that longer interval has elapsed sinc~ unr
lass general asss-ssase under the act II 1876
than has ieen allowed 20 pass teE neFv than
half crntafy We bad general assessment
Ia isfl again iu iS62. again ia i~a ant.
again In 1875. During the u5Hetrsa years
siacu thu last assessment sach xr~si change
in The condition. and valuation Of property.
rral and personal, have takra place thai In..
fice o. The people, % the stair. - the city ~
Baltimore and "a she caaHtlcS absolutely ~.
quirsss \ fail rsvalsAt5oa Of III the property ~
Cur p@oPle, carefully provided fer A. , base
ness. uos a. a fssIiiirai measure. To- ths dss-
rurhsl and depressed conai'sea 81 s'astEsss
aud property tJr the last iun o. thFr~ YEAR a
rvAssessgaeal was not jniiciups, ius L. rysults.
50 fsr frym rvmeAyias she evils complained
of. wusid have Ted - fresh mssehisfs more
sesiuas even than thuss ihas esEss-ssessiy
existed
For III. rra~na nos oaiy 1id mn, favor.
hus acgivsiv opposed. the passaSr Of . rczs
srssmsuf bali II ,he session ~ lSAt sna im-
,sreste3 myself with nany II my fel.ow
eitiaeas ~ iogh raliisesl parties "a inducr
Governor Brown ~ withhold bis signature
frusn the bsl passed hy the Seaass and hoass
a Delegates n the session q lsss
The controlling reasons shAS then exisirtl
far = Fssssu-onernent ct snch legislation have
largely, 4 not catirely. passed awsy. and
therv j. ne longer any good ground soF drny
ing 10 she people hi. necessary neasar" q
relief
The primary responsibility So ~lfch a. AT
rests atan thr legislator. and lhe iaiaTyvatloa
II the gosrTsoE esppps properly g. Further ~
the krxf instance than consultation and recon
mendAii0n and the public expression Of hls
opinions. Indeed. be shonld b. car~fwl ~
the due exercise of the functions II the execu-
ike IA avoid sveryihsuz ike interference with
the independent action Of the legislative de.
partmsnt 81 she government. Bot put'hciy
declaring nov ms deliberate belief sh4i the
passage 81 a law for q general aud thorough
assessment al the rufirs. taxable property u
ali the people Of the state should not ans
longer b. postponed. ! wish 10 bs understood
a. distinctly announcing that. should be
elected governor, ! shall promptly s'gn such
q bill. and also actively Interest myself ss iH'
a. may b. proper Ia securing D. RaSsage ~
the legislature.
In order that the party pledge upon thi.
important matieF may he falls Sepi, Il .
mos, desirable that great carr shall b. exer.
eised N selecting capable and efficient mem.
berS Of the legislature geRllemen Nh0 sill
not only consider themselves bound by the
platform, but thoroughly competeRt o. dea
with a subject 80 vital to the people.
The agricultural interests Of the state apprai
10 me 10 be especially worthy Of attention aud
encouragement, aud shall feel II TO be both
a privilege and duty to aid IN all prape'
I ways "a attract within our borders thrifty and
intelligent immigrants.
There Is one other topic to which Sish u
I refer, and here also, in view Of certain com
! ments that have appeared in the press since
| nv nomination, desire to speak with dis
1 tincineSs and emphasis that cannot be miSun
| derstoOd. | consented reluctantly that ~!
/ name might be used for the nomination for
/ governor upon the assurance from a number
/ Of independent aud most respectable sources
I including many Of my closest commercial
/ friends that my selection wOnld tend 10 re
! store a mnch-desired harmony 10 the ranks o.
/ the Democratic party.
/ Beyond giving this consent did not 20 Ont
/ step, aud when the nomination was made
/ came a. absolutely free from any pledge
/ promise OF understanding, express or Implied
/ on my part as ever nomination came Ia any
/ man. did not seek il in any manner what
soever. nor can | consent to have mysel
/ spoken of or considered as the candidate @
/ any man or set of men, or rs the representa-
4 tive of any clique. wing, faction or division o
| the party.
Those who know me need no assurance
/ that nothing on earth could induce me Il
barter away, surrender or abridge to any eN
/ tent whatsoever my absolute independence
and trust that the character which ! EMO,
IN this community will be sufficient to satisf,
those who do not know me that, should th'
nomination Of my party be ratified at the poll
| in November, | shall enter upon the discharge
of the duties of governor under no eommittal
or obligations to any individuals whatever an'
| wholly free to do what my conscience and m.
| Judgment shall dictate rs best for the nubli
| interest.
If had imagined that any of the gentlemen
who urged me to allow my name TO be pre-
sented as a candidate. or any Of the friend
who actively interested themselves to brini
about my nomination, supposed that | wa
thereby LAYING myself under political obliga
tions by which the exercise of my Independent
Judgment, in the event of my election, would
in the slightest degree, be affected, or that
was thereby subiecting myself to unworth
dictation, | should unhesitatingly have de
clined the use of my name and rejected tn
proposal as both disparaging and offensive.
With this unreserved statement of my posi-
ton. | submit with cheerful confidence, m
case, and that of the party whose representa-
tiyes have chosen me as its candidate for GOV
ernor. TO the Just and intelligent decision 4
the people, respectfully claiming the full an
cordial support of the party, and faithful
pledging to my fellow citizens, in the event {
my election, the constant exercise Of my be'