Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-08-16
Letter of Accordance.

Oh kindly compliment IN which you are 80
good as TO make known to me the action of
the convention, but you do me no more than
justice when you say that the nomination
has come to me "without solicitation or effort
on my part to secure it,
Indeed, for many and cogent reasons l
should prefer to continue to labor as pri.
vate citizen for the success of the party, as
have steadily done in the past, but having
been selected without agency OF mine as its
candidate for the highest office in the gift OF
the people of my native State, | feel that
should not now be entirely controlled by my
personal convenience and inclinations, and,
therefore, accept with grateful sensibility
the gratifying distinction with which the
convention has seen fit to honor me.
III realize that the acceptance ofthis nom
ination carries with it large measure of
responsibility, but my knowledge of the
people of Maryland teaches me that they
are always just and tolerant in their judg
ment of the conduct of men in public sta
ton when the conduct is regulated by can
dor, independence and an earnest and con.
sclentious. sense OF duty, and | shall Gu
deavor so to meet that responsibility and 80
to act during the coming campaign and in
the office OF Governor, should be elected,
as to give me ust claim to their conf
dences, respect and approval.
"ln coming before them for their votes
they are entitled TO have a definite and ex-
pllcit expression from me of my views and
purposes in relation TO the issues involved
in the canvass, and | accordingly avail my
self of the opportunity which this letter Of
ters to make known clearly aud without re.
serve my sentiments upon these issues, and
also, what may be expected of me in the
event OF my election.
81 have carefully read the platform
adopted by the convention and unhesita.
tingly approve it, and in expressing this APP
proval il is proper to add that | am not one
OF those who look upon party platforms as
mere devices to catch votes and after the
election to be disregarded and ignored, but
| consider them as declarations of principle
To be adhered to aud carried into effect,
and, if may be pardoned for the compari.
son, to be treated as a bill of exchange when
once accepted-to be faithfully honored
"The platform speaks my sentiments upon
the national questions of the tariff and the
currency. AS to the tariff law now in force
| am free to express my regret that il
does not go as far in the direction of free
raw materials as the people hoped for and
expected-but | am not unmindful of the
great difficulties that stood in the way of
the enactment of any law whatever upon
the subject.
Certainly, the law is great relief from
the burdens and injustice of the Mckinley
act, and in view of the universal revival oi
activity and prosperity in every department
of business to which 1t has so largely con-
tributed, We may well congratulate our
selves upon this important achievement of
our party.
ave have reason to be proud of the bold
and wise stand taken by President Cleve
land and his administration upon the silver
question, and | subscribe very cordially to
what our State platform declares upon this
subject
"The question, however, which in this
State canvass comes more closely home TO
our people and which engages their atten
ton more than any other is that of reassess-
ment.
upon this subject | am in hearty sympa-
thy with the declaration of our platform
and the reproduction of that declaration in
your letter.
"a complete and thorough reassessment
is now imperatively demanded, and should
be provided for, without fail, ny our next
Legislature.
"The history of our State legislation shows
that longer interval has elapsed since our
last general assessment, under the act Of
1876, than has been allowed to pass for
eve had general assessment in 1S41
again in 1852, again in 1866 and again in
1875.
During the nineteen years since this las
assessment such great changes in the con-
dition and valuation of property, real and
personal, have taken place that justice TO
the people, TO the State, TO the city of Balti :
more and to the counties absolutely requires
full retaliation of all the property of all
our people, carefully provided for, rs bu-
siness, not as political measure.
AIN the disturbed and depressed condition
of business and property for the last two or
three years a reassessment was not judicious
for its results, so far from remedying the
evils complained of, would have led to fresh
mischiefs, more even than those that con.
fessedly existed.
"For this reason | not only did not favor
but acti vely opposed the passage OF, a reas
sessment bill at the session OF 1894, and in
terested myself with many of my fellow
citizens Of both political parties to induce
Governor Brown TO Withhold his signature
from the bill passed by the Senate and
House of Delegates at the session OF 1892.
"The controlling reasons that then ex'
listed for a postponement Of such legisl alton
have largely, if not entirely, passed away,
and there is no longer any good ground for
denying 10 the people this necessary meas
ure of relief.
"The primary responsibility for such an
act rests upon the Legislature, and the in
tervention of the Governor cannot properly
go further, in the first instance, than con
sultation and recommendation and the pub
lie expression of his opinion. Indeed, he
should be careful, in the due exercise OF the
functions of the Executive, 10 avoid every
thing like interference with the indepen-
dent action of the legislative department OF
the government, but publicly declaring
now my deliberate belief that the passage
of law for general and thorough assess
ment of the entire taxable property OF all
the people fthe State should not any long.
er be postponed, | wish to be understood as
distinctly announcing that, should L be
elected Governor, | shall promptly sign
such a bill and also actively interest myself
as far as may be proper in securing its pas
sage by the Legislature.
an order that the party pledges upon
this important matter may be fully kept, IL
is most desirable that great care shall be ex
ercised in selecting capable and efficient
members Of the Neutrality-suspicious.
who will not only consider themselves
bound by the platform, but thoroughly com
petent TO deal with subject 80 vital 10 the
people.
"fhe agricultural interests Of the State
appear to me 10 be especially worthy Of at
tention and encouragement, and shall feel
it TO be both privilege and duty 10 aid
in all proper ways 10 attract within our or
ders thrifty and intelligent immigrants.
"There is one other topic To which | wish
to refer, and here also, in view Of certain
comments, that have appeared in the press
since my nomination. desire To speak with
a distinction and emphasis that cannot be
misunderstood
81 consented reluctantly that my name
might be used for the nomination for Gov
ernor, upon the assurance from number OF
independent and most respectable sources,
including many Of my closest commercial
friends, that my selection would tend TO re
store a much desired harmony 10 the ranks
of the Democratic party.
Beyond giving this consent did not 20
one step, and when the nomination was
made it came as absolutely free from any
pledge, promise or understanding, express
or implied, on my part as ever nomination