The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-08-16
MR., HURSTvS LETTER OF ACCEPT.
aNTE


Hurst's acceptance of the Democratic
nomination for Governor. To say
it u manly, straightforward and Demo
cratic would be to reiterate every line
which it contains. After this declara-
ton no right thinking Democrat can
for one instant hesitate as to his ac-
ton in November. The letter is as
follows:
~ have received your letter of the Sth inst. -,
formally notifying me of my nomination for
Governor of the State by the recent Demo-
cratic Convention, and transmitting to me a
copy of the platform which it adopted.
II thank you very sincerely for the terms
of kindly compliment in which you are so
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.
'sIndeed, for many and cogent reasons
should prefer to continue to labor as private
citizen for the success of the party, as | have
steadily done in the past, but having been
selected without agency of mine as its candi
date for the highest office in the gift of the
people of my native State, feel that should
not now be entirely controlled by my per-
sonal convenience and inclinations, and,
therefore, accept WIFI grateful ScllSlDlllly
the gratifying distinction with which the con-
yention has seen fit to honor me.
II realize that the acceptance of this nomi-
nation carries with it a large measure of re-
sponsibility, but my knowledge of the people
of Maryland teaches me that they are always
Just and tolerant i'll their judgment of the
conduct of men in public station when that
conduct is regulated by candor, independence
and an earnest and conscientious sense of
duty, and shall endeavor so to meet that re-
sponsibility and to act during the coming
campaign and in the office of Governor, should
l be elected, as to give me just claim to
their condolences respect and approval.
ssIn coming before them for their votes they
are entitled to have a definite and explicit eX-
preston from of my views and purposes
in relation to the issues involved in the can
vass, and | accordingly avail myself of the
opportunity which this letter offers to make
known clearly and without reserve my senti-
ments upon these issues and, also, what may
be expected of Inc in the event of my election.
81 have carefully read the platform adopted
by the convention and unhesitatingly approve
it, and in expressing this approval it 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 DECLARE
tions of principles TO be adhered to and car
ried into effect, and, if | may be pardoned for
the comparison, to be treated as bill of eX-
change when once accepted-to faithfully
honored.
1.-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 it does
not go as far in the direction of free raw mater
ials as the people hoped for and expected
but L am not unmindful of the great Difficult
ties that stood in the way of the enactment of
any law whatever upon the subject.
ssGertainly the law ia a great relief from
the burdens and injustice of the Mckinley
act, and in view of the universal revival of
activity aud prosperity in every department
of business to which it has SO largely contri-
buted, we may well congratulate ourselves
upon this important achievement of our par
ty.
ssWs have reason to be proud of the bold
and wise stand taken by President Cleveland
and his administration upon the silver ques-
ton, and | subscribe very cordially to what
our State platform declares upon this subject.
1.-The question, however, which in this
State canvass comes more closely home to
our people and which engages their attention
more than any other is that of reassessment.
Upon this subject am in hearty sympathy
with the declarations of our platform and the
reproduction of that declaration in your let
ter.
"a complete and thorough reassessment is
now imperatively demanded, and should be
provided for, without fail, by our next Legis-
lature.
1.-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 more than
half a century
ave had a general assessment in 1871,
again in 1852, again in 1866 and again in 1876.
"During the nineteen years since this last
assessment such great changes In the condi-
ton and valuation of property, real and per-
tal-a p1ane that insfiaa IN ha
people, to the State, to the city of Baltimore
and to the counties absolutely requires full
retaliation OF all the property of all our peo
pie, carefully provided for, as business, not
political measure.
sin the disturbed and depressed condition
of business and property for the last two or
three years reassessment was not judicious
for its results, so far from remedying the evils
complained of, would have led to fresh mis-
chiefs, more even than those that confessedly
existed.
'For this reason | not only did not favor
but actively opposed the passage of a reas
sessment bill at the session Of 1894, and in
terested myself with many of my fellow-citi-
zens of both political parties TO induce Gov
ernOr Brown to withhold his signature from
the bill passed by the Senate and House of
Delegates at the session of 1892.
1.-The controlling reasons that then existed
for postponement of such legislation have
largely, il not entirely, passed away, and there
is no longer any good ground for denying to
the people this necessary measure of re-
lief.
''The primary responsibility for such an
act rests upon the legislature, and the inter
vention of the Governor cannot properly go
further, in the first instance, than consulta-
tion and recommendation and the public ex-
preston of his opinion. Indeed, he should
be careful, in the due exercise of the func-
tiOns of the Executive, to avoid everything
like interference with the Independent action
of the legislative department of the govern
ment, but publicly declaring now my deliber
ate belief that the passage of law for gen
eral and thorough essment of the entire
taxable property of all the people of the
State should not any longer be postponed,
wish to be understood as distinctly announc-
ing that, should | be elected Governor,
shall promptly sign such bill and also ac-
lively interest myself as far as may be proper
in securing its passage by the Legislature.
''In order that the party pledges upon this
important matter may be fully kept it is
most desirable that great care shall be exer-
cised in selecting capable and efficient mem
bers of the neutrality-suspicious. who will
not only consider themselves bound by the
platform, but thoroughly competent to deal
with a subject so vital to the people.
1.-The agricultural interests of the State ap
pear to me to be especially worthy of atten-
ton and encouragement and shall feel it to
be both privilege and a duty to aid In all
proper ways to attract within our borders
thrifty and Intelligent immigrants.