The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-10-24
The situation in Maryland.


The Democratic revolt against boss rule
in Maryland is attracting much attention.
Boss Golman is reported to be hard press
ed, and the election Of Republican Gov
ernor and legislature next month is con-
fidently predicted. 1t is time Maryland
was rescued from ling rule and freed
from the s.despot's heel,'' and the s'heel-
ers'' of the Democratic despots or bosses.
The State of Maryland and the city of
Baltimore have long been controlled by
rings, and although the State and city Of
ficials have often been for the most part
unexceptionable in character, the power
behind the throne has been utterly I'M
scrupulous and unworthy. This condition
of affairs has been tolerated by many who
did not approve of it, but intolerant to
minority Of the Democratic party, who
have made frequent but futile revolts.
The Baltimore Gazette, now extinct, was,
in the COS the organ of the latter ele-
ment, and the late S. Teakle Wallis, law
yer and litterateur, was one of its best
known leaders. He was man worthy of
any { flee within the gift Of the people,
but did not obtain political preferment
because he did not harmonic with the
bosses. Training and tradition alike kept
these men from coalition with the Repub-
licans, although they were working to
practically the same end Old antago-
nisms and prejudices have measurably
died out and more liberal spirit now
prevails. This has brought the disaffected
Democrats and the Republicans together,
with the best Of results. Maryland has
sent Republicans to Congress, and at the
last election the Republicans had a ma
jority OF the Congressional vote of the
State. This year it is hoped to elect
Republican Governor and Legislature and
end the rule of Boss German.
A significant feature in the present
Maryland campaign is the attitude of the
Baltimore Daily Sun, or the ''sunpaper,'
as it is called by its thousands of readers.
The sun has always been Democratic,
has been very conservative, if not timid,
in its editorial columns, and devoid of SEN
sationalism in its news columns. In short,
it is clean, healthy, carefully edited
newspaper. one that merits and receives
the confidence of the public, and which |
naturally must have great influence with |
its readers. When the Sun Joins in a |
movement against ring rule and supports |
it in editorials Of unusual spirit and vigor |
it means much For example, the sun |
says in a recent issue:
If the people of Maryland and Of Balti- /
more desire to have honest elections next |
year OF the year after. or ever again ia the |
lifetime OF this generation, it is clearly |
their interest and their duty to make short |
work and clean work of bossism and |
bosses this fall. Honest elections and |
boss rule are incompatible terms. They |
cannot co-exist in any community |
Fraudulent elections are indispensable to |
the perpetuation of boss rule and the |
first and primary object Of political bosses
is to control elections by whatever means
and whatever use of the s'electiOn ma |
chinely' may be found necessary. This
y
day, as it has been, probably, for a num-
Der of years, and as it is VIGOROUSLY in
other States and cities at the present time
Ex- Governor and ex- United States
Senator VIM. Pinkney White says, in an
interview published in the Sun. that the
registration frauds have gone beyond all
tolerance, and that unless all fair minded
Democrats who have the real welfare Of
the party at heart come together and act
promptly, the city and State will be dis
graced. Said Mr.. White:
1.-The unhealthy accretion of registered
voters this year. the large number Of
foaters who live in vacant houses. the
people who reside on the registry lists in
houses whose real occupants never heard
their nam nor saw their faces. the re-
fusal to let the registration proceed under
public inspection, the rowdyism prevalent
at Highlandtown and Gardenville during
this week, indicate a determination. if
possible, on the part of the evil disposed
to carry this election right or wrong,
All these things revive the recollections
of 1857. and nothing but the vigilance of
the right thinking people of this city can
save us from the reproach which hung
like pail over our community from 1855
to 1860. The partisan police, which was
supplanted in the latter year by non
partisan police, winked at the rowdyism
and fraud which held high carnival in
those dark days.
Is it any wonder that the respectable
people of Maryland are endeavoring to
~. /