Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-09-18
Mr.. Hnrst's Position


The following is an extract from Mr..
Hurst's speech last night, which we
cOmMend to the thoughtful considera-
tion Of every Democrat and which Is
worthy of the man who uttered them
1.-THE Office of Governor of Maryland
is high and dignified office, well worthy
of the ambition of any honorable man,
but high as hold it to be, would scoln
to reach it by the surrender of one jot
OF little of the priceless possession of my
independence Of thought or action, and
although feel almost sense OF per-
sonal degradation in being constrained
to make this public declaration, in or
der to repel the ungenerOus assaults
that have been made upon me, wish
the people Of Maryland to know that il
they shall see fit to make me Governor
OF the State they may rely upon it that
no man shall rule or govern or dictate
TO me, but that up to the full measure
of the faculties which possess ! shall
execute all its functions with the most
absolute independence. | had hoped
that the language of my letter ofaccep-
tance would have put at rest all unwO'-
thy suspicious upon the aspect OF my
candidacy. | had hoped that lifetime
without such language, have been re-
garged as Il sufficient guarantee that in
new. even though far more exalted
sphere of action, / could be expected to
exhibit the same qualifcaties that had
earned form the goodwill and respect
Of those who know me. had hoped
that my career as merchant would
have secured me against the offensive
ffan rot IA ~
gpOnsibility or trust to which might he
called would allow any man to think
and act for me or submit to the guild
ance, control or dictation of any man.
1t seems, however, that when a man
quits the walks of private life and be-
comes candidate he may justly be
charged with having lost his individual
ity, and, however contrary to the char
acter hemay have secured for energy,
self-reliance and independence-how
ever clearly he may have earned repu
tation for qualities in which seryility
and Bukservience have no place-he may
yet he properly branded as figure
head, his public assurance of his entire
freedom from pledges and cOmmittals
OF every kind he fidiculed as untrue;
and his election opposed because Of the
insOlent and gratuitOus assumption that,
if elected, lie will prove 4 plant, super
serviceable tool iii the hands Of others.
Against such assaults upon me and my
candidacy / enter my solemn protest,
and if. in face of these personal assuran-
ces that, in the event OF my election,
shall be wholly free to act without obli-
CATION or sense of obligation to any man
or set OF men, such assaults slIall he con-
tinued, | shall leave them to the con-
tempt that they deserve.
upon the question of assessment /
stand squarely upon the letter and spirit
of our platform aud renew in all sinceri-
tv and s0lemnity Che assurances Of my
letter of acceptance. AS theTepublican
platform and ours agree upon this ques-
tiOn, and is, in fact, only an adoption Of
OuIs, there is no occasion for further
statement from me upon the subject.
The people need have no fear that | shall
he lukewarm or Indifferent in my advO-
cacy of this great measure Of relief.
Ihave pledged my word that, if elected.
/ shall aid to the verv utmost in secur-
lug the prompt passage of an assessment
bill as a business rather than political
measure, and / mean what | have said
and what nOlc emphatically say again.
No democrat Cali fairly prefer Mr..
Lowndes TO me upon this question, and
while accord to him perfect sincerity
in his declaratiOns, claim equal value
for my own. shall have occasion dur
ing the campaign to address my fellow
citizens in all parts of the State, and
shall spare no pains to make my posi-
tion upon all the issues involved in this
contest clearly understood. especially
wish democrats to feel assured that /
am the candidate OF the whole party, and
that if elected / shall be not only their
Governor, but the Governor of the whole
State, and that in the discharge of its
diversified duties shall always bear in
mind its dignity, honor and welfare, and
so act that no man who aids in my cleo
tiOn shall ever have cause to regret that
he stood faithfully for his party in this
struggle and voted for me-