Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-11-02
Hon. James E. EllegOOd.
He Addresses an Audience i'm
Snow Hill and Advises all
Men to Vote the Demo-
cratic Ticket.

\ number of Democratic meeting
have been held in the county thi
week and all OF them have been wei
attended by enthusiastic supporters o
the regular Democracy. Many VIII,
had wandered from the fold have beer
convinced of their error and have re
turned to help elect the regular ticket
The following reports will give oul
readers some idea of the work that ha:
been done. The impromptu meeting
held here Tuesday afternoon wa.
largely attended and ably addressed b,
Messrs. Lloyd Wilkinson aud Jane,
+. Ellegood. Mr.. Wilkinson convinced
his hearers that many of the charge.
against our leaders were based on falls,
ideas, and wound up with strong ap
peal for every Democrat to stand b,
his party. Mr.. Ellegood also made :
telling speech. Among other thing,
he said
The people OF Maryland are engaged
in this important contest for the purpose
Of deciding what political party shall
control and what political principle.
shall prevail after the 9th of Novem
her next.
With all due respect for the convic
tons of those who are members of the
two smaller political parties, it must be
conceded that the real battle is con
test for supremacy between the Demo.
cratic and Republican parties, and that
one or the other of these parties will
control the destinies of Maryland poll.
tics and Maryland Legislation after
the November election.
1t is true that many good people OF
the Democratic party in the State,
realizing the need OF reform in party
methods and party politics, have joined
in a revolt against the regularly nomi.
mated ticket, more especially the nomi.
nee for Governor. The chief attack
seems to be directed at him. Yet not a
word of adverse criticism has been
uttered as to his entire fitness in both
and integrity or as to his
genuine Democracy.
Recognized rs one of the foremost
business men of the State, Of unblem-
ished reputation, of great decision of
character, manly and independent in
word or act never an office holder or
Office seeker. and yet always taking an
active interest in politics for the sake
of good government nominated with
out his solicitation. and without dicker,
banter or political promise of any kind;
by a Democratic convention
called by the duly constitu-
ted authorities with no charge against
his nomination as having been procured
by fraud and corruption and yet not
wiihstanding all this, Democrats are
besought to slaughter this man, not
because he deserves it, but because two
men of great influence in the party by
their great power secured his nominal
ton and the adoption of platform of
pronounced Cleveland type.
We have never seen it charged or
intimated that his administration of the
Office of Governor would not be clean,
honest competent and business like,
even though his views on state policy
might differ with many other men of
his party.
But he must be defeated, we are told
and a Republican elected because two
very wicked politicians have taken
refuge behind his good reputation.
Did the ancients burn the cities of
refuge when the manslayer found an
asylum within their walls? Was the
destroyed in order to destroy
the criminal that found refuge in it
Would man slay his wife, in order to
kill her assailant?
Surely the Democratic party can
punish its bad men, without Furnishing
all its good members. IL vicious men
perform virtuous acts shall we condemn
the virtuous act because of the men. We
have had ample occasion to find fault
with machine politics, polical methods,
boss rule and bad nominations in both
of the ruling parties, for as to these
comparisons are useless, but
when the politicians do adopt good
platform and nominate good men they
at least should be entered rs credit
to the many sins charged up against
them.
We agree with much that has been
written and said in this campaign about
the need of reform in party politics,
but we are compelled to differ as to the
and the methods. We do
not see how the reform of one political
party is to be brought about by another
party of no more virtue. 1t is quite
useless to talk of reforming the politi-
cal methods of one party with another
party whose methods are equally vic.
ious if not more so. 1t is like calling
in a man sick with yellow fever to take
care of patient sick with remittent
fever.
There are times in the history of
parties, that the people, the great body
polite, irrespective OF party politics,
rise up in the exercise of their sover-
eighty and take their stand on the high
plane of good government to defeat
wicked methods and corrupt men para
ding under the guise Of party.
But that is not the present contest
in Maryland between the Democratic
and Republican parties. 1t is a case
of party methods against party methods,
party nominations against party nomi-
nations, machine against machine, boss
rule against boss rule. Each party
impelled by that intangible but mighty
force called party spirit, and which
ever Of the parties may succeed, one
thing is sure to follow that the adj
however honest and COM
petent, will be on party lines, down to
the smallest office holder.
We may study the history of two of
the most boss ridden States i'll the
Union, New York and Pennsylvania.
\ supreme effort was made TO break
the machine and dethrone Quay in
Pennsylvania and Plat in New York
by the election of Pattison and Cleve-
Land Governors in their resnecfiye