The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-01-09

ded as not to impose undue burdens
upon any of our diversified inter
ests. The agricultural interests
should have fair consideration.
For years our farmers with reduced
incomes have been taxed on farm
values greatly in excess of prevail
ing prices, thus imposing upon them
an unequal share OF taxation.
The elective franchise is one of
the most sacred rights of citizen,
which cannot be too jealousy guar
ded. Our election laws should be
amended and so framed as to insure
to the people absolutely fair regis
tration, to guarantee to every voter
the inestimabie privilege of casting
his vote with the right to have that
vote honestly counted, and to secure
to the people honest machinery of
elections without any advantage to
the party in power.
The use of money at elections,
beyond the necessary expenses, is
cOrrupting, its increasing use in
this State is demoralizing and calls
for the special consideration of this
General Assembly. Violations of
these laws should be clearly defined
the method Of proof facilitated, and
prompt and severe punishment
should follow conviction.
While some of our State Officials
should give way to those more
closely allied IN principle to the
party IN power, yet we should heed
the demand for CIVIL Service Reform
and extend whatever practicable in
this State and its principal cities,
the merit system of appointments
to Office. | should be glad to see
the right of selection of many of
our public officers restored to the
people wherever 1t can be done with
due regard for the public interests
E this being in harmony with our
theory of government and safe
guard against Capitalization of po-
litical power IN the hands of the
governor.
Our public school system should
be brought up to the highest stan
dard of efficiency; removed from
politics, made subservient only to
the great end and aim of It's crea-
tions, the free education of all.
am ready to cooperate in the ac-
complishment of this object, and
to approve any proper measure look
ing to the furnishing of free school
, books.
The colored people of our State
should be protected in the enjoy
ment of those rights and privileges
Of citizenship which they have un-
der the Constitution and laws of
the United States, and be assisted
in their laudable efforts for advance
ment. They have a right to ask at
our hands fostering of the present
system of separate free schools for
their children with teachers of their
own race, if they so desire them.
Their growing intelligence seeks
only an equal opportunity under
the law to work out their own ad-
vancement by equality of political
rights tosecure the civil rights which
are their due.
There are other subjects of i'm
portance to our progress and well
fare which would seem to call for
special mention, but cannot now
be considered at length. There
is need Of legislation to develope
the agricultural interests of the
state: the encouragement of immi-
grafton, more important under a
conservative Republican admins
tration than ever before; the better
regulation of the liquor traffic; linn
itation of the debt mourning capa-
city of the counties and cities; the
correction of the partisan abuse of
the oyster police; the preservation
to the people of the oyster industry
liberal policy encouraging the
building of good roads; and an hon
est purpose TO hear and heed the
just demands of the workingmen.