New-York tribune., 1896-10-04

cal hstory-a history for twenty-five years
cay and threatened destruction Of one of the
most ingenious and formidable political ma
chimes put together by American poll
tician. Since 1865 or 1870 the politics of Mary
land has centred more and more about sin
gle figure in whose gradual rise To unchecked
power can be read the whole record of the
States public history. Entering political life at
the bottom. an alien and intruder in the view Of
the established political aristocracy: mounting
slowly but surely to leadership. and once seated
in power perpetuating his single authority for
years by system Of effective local control:
stamping out again and again an ever latent
flame Of party pppositon reaching finally
virtual dictatorship in the State only to find the
fabric Of his power slowly crumbling. and the
frution of all his labors imperilled by a new
and still more violent outbreak of popular in
dgnation and resentment. Arthur p German is
the colossus who has bestrdden Maryland poll
tics for quarter Of a century. and it is his
outworn system OF management against which
in large part. the long-treasured wrath Of the
more respectable element in the local Democracy
is now so hotly turned. Having last year
through the defeat of his political prottge.
Hurst, for the Governorship. struck Mr.. Cor
mans local and personal power fatal blow, II
Is the hope Of the Maryland Senator's enemies
to end this year for good and all his National
leadership and authority by overwhelming him
in the ruin of the Boy Orators reputation can
vass.
From tho first day Of NJ. Germans entry
into Maryland politics 1t was evident that
great gulf separated him in feeling and charac-
ter from the Democratic leaders then in power.
Maryland as slave State had been naturally
thrown into close alliance politically and
cially with its Southern neighbors On the is
sues which precipitated secession it's syrnpa-
thes were dstnctively Southern. Its electoral
vote was given to Breckenridge in 1860 when
even Virginia and Kentucky refused to ndorse
his candidacy. Many Of the Democratic lead
ers of lS6O-6l were implicated by the abortive
effort to carry the State out of the Union and
were driven beyond its borders. Under the
pressure of Federal military occupation Mary
lands vote was cast in 1864 for Lincoln but
with the return 10 normal political conditions
in 1868 the true sentiment Of the State was
shown in a plurality Of 10000 for Seymour
over Grant. The political aristocracy which
had ruled the State in ante-beum times re-
gained its power, and the troubled State set
tied down more to the placid enjoyment
of its ideals Of Bourbonism
GORMAN'S ROLE IN MARYLAND POLITICS.
The future dictator Of its politics. though
born in Maryland had from boyhood beer iden-
titled with the service Of the Federal Govern
ment in Washington. lie appointed page
in the United States Senate when thirteen
years old. and remained in the Senate's en-
ploy In one capacity another for fourteen
years Douglas Democrat. he accepted Of
flee under President Andrew Johnson. hold
ing an internal re'enue collectorship for
Southern Maryland until the incoming of the
Grant Administration in 1863. In that year he
became a candidate for the Maryland Legis-
lature and was elected as Democrat. He had
meanwhile become a director. through some
family influence in the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. and on this slight capital his wonder
full career In Msryland politics was begun.
Though virtually interloper in circle OF
arstocratc politicians of the type OF Reverdy
johnson, Pinkney Whyte. John Lee Carroll.
McLane and Wallis, his talents enabled him to
make his power felt from the first. and he be-
came on his second election to the House OF
Delegates the Speaker of that branch Of the
Legislature. an office which he resigned only on
entering the State Senate. three years later BY
1875 he had risen to prominence and authority
in the party and had assumed the presidency
III
Of the States system Of public works The
canal was made at once a part of Mr.. Cor
mans nolitical stock in trade. and by the pa
tient manipulation Of its patronage he was
soon enabled TO fasten hrm grip on the DEM
ocratic ORGANIZATIONS throat
The party nomination for Governor in 1919 was
bitterly contested. William T. Hamilton, the
leading candidate In the race. was an ante-belum
leader of distinction and popularity. and had raj
lied to his support all the more respectable ele-
ments in the organization His nomination was
onposed however, by the sO-called canal ring, or
which Mr. German had just become the head
and after a long and bitter fight the new party
leader and his supporters succeeded In defeating
Hamilton and naming John Lee Carroll in his
stead Intense dissatisfaction was shown at this
triumph of the new machine and In the election
which followed many Democrats openly voted
tho Republican State ticket. In the counties out
sde baltimore Carroll was beaten by over 1000
votes The returns In this city were held back
Tor twenty-four hours or longer by the ring man
ayers and a majority here for Carroli OF loU''
vas then announced. The outcry against MI
Corman's methods became so general that at the
newt election for Governor. In 1879 the machine
aid not venture to oppose the popular demand for
Uamilton's nomination, and Carrolrs defeated
con,nctitor followed him into the Governors
During Governor Hamilton's four-year term
come desultory efforts were made TO break ire
nower of the canal ring; but they failed wholly OF
Tect Mr. German, having been CHOSEN TOT q
second term in the State Senate, showed ms
ranidiy growing skill and strength by defeatins