Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1897-08-20
An Answer To The Association OF
Democratic Editors.

registration law Of 1896, and its press.
in support, has made copious extracts
for political effect
This paper is intended to meet those
criticisms, and future ones will defend
our State government
The Editors first paper is intended to
show that the registry law of 1896 is
sham, inasmuch as it has omitted the
essential oath of secrecy through "a
partisan trick, thus placing 1.-THE illit-
crate colored voters" under absolute
espionage and control of Republican
election officials.
Let us examine this assertion.
It is admitted in that paper that the
"reformers" of Baltimore city were the
instigators in creating sentiment for a
new registration law.
These reformers were not all Repub-
licans, but independent citizens asking
justice and urged on BY desire to rid
their city of a standing growing and
blasting stigma, viz, the unwarranted
interference with the rights Of American
voters.
Beside no set of men however power
full, can by false arguments create SEN
timent that will be lasting Arguments
to be convincing must be based upon
facts, cold, stern, indsputable
Those facts were at hand They were
arrayed daily in the press, before the
hustings and nIon the streets They
we're so clear, SO urgent, so vital, as to
become the issue of the campaign which
resulted in the triumphant election OF
an acknowledged gentleman, honest
business man as Governor and Legis-
lature empowered to carry out that
issue.
How well that work has been done
will be shown in future papers.
Now as to the charge of doing away
with the oath of secrecy and placing
voters under the control of partisans.
The same partisan, or equal party
board Of registration appointed by a
non-partisan board Of supervision, be-
come the judges Of elections.
Their duties are clearly explained.
The penalties are explicit, far-reachine
and must be executed against valuations
of the law
Candidates for registration aud voters
both have their redress in an appea
70 the courts of justice A mans sacreC
rights rest no longer in any one human
edict. And here is the grear bulwarl
of this law. No man shall be deprived
of his right to register or his right t,
vote until he shall have failed to shov
before the highest court his iuheren
privilege Upon this roek of refug
our citizenship now stands, and these i
will stand henceforth. The charge 0
having abolished secrecy cannot be sus
tanned, but rather it has been made per
feet. No partisan can possibly knoV
how any man has voted.
The former law did not secure tina
result. In certain town not far from
Baltimore, under the old system O.
building booths, which looked out from
windows, watchmen could know wheth.
er voters made one cross or more
on their ballots. Now curtains shut ou
the watchmen and shut in the voters
Again, the former law passed by Demo.
cratic votes granted the right of in.
structing voters in order that they
might intelligentiy record their wishes.
The only privilege granted judges and
clerks both equal in party apportionmenl
is the right to do the same to assist
illiterate or disabled voters in properly
depositing their wishes. All others are
strictly prohibited from interference and
punished for it.. ann.
If Republican leaders did before the
election induce iIliterate voters to think
as they did the field of discussion wac
open to the opponents for the same
purpose
1t is not the fault Of the law if colored
voters preferred to stand by principles
and leaders which had made them
citizens and had given them rights dear
to us all
If Democrsts failed 60 control the
illiterate voters on account Of this new
registration law what caused the revolt
of the most intelligent, respectable and
influential element of their onw party.
The answer comes home in reverber-
ating echoes through the valleys and
over the mountains Of old Maryland
Leaders, you have discarded the true
principles of our forefathers. You have
trampled upon our rights. You have
placed unsafe men at the helm and the
ports where you would anchor us are not
healthy. We will choose new helms.
men These are our reason for demand
ing better leaders, better methods, better
laws.
Now, look at the second paper.
This is tabulation of the white and
colored vote of Maryland, from which is
drawn the argument that white Repub-
lioans. numbering a little over eleven
thousand (ll,000) therefore "unrepre-
sentative citizens. control the litter
ate colored voters, gaining thereby "a
representation VI A1cGs Wullht al equal
distribution OF III members Of the Cen
eral assembly among the 213, 900 regis
tered white voters, fixes the per capita
a. 1920"
This paper unwittingly revives the
old contention of Republican leaders Of
the. North, when Democratic ones of
the South urged counting negroes in the
list Of representation in order to give
the South greater power in the halls of
Congress.
If that element under changed con-
litions now turns the scale and sup
port the very party that opposed their |
whose fault is il The |
Democratic leaders of the South did it.
This argument may safely be passed |
With the remark that until our basis of
be changed by a two
birds vote of all the States, Maryland
aust abide by it. 1t is not changeable
D the registration law. !