Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-16
SENATOR GoRMAN. OF MARYLAND.

SENATOR GORMAN. OF MARYLAND.
and asserts that every man is free to
think as he pleases regarding them. lie
defends his course in connection with
all these questions, and concludes with
the following propositions:
"And now. Mr. Abel, let us pass to
question touching which there can be no
misunderstanding. These statements and
counter-statements. arguments and re-
torts-all this petty class Of protestation
and impeachment-amount TO very little,
at the best You have declared your
undying devotion 10 the Democratic party,
and have said that my leadership, my
personal ambitions, my selfish purposes,
and these only, prevent you from re-
storing your newspaper to the service oil
the loyal people who originally made 1t
rich and powerful by their patronage,
their confidence and their support. You
have given Maryland TO understand that
but FOR me ana the eossism you are pies Used
TO attribute to me, you would bring back
the Baltimore Sun to it's old moorings,
and devote 1t to the exposition of Demo-
cratic principles, and the confusion and
overthrow of Republican rule in this
State.
you have stated in effect, certainly
with the intent of being so understood,
that you still love the Democratic party,
and still wish to see ii predominant in
MARYLAND. and you thereby involve your
self in a pledge TO cast off your Republi-
can affiliations, repudate your Republi-
can alliances, and labor heart and soul
for the success of the Democratic party,
as il will remain after being purged
Of me.
READY TO RESIGN.
'If you be sincere in this. the solution
of the difficulty is simple enough. II my
aspirations, my leadership, my influence
constitute the only distractions TO Il re-
turn to the people who made your news
paper and founded your fortunes, and
gave reality to your position and your
power, ] stand ready to remove them.
once is less to me than you suppose.
Political leadership is not so necessary
TO my happiness as you, in your ig-
norance of my character and motives,
are pleased 10 say. Strange as it may
seem to you, 1 am willing to surrender
every prospect of personal promotion, II
by so doing | can reunite the Democratic
party. restore to its ranks all their
pristine strength and harmony. remove
the dssensions and animosity that now
exist, and efface the humilating specta-
Gle pictured by yourself and men of your
way of thinkingth spectacle OF the
Democratic party betrayed into the hands
of the enemy by those whom the Demo-
Gratis have in the past exalted and en-
Tiched.
81 do not undertake 10 say how much
you or any other man may love the
Democratic party, but l know how much
l love il. and ] know that 1 have no per-
sonal ambitions j would not sacrifice for
its honor and welfare. L know, too that
/ have no affiliations, no engagements, no
plans of any kind that could. by any
possibility, embarrass me in making the
proposed arrangement.
"You may understand this as an over
ture of surrender on my part--as an ad-
mission that the Democratic organiza-
ton cannot hope for further life with
out your aid and countenance. / am
prepared for this. | have been misunder-
stood by you so long and so unreason-
ably that a little more or less will count
for nothing. AS a matter OF fact, l am
satisfied that the people of Maryland
have become disguised with the two
years of Republican maladministration
which you did so much TO make possi-
BILE, and that they are in the humor to
make an end of the experiment 1t Is
not only what has been done; IL Is also
the extravaganza and the corruption
which they see awaiting them In
the event OF a perpetuatlon OF Republi-
can rule. They feel that every sub
stantial interest In the State is 1eopar-
died, and they are determined. with or
without your aid. to restore to power the
Democratic party, which has never
hitherto betrayed them. and in whose
hands they will feel their honor and
their interests to be secure. AS TO this
| have not the shadow of a doubt.
DEMOCRATS WANT HARMONY.
"But they want, also, a restoration OF
the former harmony of the party. They
want to see the old lines restored. and
/ owe them so much as to feel not
only willing. but anxious. to consum-
mate any wish OF theirs, no matter at
what cost 10 me.
"Are you ready and willing and free
TO meet me on this ground. in good
faith. in all loyalty, without provisos or
reservations. on the honor OF a gentle
man? Are you at liberty to take charge
ersonally--personally, and through your
agents--of the Democratic campaign for
tile mayoralty of Baltimore, for the
Legislature, and for the succession TO
that place In the Senate, concerning
which / have but one desire-that OF see
ing II filled by Democrat whose loyalty
10 the party Is unquestioned and proved,