Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-10-29
FRIDAY EVENING. OCT. %, 1887.
The PENDING contest in Maryland

The PENDING contest in Maryland
cannot but enlist the attention ana
sympathy OF the democracy and espec'
ially of Southern democrats. winch
of us can fail to remember those days
of shame and infamy after the war when
the white people of Maryland were dis
franchised, oppressed and practically
enslaved? Theagents and instruments
of this cruel and dastardly proceeding
were the republican politicians; men
inspired by ambition, greed, and NAL
ice towards the white people OF Mary
land. These politicians, indeed, were
even more corrupt than their allies at
the North, and far more vindictive,-for
we'll does the Spanish proverb say that
"one renegade is worse than ten
Turks" The principal force in this
array OF political desperadoes and
plunderers were very naturally the
negroes. 1t was in short vile, mongrel
narty-the same dirty coalition CT
negro and scalawag that has been
curse and menace to all the Southern
States. By Herculean effort, aided
bv a few decent and honorable men,
Ike Montgomery Blair and Governor
Swami, who had previously co-operat-
ed with the republican party, the State
was redeemed, the franchise given to
all citizens, the white race set free. and
a free, honest State government put
into operation. The State once freed
from disfranchisement was naturally
democratic. The white population
were generally intelligent, orderly and
patriotic. For long years the democ'
racy controlled the State. They gave
1t good government, free from cor
ruptiop, misrule and burdensome
taxation. 1t was government
which no self.respecting Maryland
er need blush to recall. A man
would be very ignorant of history
who did not know that Arthur P.
German, by his eloquence, power OF
organization, and zeal, was most 20
tent factor in accomplishing these re
suits. Not only in Maryland, but in
the Senste and in the national commit.
tee he has rendered services such as no
citizen of Maryland, however able or
patriotic, has ever surpassed. He is
known and honored throughout the
Union by democrats, and respected and
feared by his political adyersaries. Yet
strange to say, faction, animated ap.
parently by personal malice, has been
found willing to turn over the State OF
Maryland to the mongrel republican
party in two successive elections in or
der to drive from public life the states
man honored by the democracy of the
whole Union. To man who has rem
dered such service and achieved such
national reputation as German has
achieved, Office is not great matter.
His fame does not rest upon holding
Office. The past at least is secure. But
the apparent readiness in a Southern
State to make alliances with negroes
and republican scalawags in order to
accomplish personal or political ends is
a matter of high Importance. 1t is a
painful and ugly fact. 1t suggests not
merely a political but personal de-
generacy among class from whom we
have right to expect better things.
Let them behold their work their
State government turned over to
mongrel party, and republican Presi-
dent at Washington who helped to pass
the same force bill in the House Of
Representatives that German killed in
the Senate; asrobber tariff bill enacted,
and the putting in Office of negroes in
Maryland and over the whole South.
They would hardly like to be compared
TO Malone, but Malone, with far su'
perior ability to theirs, wrought less
mischief than they have done. We be-
lieve that for generations the finger Of
scorn will be pointed at this class OF
politicians.