Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-10-28
aFalT Example Of Republican Reforms. !"
A srATEsMANwIrH AN UNsAvoRY RECORD.
A PICTURE FOR PUMSTS TO LOOK UPON. I
published by Authority Of the Maryland Democratic
Editors AssoclatIon.)

published by Authority Of the Maryland Democrats
Editors Association
The chief plea advanced in behalf
of retaining the Republican Party In
power this year Is that the election
of its candidates will ENSURE an cs-
cape from an era of corruption" and
from "the discreditable elevation ~
political brlgands and vagabonds'
that must inevitably succeed the tri-
umph of the Democratic Party at the
polls. The avOwals of immediate ire
form" and promises of better things
that distinguished the ante-election
utterances of the Republicans two
years ago are again In use, and the
restless Independent vote, without the
aid Of which Republican success In
any Instance Is out of the question, Is
again besought to ally itself with the
amy of "reform"-or the Republican
Party of Maryland.
The blatant professions of clean pol,
ltlcs and moral ideas that interlard Re.
publican harangues this year show
the desperation with which the leaders
of the party view the situation. In the
straits to which the vicious careers of
Mudd, Malster, Tuck, Dave" Sloan,
Ben" Hiss, Ben" Andrews, and
other Republican bosses and the alb
ject incapacity Of Lowndes has
brought them, the members of the
party, with an audacity which would
be intolerable were 1t not almost pa.
thetic attempt to fiaunt their stained
career OF power before the voters and,
In the face of facts, to convince them
that their malodorous rule has been
throughout, In spirit and In deed, pre-.
cisely what the most radical pursl
and good government" devotee could
desire.
This course Ia being rurS led with
some spirit, by reason of the assist.
ance 1t receives from the bitterly
preJudiced so-called independent"
press of Baltimore city, which has
cloaked the trickery and inefficlency OF
the Republicans with the same salts
faction that 1t displays In malignlng
and misrepresentlng the Democracy.
The Republican press and Republican
speakers have the effrontery to insist
that the past two years stand as a
monument to party integrity and NOR
al worth, and that the resumption of
power by the Democrats means civic
suicide. 1t is on account of the pro-
mitigation of this species of pleasant
ry that 1t Is interesting to note just
what some of the conspicuous results
OF good government" as administer.
ed by the Republican Party, really are
Since the recent discontinue OF
Wellington, the chief figure among
those brought into prominence by the
"millenium of 1896" Is that of the up.
right statesman and immaculate lead.
err, Sydney E. Mudd, Congressman,
Speaker of the House of Delegates,
and aspirant for the United States
Senate. Mr.. Mudd Is one of those
who take quite as much satisfaction
In the great reform triumph of two
years ago as the most Jealous lndepen-
dent who helped to make 1t possible.
1t is easy to account for the vigor
with which he has thrown himself
into the campaign md the junction.
with which he euloglzes the principle
that inspires the demand for clean pol
tiles, healthful methods, decent can
didates, and fair which, Of
course, have been the dominant fea-
lures of his party's rule. 1t has been
stated that the Devil can quote
Scripture to serve his purpose" and
the phrase inst'nctlyely S; guests 1t.
self at the spectacle of Mudd, poll
tician whose corrupt and venal prac-
tees, and one whose utter indifference
and contempt for the opinion of the
better voting element $50 long as his
purpose Is served has rendered him a
reproach to his party and State. The
spectacle of such man, fairly out
Heroding Herod In denunciation OF
political trickery and. debauchery as,
without exception, the most impress
slve instance of unblushing hypocrisy
that has defaced the political annals
of Maryland.
IL Mr.. Mudd's songs of praise to tue
Great Spirit of Reform" were actual
ed by any sense of gratitude, their ex-
preston would not be so incongruous,
but those who know the man intimate
ly will vouch for his entire innocence
of such emotion. 1t Is sensation that
Is entirely foreign to his nature.
And yet he has reason to feel genu-
lnely grateful to the impulse which
swung the Republicans into the sad
die two years ago. That great up.
heaval changed his fortunes materi-
ally, and from mere country pollti-
cian-in not especially good odor, even
In his own county-he was elevated,
via the Speakership OF the House of
Delegates, to Congress and his pres
ent eminence of party leadership, TO
say nothing of the honor that was his
of having conferred the United States
Senatorship upon George l.. yelling,
: ton.
In the campaign for the Republl.
can nomination for Congress In 1894
udd VAS decislvely Overthrown by
Mr.. Charles Il. Coffin, whose identiti,
cation with Southern Maryland Re
publicanism has Constituted one of its
few creditable features, and whose
Congressional career not only reflected
honor on his y, but his State.
His discontinue a. this rebuke vas
keen, and, until the nominations tor
the last General Assembly were made,
he underwent an enforced retirement
that affords an effective background
for his present effulgence When the
Charles County Republican legislative
ticket was nominated, Mudd succeed
cd In being nam-d for the House, and
during the fight worked like a beaver
TO repair his political fortunes.
As soon as 1t ocean evident that
the Republicans were to control the
House of Delegates, Mudd began "a
campaign for the Speakership. The
attainment of this end was not accom-.
panied by many difficulties, and Its ac-
compiishment WAS easy for shrewd,
resoureeful. insinuatinP politician OF
ghly practical ealiber. With q
Legislative body composed. for the
g.eater part, of entirely inexperl.
enced and, In many instances. ut