The Republican., 1899-10-12

success WHICH Iuey nave met IN max
ing up a legislative ticket in Balti-
timore. The nominations for the
House of Delegates from the Second
Legislative district are especially ex-
cellent; the two nominations for
State Senate are satisfactory; and,
while we are not familiar with the
qualifications of all the other candi-
dates, the impression that is made by
the list as a whole is that it is a great
Improvement on former years. The
Democratic list is also composed of
better material, on the whole, than
is usually presented; yet, in view of
the opportunities for choice in that
party, the personnel of its Baltimore
Legislative ticket does not indicate
anything like as promising a spirit as
that which is signified by the Repub-
lican choice.
Turning to the broad question of
which party, on the whole. presents
better claim upon the support of in
dependent voters-that is, voters
who, whatever their predictions in
a national campaign, are going to be
guided in this contest by considera-
tions of State and city government
~alone-we shall look at but few of
the leading features of the situation.
As regards the platforms, the one is
sue upon which a declaration was
most obviously and clearly called for
is that of the organization of the Bal
timore police force. Here the Repub-
lican platform gives a pledge which
comes very near being a downright
Endorsement of the Reform League
bills, for it pledges the Republican
party, if successful, to enact legisla-
tion embodying the essential fea-
tures'' Of those bills. Any modifica-
tion of the bills which would impair
their chief provisions-un -unhampered
appointment by the Governor, minor
ity representation, and an effective
system of impartial examination
would constitute disgraceful viola
tion of this pledge; and, while such
violation might be attempted, it is
fair to assume that such attempt
would, in the present condition of
politics, be doomed to failure. The
Democratic platform is very vague
in its promise on this head, and
makes no mention of the Reform
Leagues bills.
1t is the general opinion of the com
munity that either Of the candidates
for Governor would, if elected, con-
duct his office in a creditable manner.
Mr.. Smiths smooth politics. during
the reign of the German -Rasin ma
chine and since, have. to be sure, not
been Of kind to inspire special con-
fidence; but it may be said that Mr..
Lowndes, too, was practical poll
tian'' of familiar type, in Allegany
county before he became Governor.
However, it is but common Justice to
say of him that he has grown larger
and stronger as the years have pass
ed, and that he has shown an unmis-
taxable desire to raise both the tone
of politics in his party and, so far as
he could influence it, the character of
State legislation. In addition to
this, there is to be placed to the
credit Of his administration the I'M
deniably excellent management of the
State finances, which shows in so
many definite points a marked i'm
provement oyer the Democratic
regime.
After ali, the question is, Shall we
make a change? Have the Demo
Gratis set up valid claim for the turn
ing down of the Republicans and for
their own restoration to power? To
this we have to answer, No. The bur-
den of proof is upon them. They
were put out of power because they
had long and outrageously abused
power. They come back now decid-
edly improved and chastened; and if
they presented distinct advance
over the Republicans-as they did in
the city election last spring-we
should not let the dead past count
against them. The Republicans might
have signed their own condemnation
by presuming on the possession of
power and defying the best senti-
ment of the community; they have
not done SO, but on the contrary have
presented decidedly better front
than ever before. They are entitled
to continuance in power unless their
opponents offer something still better.
This they have decidedly failed to
do; and it is an open secret that a
chief reason for their not doing it is
that the old city boss is still the domi-
mating power in the Democratic coun-
ellis. Rasin is behind the nomina-
tions, and the merit of them is to be
judged not only iutrinsically but al
so by reference to the Rasin influence
n L VI