The Republican., 1899-11-02
The State Issue Involved.


Four years ago there were numer-
Gus issues of local importance involv-
ed in the State election, but this year,
in sspite of the fact that there has
been a very monotonous croning in
certain quarters about estate issues, .
their substance is hard to find. As a
matter of fact, the only Estate issue"
involved in this campaign is embodied
in the general proposition of whether
or not the good government of the
State, as brought about during the
past four years by the Republicans,
is to continue. All other questions
are merely secondary, and may not
be properly termed state issues.
On this one question it is not hard
to determine which party possesses
the advantage opposition. All Mary
land is familiar with the record of the
Democratic party prior to 1895, and
all Maryland knows that under the
Democratic regime there was little of
the form, and far less of the substance
of good government" The rights
of citizens were repeatedly trampled
upon, power was tool for individu-
al ACKNOWLEDGEMENT rather than a
vehicle for the promotion of the pub
lie welfare. The situation since the
Republicans came into power is Who'll
ly different. The rights of the indi-
vidual have been carefully preserved,
and every facility given him for their
protection; power has not been used
for individual aggrandizement, but
for the introduction of reforms long
demanded-reforms which, in their
consummation, have insured the pro-
motion Of the public welfare, both as
to the civil rights and the honest,
economical administration of govern
ment. 1t is as contrasting night and
day to contrast the record of the
Democrats and Republicans in the
management of State affairs. With
the public's knowledge of the situa
ton, there is but one question it can
ask itself, and that is: "Shall we undo
the work we did in 1895 and return to
the conditions that existed prior to
that time?n
1t is true, as Governor Roosevelt
pointed out during his tour of the
State, that the present Democratic
candidates promised, if elected, not
to be ''as bad in the future as their
party has been in the past" 1t is
equally true that ''by their fruits ye
shall know them,n and there is moth
ing in the record of the Democratic
party which gives bond to the pub
lie that current protestations of
goodness will be carried into execu-
tion after election day. The record
of that party is record of promises
broken and pledges unkept. In view
of this record, known to all, it is in
conceivable that the voters of the
State should do aught else than take
current Democratic promises of po-
lice reorganization, the passage of
corrupt practices law and other de-
manded reforms with a grain of salt.
By the side of the Democratic record
the Republican record stands as one
of promises redeemed and pledges
kept. 1t is record of positive steps
taken in the direction of good gov
ernment, and inspires confidence in
the party's intention to continue in
the future in the same course. When
it promises police reorganization and
other reforms, all Maryland knows
that it will redeem its promises the
moment it is given the opportunity.
These promises will be redeemed be-
cause the party recognizes the obliga-
tion resting upon it to promote the
government of the State to the high
est possible standard of perfection.
1t is, therefore, the general welfare
of the State, both as to individual
and public rights, that is at stake in
the approaching election, and all
other questions are but incidental. AS
between parties and candidates, it is
patent that the promotion of
good government, its perfection, con-
tinued elevation, and, most impor-
tant of all, its maintenance, demand
the success of the Republican cause,
under the leadership of Lloyd
Lowndes. A Democratic victory un-
der Col. John Walter Smith will be
to existing conditions-a
threat to return to those which were
in 1S95-and it will be a
step which the State will do we'll to
avoid.
VOTERS, if you desire the Office of