The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-08-25
For County Surveyor.
WILLIAM T. CLARK.
THE REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM
AND CANDIDATES.

L
met in Bel Air, on Monday, and be-
sides nominating candidates present
ed platform to the voters of the
county. Like most structures OF the
kind it consists mainly of geperaiities
and was evidently framed for the pur-
pose of catching Democratic votes
rather than for the strergthing OF the
faith of Republicans. This was, prob
ably, the best thing, from Republi-
can standpoint, the convention could
have done. The Republican party in
Hartford. except for the solid negro
vote, would be in hopeless minority.
With this vote they will be still in a
minority unless they can induce a
good many Democrats to vote with
them. We do not believe they can
accomplish this task. *
As to the personnel of the ticket
nominated on Monday, we see 10
reason why any Democrat should vote
for a single Republican candidate
thereon, in preference TO his opponent
we were to admit that they are equal,
in point CT honesty and ability, the
Republican candidates represent a
party whose principles, as exemplified
in the administration Of President Me-
Kinley, are rapidly undermining our
free government.
The platform upon which these
candidates stand expresses the re
uewed devotion of the party to Re
publican principles and endorses
President Mckinley, bet does not re-
fer specifically to the acts which have
distinguished his administration
geiereace is made to the gigantic
truss and monopo!ies which flourish
IN o soil prepared and enriched by
Republican tariff and trust legislation,
the results Of which are seen and felt
today in the increased cost of all that
ehe farmer has % buy, with no en-
gaapeement in the prices of the pro
ducts which he grows and sells.
1t does not refer to the TacillGting
action of the Supreme Court in 1895,
which first declared the Income Tax
Law constitutional and then, 1T the
demand of the miilionaires of the
country, reversed the decs on, thereby
depriving the people nf the United
States Of tie most just and equitable
law ever passed by Congress, and per
uniting the unequal burden of taxa
ton to rest undisturbed upon the
backs of the laboripg and producing
classes.
Nor does the platform mention the
wide departure President Mckinley
ami his administration have made
from the principles upon which our
government was founded and upon |
which for three-quarters Of a century
it was prosperous and happy. These |
things should not be forgotten in the
piaan of praise the convention raised |
20 Mckinley.
Tie platform expresses pride in the |
management of cur State affairs by |
Governor Lowndes and instructs the |
delegates from Hartford to the Repub- |
iican State convention to vote for the !
re nomination Of Governor LowDdes, |
Comptroller Goldsbofough and State
Treasurer ShryGck, aad for the noIui- !
nation Of John Y. l.. Find!ay for At !
torney General We have no DISPOSE |
fion to criticisc Governor LoIndes |
nafshly, but we fail to see much more !
than negative qualities ia him. In
more than one instance he has yielded |
his individual judgment to the will of
men stronger than himself, who have
used him for their own selfish pur-
poses.
The County Treasurer law and
County Treasurer Allen are both eX-
tolled. The law, we believe, is good !
one and Mr.. Allen and his faithful as
sistant, Mr.. Harry, have performed
their duties with zsal, but not more
efficiently, we venture to say, than
would Mr. J. Finney Wells, the Dem-
ocratic candidate for Treasurer, if
elected.
Another point was omitted from
their platform by our Republican
friends. They should have referred TO
the system of discounts on taxes,
which is part of the new Treasurer
law, upon which the platform falici-
tates the Republican administration.
They should have shown TO the peo-
pile OF the county how the discount
allowed for payment of taxes in ad-
vance of the time they fall due must
be paid by the public at large. For
instance, the County Commissioners
require Il certain amount of money to
provide for the current expenses of
the county, and for the State Tax.
The sum is fixed and. definite. Now
if those who are possessed of ready
money are granted a reduction on
their tax bil2, the deficiency created
thereby must be paid in part, at
least, by those who are not S, foTtu
nate as to he able TO pay their tax
bills before they are due.
The Republican party must be
judged by its principles as well as by
j is candidates. Aside from it's foster-'