The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-11-03
READ WHAT
MR.. JOHN K.COWEN,

an independent Democrat, says of the
results accomplished by the election of
Gov. Lowndes in 1895 in letter to the
Baltimore Meas dated Nov. 1st, 1899.
He says in part:
The most important result of the political
revolution of 1895 was the acknowledgements
of the people of this State. / do not refer to
the ending Of the disorder and fraud OF our
former elections or to the reform of the election
laws that encouraged such disorder and fraud.
These were the obtrusive, and In a sense, the
spectacular features, but they were not the
worst features Of the old regime. I refer to
the servituda which had been brought upon
the minds of men. To vote against the Demo-
cratic ticket was to incur harsh and unsparing
criticism; we were told that the Southern trade
would be lost if the Democrats ceased to con-
troll the Sta e; that the police force ard the Of
fees of the State were to be filled with negroes
-chimeras and bugaboos such as children are
frightened with and such as fill the mind of
Mr.. Randolph Barton. They were used to stifie
all serious Democratic argument and with ire
mendous effect upon the tiniid. Anything like
a calm discussion of the real facts was drowned
in empty clamor.
One argument, and ore argument alone, was
used by the Democratic managers, namely,
that VIC must vote for the Democratic ticket,
because "wc were attached to the time-houored
principles of the Democratic party; the Dem
ocratic name was enough. and we must, as
Democrats, support that party, whatever its
relations might be to the good government of
the State. There was nothing like intelligent,
honest treatment of public affairs during the
ia xk,a x,ln 80
nor Lowndcs in 1895; scarcely single measure
of wise, progressive legislation on public mat
ters wss put through by the Democrats at An
napolis, and sti / we had to vote the Democratic
ticket, because it was Democratic.
THE REPUBLICAN RECORD.
Lowndes was elected. Thousands of Demo-
Gratis voted fer him in fear and trembling.
The Republican administration was installed
in the State; new election law, covering the
points which had been fought for for ears,
and which bad been strangled at each session
of the Legislature by the Democratic party,
was at once passed by the Republ' oans; an era
of progressive legislation began; minority rep
presentation on the School Boards was given in
the.counties Of the State, and the same principle
was recognized in many of the other appoint
ments of the Governor-this was not required
by law, but was part of an intelligent honest,
business administration.
The fearful results that ;were to follow Re-
publican success did not occur, and those who
had voted the Republican ticket in fear and
tremb bling for the responsibility they took
found they had done wise thing for the State.
Election day became as quiet as Sunday, not
only around the monument, but all over the
town; the States finances were managed in the
same spirit as those Of a trust company, and
we have had business activity such as we never
before enjoyed, our business houses being de-
luged with the Southern orders that were to
leave Us. We not only have not suffered The
evils that were threatened, but any intelligent
man can see the quickening effect of the ad-
of free government and free
thought.