Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-07-26
WEDNESDAY EVENING JULY %. 1893

commended CIeVeIaNu aPOSto7S "NN
perhd.es, and by direct implication con
demned their own Senator, Mr.. Cor
man. who had publicly voted for free
silver coinage in the U. S. Senate and
had also had the courage TO arraign
Cleveland for his duplicity and false
hoods. This act of the Maryland State
Convention was followed by the natu-
raj consequences. The State had been
democratic from 1866 inclusived, own to
1854 period of % years. 1t had often
given from $1,000 to 10000 demo
cratic majority. This year it went
over to the republicans, The demo
Gratis did not even save their honor IN
this awful wreck. How such con-
tempt5le platform ever came to be
adopted We do not know, but it was
very likely the product of some poll
ticians who preferred policy TO princl'
ole. The Maryland democratic
State Convention OF June 10,
1896. which had the choice OF dele
gates to the Chicago Convention,
was reported TO contain large MAORI
ty of free coinage democrats, but they
did not have the courage OF their con
victions aud were manipulated by GER
tain party leaders who had some cum
ming, tricky purpose to subserve.
An honest free coinage plank was beat
en- and a platform adopted by 81 to
293 votes, which, following the usual
phraseolcgy of the Wall street clique
and the republican leaders about in
trinsic value" &C., demanded the gold
standard and opposed the free coinage
OF silver The democratic national con-
vention at Chicago made manly decla-
ration for free coinage and nominated
gVm. J. Bryan for President. This sill
yer question was the main issue OF the
campaign. The Maryland democratic
convention had taken the republican
ground on the money question and, OF
course, were embarrassed by it. They
mad tried to concliate the gold and
Cleveland element by a surrender OF
principle, but these deserters and bolt
ers nevertheless put up separate
Presidential ticket-msny Of them vot-
ing directly for Mckinley. The demo
Gratis cast a large vote for Bryan, l04, 746
but still they were beaten. The re
publican vote was swollen largely by
fraud and by the intimidation of the
working men, but the effective basis
aud ground work of the republican vic
tory was laid by the democratic Leaders
10 their State conventions OF 1898 ard
1896. How true it is that corruption
wins not more than honesty. The
democratic State convention of 1897
was not offensive, like those OF 1895 and
1896 in declaring outright for the gold
standard, and the platform seemed to
favor bimetallism, but not in the direct
caCdid language OF the Chicago plat
form. This platform, since the conven
ton of 1896, had been almost invaria-
bly, re-affirmed by the State democratic
conventions. The masses of the de-
mocracy were not ashamed OF their
platform or of the fight they made for
1T in 1896 The Maryland party leaders,
on the contrary, thought it was nobler
and wiser TO be fox than lion. Thr
election was one of intense interest.
1t involved the question Of Sen.
atGr Germans return to the u 5. Sen
ate. 1t was good time to regain the
State. Public sentiment was run
ning adversely to the adminisra-
zion. New York gave large demo-
ocratic majority. Other States showed
up well. But in Maryland Che tactics
of caution, compromise and evasion led
to the usual result. The republicans
carried the State by 1908 votes and Sc
cured majority of the legislature, thus
retiring Mr.. German to private life.
The election for congressman last year
was conducted much on the same lines
of cunning and avoidance, and the as
cendancy OF the republican party re-
manned unshaken. The moral of thi-
review is that there has been too much
of evasiye tactics and compromising
policy in Maryland and too little OF
honest. candid outspoken declaration
of democratic principle Our advice to
the Maryland democratic leaders is to
Set the democratic masses of their State
have voice in the convention. Dis
card the gag. Machine work, within
proper bounds, after democratic plat
form is declared and democratic
siclIet put up, may be useful, but it may
DE used to suppress the honest senti.
ments of the democracy, and then it
becomes hateful and vile thing, fit
only to be destroyed. In another
month democratic State convention
will be held in Maryland. 1t is report
ed chat the word has been passed
around by the Maryland leaders that
the county conventions are to be care
Eully manipulated SO that the machine
men will have fhe comnlta control of