The Democratic advocate., 1900-12-01
Some Overlooked Facts.

There has been much criticism, public and
private, of the management OF the Democra'ic
marty in MARYLAND in the late campaign and
of prominent Democrats.
There are some points the critics have over
looked. First, it must be recognized that
there are not less than fifteen Thousand voters
:, the state who favor Democratic rule for the
state. but who favor Republican ascendancy
in the general government. so long as ihe
Democratic candidates favor free coinage OF
silver. The past few elections have clearly
demonstrated this. These voters distrust the
wisdom and ability of the Republican party,
cloeged as it is by fifty-fve thousand Negro
voters, to intelligently administer state affairs.
These Negro voters are mostly ignorant, pay
scarcely anything TO the support OF govern
mept and are not concerned about public
debts or tax rates. They do not consider
platforms or public questions, nor 10 they
consider the personnel of nominees. "heh
they vote they look for the head of Lincoln,
make their cross-mark opposite and ask no
questions In addition, there are many white
Renublicaus on the Eastern Shore and In
Southern Maryland who are scarcely more DIS
eliminating than the Negroes. They take the
tickets as presented by the local boss, pretty
much ne the black voters do. 10 hold this
vote the Republican leaders must DIVIDE the
offices with them. The whites were made
justices OF the peace during Gov. Lowndes
incumbency, and there was serions complaint
of ipcompetency. Some are put on school
boards, and their efficiency was not over pow
ering. The blacks were made road supervi-
sors. and fairly good roads become dangerous
highways. Some are put on Jurles,and are usu-
ally challenged. Incompetency has so marked
county government in some OF these counties,
high tax rates are driving the white popula'
ton away, making Negro ascendancy the more
complete, The county tax rate in Somerset
is 81. 1.OS, in Calvert Sl.12i, in Talbot 30 cents,
in St. Mary's SO cents, in Price Georges "a
cents, and so on.
Republican rule in Baltimore sent the tax
rate up from Sl.75 to S2.25. The police force
was demoralized and the vicious element was
running away with the city. Two factions
quarreled over the division of offices, wasted
the x-payer's money in litigation, and the
public service suffered.
For these reasons these fifteen or more
thousand voters prefer Democratic rule IN
Maryland-the ascendancy of the intelligent
and tax-paying majority of the people. They
were with the Democracy last year in redeem
ing the state from incompetent hands, and
they will be with the party next year.
In national affairs these voters dstrusted
Mr. Bryan. They did not and do not fully
endorse the Mckinley Administration, but as
between Bryan and Mckinley they regarded
the choice as between evils, and they sup
ported McKilley as the lesser Some OF them
are absolutely free traders, some believe IN
protection, some believe in expansion OF ter
ritory by force, and may be called CONNER
cialists, and so on. They are not solid mass
ofvoters, and are only one in opinion against
the free coinage ofsilver. Mr.. Bryan's views
on this one subject is what drove them solid
ly to the support of Mckinley with their money
and their votes. Mr.. Mckinley himself re-
coenizes his victory was not due to Repubh-
can support, and so said in speech ut The
Union League Club, Philadelphia, last Sat
urday night.
To return to the criticism of the manage
ment of the Democratic party in the last
campaign: The Chairman of the State Gen.
tral Committee and all his assistants did the
very best in their power to carry the state for
the Democratic ticket. Their funds were
very meagre. and they were confronted by a
practically unlimited fund in the hands OF the
Republicans. The Republican fund in the
first congressional district was $4,000. The
Democrats could not begin to meet this. and
practically gave up the contest. 1t was use
less to undertake to hold our own people,
when they were tempted with offers OF from
five to twenty dollars for vote. The sixth
district probably had as much, and of this not
less than ten thousand must have been spent
in Allegany county, where tremendous effort
was made TO overwhelm Senator Wellington.
In fact the state was literally bought, and 1t
was not possible TO withstand the onslaught OF
money made by the Republicans.
The talk of party reorganization. which has
been heard, and the change in party manage
ment, has all proceeded from Il wrong i'm
preston. The Democratic party is all right.
The leadership and management is all right,
and we will sweep the state next year, by the
aid of those voters, naturally Democrats. who
feared Mr. Bryan's financial views Under
the circumstances the party did well in the
late campaign, and made cut of nearly 90
600 in Mr.. McKinley's plurality of 1896.
There is no reason to criticise party manage
ment, and ii is bad policy to criticise those
natural Democrats who left the party on the
money issue. We cannot win next year with
them again7t us. We can win with them with
us. In addition to holding our state admin
istration intact, the next Legislature will have
a United States Senator to elect, and there
should be a united party at the polls mex
wear. Criticisms and recrimnations will moi
unite party.
As thank offering four natives Of Luzor
were hanged on Thanksgiving Day at Dagu'
pan. They were under conviction for arson