The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-15

a single Democrat in House or Sen
ate voted against the bill, and of the
1T members of the Legislature only
one voted against it, and that was
Senator Williams, of Hartford county,
Republican. More, last fall the
Democrats of Washington county de-
clared in their county platform in
favor Of the election of school com
missioners and pledged themselves TO
the passage of such law for that
county.
Such, Mr.. Editor, is the record of
the session of 1898. Not a Democrat
who went on record but who said by
his vote then that the position of the
Democracy, even including "Citizen
himself, is wrong to-day.
But how different when they get
back to power. The Democratic
party in 1898 went on record and vir-
tually said to our people in Garrett
county: We will give you as far as
we are concerned the right to elect
your school board. We believe
the people should rule. We are
opposed to the Capitalization of
power. We believe that the people
can be trusted; that they know just
as much as to who is capable of con-
ducting their schools as a small cote
rie of gentlemen aChO are IN politics.
NO offense, Mr.. Citiaen.'0 We, the
Democratic members of the Legisla-
ture, believe this measure just and
right Nominate and elect the people
you want. Our people, given the
legal right by every Democrat and
Republican who voted upon the
measure with the exception of one
member, did nominate and elect 8
school board.
In 1899 q Democratic Governor was
elected. Presto, change ~ The
Garrett county school board must be
legislated out of office. Not because
they were not legally elected, but
because they are Republicans, and
Democratic board selected by the
Democratic politicians of the county
are to take the place of those selected
by the people. t(Of course Citizen"
will not help select the new board nor
even be member r;thereof-certainly
not.} And he says, taken as whole
the appointive system would seem to
be at least as good if not better than
the elective" At all events it is con-
sidered the preferable one by "Citi-
Zen.n
OF course Citizen" is not to be a
member of the new board of course
he has not had anything to do with
the selection of the same. Certainly
not, but Citizen" we shall see what
we shall see. And in the meantime
your party is to rob the people OF
Garrett of a right to which under
every principle of equity and justice
they are entitled. They are to be
robbed of that right which was given
them by the aid of every Democratic
vote cast in the session of 1898. The
men were elected under the law of
our State and are as much entitled to
their Offices as Governor Smith is to
be Governor. Yet the edict of the
people at the polls, ia fair election,
under the law, is to be set aside. Not
to give US something better, but give
us in return for the dastardly outrage
of the peoples rights something
which even Citizen" declares to be
just as good. The people are to be
robbed of their rights so that places
can be found for few Democrats who
are out in the cold (of course "Citi-
zen" is not one of them) and the Dem
ocratic party, returning to the prin-
ciple that "might makes right"
is determined to force once more. upon
us a school system which suits them
best and will help them most to con-
troll the State as long as possible.
Even though the rights of the people
are to be subverted and a school sys-
tenn which they have virtually con-
trolled for a generation, and which
has given us the sad condition which
exists Of nearly $4,000, or one-sixth of
the voters of the State who cannot
read or write their own names, to be
continued.
Go on! The American people love
justice and will stand for the right as
they see the right, and an outraged
people will arise in their majesty and
hurl the inconsistent Democratic
party from power 1.-THE mills of the
gods grind slowly, but they grind
exceeding fine" HoosIER.
Why send off for your vehicles and
implements when you can do better