The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-10-26
The Democratic Record

The Democratic Party goes before the
people of Maryland this year with II rec
ord unparalleled for broken promises.
pledges ignored, bad faith, bad legisla-
ton, trickery. deceit, and complete and
entire disregard of every principal of
good government. This appalling list of
what the party now in power has done
and left undone, has only been equaled
by the history of the same organization
during the period when it was in power
in this state during the twenty years
from 1876 to 1896, when the same men
had absolute control of the state and
were only hurled from their places by the
uprising of the people in 1893.
This accusation applies not only to the
Government of the State during the past
two years. but in an equally great de-
gree to the conduct of affairs in the City
of Baltimore and in the counties where
the members Of that party have been III
control. In every instance, without Il
single exception of any moment, the rec
ord has been the SHmc.-a record of per-
| tidy and diShOnOr. of disregard of popular
rights. of extravaganza in the disburSc-
mcnt of public funds, of the appointment
of untuStworthy and until men To office
| as IL reward for political and partisan
| services. of an arrogant and high handed
system of corruption and buSSiSm, which
| has alicnAtcd Il large number of mem
beers of their own political household.
| All this has taken place during the two
lsholt Years which have elapsed since they
were returned to authority upon the en-
press promise made in their platform and
upon the huStings that they would not
| follow their old course. but would adj
minister affairs fairly and economically
| for the benefit and tu the welfare of the
whole people. The men who control the
| Democratic organization in Maryland,
| like the RourbonS seem incapable of
learning by experience. III" defeats of
| 1880. 1896. 1881 and 1888, do not appear
| to have been of any benefit In 1889
| they were returned to power more by the
apathy and Indifference of their oppO-
nrntS than for any other reason. In
| order. however. to win the election in
| that year, they Solcmnly pledged their
party To tn" completion of certain re-
forms inauguratcd by the Republicans.
which reforms they themselves thwarted
| by means of obstructive tactics in the
General Assemblies of 1896 and '9S In
fact. the great obstacles to all reform
! legislation i'll the two sessions referred
to were the Democratic members. who
We're present in numbers sufficiently
large to enable them to thwart the policy
of tn" Republicans. and the reforms
really accomplished then, were brought
Iabout only after Il hard struggle and in
spite of the active hostility of the Demo-
Gratis who used all their skill and ability
to render of no effect the work of Cover
nor Lowndcs and the Republican leaders,
who We're backed by the enlightened pub
| lie sentiment OF the entire state. The de-
mand for the completion of these reforms
was 50 great. that in order to win in
| 1899, Governor Smith, his colleagues on
| the Democratic ticket, and their party
leaders with them, one and all. gave their
pledges, which they reiterated from time
to time during the campaign. that they
would carry them out to the letter, should
they be chosen to the offices for which
they aSpired. Relying upon their words.
the people trusted them once more, ana
| they were elected.
| No sooner were they installed in au-
thority, than it was clearly Indicated that