The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-03-21


One of the Best Speeches of the Session.
Mr.. PRESIDENT u unanimous co
operation of the Majority members Of
this body. in solidly opposing every
proposed amendment TO this bill,
which was intended TO give more
facility and more intelligent under
standing to the voter, and to prevent
fraud and corruption by election Of
ticials, indicates the determination Of
the representative of the Democratic
party under the party lash 10 pass
this bill. The whole proceeding, com
mencing with the call of this special
session, has been revolutionary, I'M
warrantable and a discredit to this
proud old State. Liberty of conscience
and the unobstructed right of fran
chise have been always claimed as
cardinal doctrines and heritages of
Maryland citizens. This legislation is
in defiance of all the proud boasts of
our past history. The claims upon
which it is based are false and I'M
worthy of the consideration of hon
Orable body like this. The preteXt
that the bill is intended to prevent
bribery is a sham and a declaration
which it is doubtful any Senator on
this floor believes. The press and the
public of this State know that this
preteXt is false. Forty thousand UNI
fortunate voters who are intended to
be affected by this law. and who can
not read and write, know already by
communication with their neighbors
of the purpose of this law and what
will be its ultimate results. They
know that by indirection and by an
evasive process they are to he de
priyed of the constitutional right
which the fundamental law of the
State has guaranteed them. They
know that they are to he placed in
the same category as felons, unpar-
doned criminals, unnaturalized for
eigners and mental imbeciles, and
they know that this is being done by
force of political dictation from few
ambitious men, who when they have
attained, if they shall attain, the end
of their personal, selfish, political am
bition, will not turn back to shed
tears of sympathy or to write epitaphs
of glory over the tOmbs of political
oblivion to which some, if not many,
of the members of this Legislature
will shortly be consigned
They know that they are placed by
this proposed law, and by the pre-
fences made by its champions, before
the public with the finger of scorn
and infamy and degradation pointed
at them and are held up for public
view as degraded beings who alone
are the subjects of bribery and cor
rUptiOn at elections.
fIhig Hill - int la,
take away the right of franchise from
hundreds of our veteran soldiers,
many Of whom are crippled and bur
dened with disease, because of their
arduous service on behalf of the pres
ervation of the Union and the honor
of our national flag. Think of it. my
outrage this acknowledgements will
perpetrate upon the rights of many
of our nations heroes.
The magnitude, the beauty and
granduer of our country today is due
TO the untlinching patriotism of these
heroic men.
When their country called them
into active service, at a time when an
awful crisis was pending inthis Union,
when the dark clouds of secession
were lowering over and about us,
threatening, as they were, to break
down the Union, no man thought to
ask them if they could read or write,
nor did any man think even for a
moment of making inquiry as to their
efficiency, manhood and patriotism
because of a lack of education. 1t
was not and should not have been
done, for they were able to render
and did render their country eXem-
plary service upon its battletields.
They have received the plaudits and
cOmmendation of a grateful people,
from the close of the great civil war
up until today, and even now the
American heart throbs with emotion
and gratitude toward these our vet
Grams. Thus it has been, thus it is,
and thus it should be as long as the
citizens of this Republic breathe the
atmosphere of freemen.
But, oh, what an awful wrong, what
a glazing injustice and base ingrati-
tude will be shown toward many of
these heroes by legislation of this
character 1t is unfair, unpatriotic
and certainly un-American.
Their misfortunes in illiteracy and
lack OF learning, no matter how re-
spectacle, prosperous or law ABIDING
they may have been, and may be
still, are to be turned into q crucfix-
ton of their moral righteousness as
well as used as an instrument to dis
franchise them and exclude them
from a voice in the making of laws,
which they must obey, and the levy
ing OF taxes, which they must help to
pay. They know, and we all know,
Mr.. President, that this law will not
obstruct or hinder the bribery and
corruption of those who, less honest,
less reputable citizens, are able to
read and write. Aye, Mr.. President,
they know, and the whole public will
know, that this law, if passed as now
proposed in this bill without further
amendment, throws wide open the
door for unlimited and systematic
bribery and places the very machin-
cry for that purpose in the hands of
the election officials and in the hands
of the party workers of the political
party now in control in this State
The unfortunates who are to be eff
fected by this law, as well as the whole
State, know that this question has
never been presented as an issue to
he passed upon at a general election
nor has it been submitted for the