The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-17

a record unparalleled for broken
promises, pledges ignored, bad faith,
bad legislation, trickery, deceit and a
complete and entire disregard o. every
principle of good government. This
appalling list of what the party now
in power has done and left undOne,
has only been equalled 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 1895.
This accusation applies not only to
the government of the State during
the past two years, but in an equally
great degree to the conduct of affairs
in the City of Baltimore and in the
counties where the members of that
party have been in control. In every
instance, without single exception
of any moment, the record has been
the samoa record of pertidy and
dishonor, of disregard of popular
rights, of extravaganza in the dis
bursement of public funds, of the APP
pointment of Enthusiastically and I'M
tit men to Office as p reward for polit-
ical and partisan services, of an AFRO
CANT and high-handed system of cor
ruption and bossism, which has alien
mated large number of members of
their own political household. All
this has taken place during the two
short years which have elapsed since
they were returned to authority up
on the express promise made in their
platform and upon the hastings that
they would not follow their old course,
but would administer affairs fairly
and economically for the benefit and
to the welfare of the whole people.
The men who control the Democratic
organization in Maryland, like the
Bourbons, seem incapable of learning
by experience. The defeats of 1895,
1896, 1897 and 1898 do not appear to
have been of any benefit. In 1899
they were returned to power more by
the apathy and Indifference of their
opponents than for any other reason.
In order, however, to win the election
in that year, they solemnly pledged
their party to the completion of GER
tain reforms inaugurated by the Re
publicans, which reforms they them
selves thwarted by means of obstruc-
tive tactics in the General Assemblies
of 1896 and '9S. In fact, the great OBJ
stacles to all reform legislation in the
two sessions referred to were the
Democratic members, who were pres
ent in numbers sufficiently large to
enable them to thwart the policy of
the Republicans, and the reforms
really accomplished then, were
brought about only after hard
struggle and in spite of the active
hostility of the Democrats who used all
their skill and ability to render of no
effect the work of Governor Lowndes
and the Republican leaders, who were
backed, by the enlightened public
sentiment of the entire State. TIL e
demand for the completion of these
reforms was SO great, that in order to
win in 1899, Governor Smith, his col
leagues 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, and they were elected.
No sooner were they installed in
authority than it was clearly indica-
ted that the people had been fooled,
and that so far from there being any
real intention on the part of the VIC
tors to redeem their pledges, exactly
the contrary was the probability,
which subsequent events have turned
into reality.
In his appointments to office, Gov
ernor Smith has been guided almost
invariably by the old clique of dis
credited and dishonored bosses, whose
conduct brought the party to defeat
in 1895. Men have been chosen to fill
the positions, great and small, be-
cause of their subserviency to the
ring. Fitness has had no claim for
recognition. The only qualification
necessary has been blind and servile
obedience to the dictates of the bosses
and willingness to do all things re-
quired by the ruling power.
The police force of Baltimore City
has been turned over by Governor
Smiths Commissioners to the abso-
lutte control of l. Freeman Rasin, who
has thus been made the absolute die
tator of the peace, quiet and we'll
being of the whole people. Mr.. Rasin
never before was in more complete
control of the Baltimore police force