The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-05-17

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interests of the community, though
matter of common knowledge before,
nevertheless, affords food for serious
reflection, having never been so
strongly emphasized asnow. For the
sake Of the illiterate voter the Repub-
licans are prepared to cast aside all
other considerations. They need the
illiterate voter Gin their business"
Without this valuable and public
spirited assistance victory next falls
not to be thought of. In other years
the problem presented by the reten-
ton of his allegiance was simplicity
itself. He was used as a chattel, re-
ceiving pay for his vote, while faith
full henchmen saw to it that he carried
out his part of a iniquitous bargain.
The new election law renders the old
arrangement infinitely more difficult
of execution. The illiterate may not
lack willingness to be bought and to
stay bought, but inability to read
and to mark his ballot may defeat
the whole nefarious scheme; hence the
eagerness to start the campaign early
in order that the Party of Moral
Ideas" may have time to drill the illit-
crate in his patriotic task of saving
Maryland from misrule and bossism.
The close relations between the
illiterate voter and the Republican
party having been clearly es-
tablished, his identity becomes a
matter of public moment. Who is he
and what guarantee does his person
atty offer that his participation in
the election will prove of advantage
to the State? These questions are
not difficult to answer. Admittedly
the great majority of illiterates are
to be found among the colored popu-
lation. 1t is the unlettered negro in
whose behalf the Republican party of
Maryland displays such activity, and
with regard to whose exclusion from
the voting privilege the organization
manifests such great solicitude. The
status of white illiterates apparently
does not appeal to the Republicans
at all. Its sympathies and concern
are reserved exclusively for the negro,
who furnishes larger proportion of
criminals than any other racial
element and who contributes relative
ly little to the material wealth ofthe
State.
A party that can win only with the
help of such allies will, of course, be
under obligation to recognize them in
the event of victory; and will feel inn
PEELED to subordinate the interests of
a class far higher in the social and
economic scale to the least advanced
part ofthe population. This avowed
partnership between the Republican
party of Maryland and the negroes
should make all white voters hesitate
and ponder over the possible and
probable consequences of a triumph
at the polls gained under such circum-
stances. 1t must prompt every citi-
zen who sincerely desires to further
Maryland's uninterrupted advance
ment to take his place on the side of
the Observation-Disclosures STAR.
A LITTLE DEMOCRATIC TALK.
The Democrats throughout the
State seem to be making active pre-
parationsfor a long and earnest cam
paign. Although only one county in
the State has nominated a ticket yet
the air seems to be pervaded with a
spirit of activity. The Republicans
too, seem to realize that this is
fight for their existence in this State
as a party, and are seeking in every
manner to overcome the serious
handicap they will encounter on a.
count of losing a portion ofthe negro
vote. They are making very pre-
tentious claims about their night
schools and talk in public places with
an assurance that is almost as ANUS
ing as a clown at the country fair
sideshows. Many of their leaders
are candid, however, in saying that
the present ballot law will be a SER
ious menace to their success and seem
disposed to take a gloomy view of
of what the future holds out to them.
Their only hope, and it will be their
one chance, is that the Democrats
will nominate tickets that will not
meet with the general approval of
the regulars, and thus by the aid of
those who are disgruntled for any
reason, win at the general election.
This is the only serious matter that
stands in the way of Democratic sue
cess. If we ever made a united effort |
in our lives it should be at the present |
time. This effort should rise above
any personal feeling-we should nom-
mate the very best men for the Offices
to be filled. In doing this the trend
of personal feeling Will iii many cases