The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-09-25
THE NECESSITY FOR REFORM.
Hon. J. &. BOnaparte, of Baltimore, Dis
cusses Party Purity.

| turned to Baltimore after an absence
of several weeks, which he passed at
| st. Andrews, New Brunswick He was
asked by representative of the Bal.
more american what he thought OF
the present political situation in
Maryland. Mr.. Bonaparte replied
in Maryland we have to deal with
very peculiar local conditions. The
vital political issue in this State is
that of fair elections-or, in other
words, of self-government. For some
25 years we were ruled by group OF
INSCRIPTIONS men, who could defy
public opinion with impunity be-
cause they had firm grasp on the
Democratic party and through I'M
limited facilities for fraud at the pri,
maries, and firm grasp on the State
and city government through facili-
ties nearly as unlimited for fraud at
the polls. In 1895 they were at last
overthrow, and the Republicans
came into power, pledged to give an
honest election law.
This pledge was fulfilled, thanks
to the earnest and persistent efforts
of the Reform League; but certain
Republican politicians apparently
thought the people had driven out
the old ring only to let new one
(Yno do mn Of fbanca1rac\ 70 lya &c ,,lo M.
andsthese men so Disguised the indie
pendent voters of both parties, who,
at fair election, indisputably hold
the balance of power both in the city
State, that, despite the warnings of
those who thought as l did, they re-
stored the Democrats to power before
the grip of the former ring on their
party organization had been serious "
loosened.
The result fully justified our warn
ings. The old set got promptly at
their old tricks; as soon and as far as
they dared they opened the door
again to fraud at the polls, looted a
seat in the United States Senate and
failed to do all the mischief they
planned only because 30 years of per-
severing agitation for good govern
ment and pure politics had made
public opinion in Maryland far less
tolerant than of old to such abuses
and.scandals. Others may think diff
ferently, but l do not see how any
thoughtful person can reasonably
doubt that in November, 1903, the
voters will determine whether, for an
indefinite time, the State shall belong
to its people or again belong to a re-
vived ring; whether, in Maryland,
elections shall be carried by the party
which has the votes, or, once more,
by the party which has the widow :
and, to my mind, this issue is so very
grave that | consider the interven ing
elections of Importance mainly as
their results may affect its decision.
Some of my Democratic friends
think there is reasonable ground for
hope that they may effect real re
form within the party at least in
Baltimore city, through the new pri-
mary election law. That law may be
assured very useful to the friends of
honest government, especially since
it does away once for all with the
foolish and mischievous doctrine that
a citizen who votes in the primaries
is thereby bound by honor to support
the candidate, however unfit and I'M
worthy, who may obtain the nomina-
ton.
with this pernicious idea out of
the way there is, of course, no good
reason why an Independent voter
should not take part in his party's
primaries, and, indeed, there are very
strong reasons why he should. wish
conscientious Democrats, no less than
conscientious Republicans, all posi-
BILE good luck in their efforts to i'm
prove the nominations of their party;
the better the candidates on one side,
the better the chance that we may
have good ones on the other, and the
better the opportunity for dealing as
we should with bad ones, if we
haven't. For myself, however, l am
prepared to say that, in deciding how
to vote at the approaching election, l
shall ask, concerning each of the two
candidates: is he supported by those
responsible for the special session, for
the election law of 1901, for the State
census and for the trick ballots p If
they wish his election, wish his de-
feat"