The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-07-10
THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.
The Democratic primary campaign
is now fast drawing to a close, and,
so far as we can learn, has mainly
been conducted in the best of spirit.
A few individual candidates have seen
fit to make unkind accusations
against their contemporaries and
this has gone so far that some have
tried to air their grievances in public
print. The rank and file are glad to
know that this indiscretion is great
" outnumbered by the majority of
aspirants, who are conducting the
contest on the lines dictated by
common sense. Foolish indeed is the
candidate who will go so far as to
engender the feeling ofhis unsuccess-
full adversary to such an extent that
it will be remembered when Novem-
Der 3rd rolls around. The Demo-
cratic party, in order to be successful
in this county, must poll the united
vote of its constituency. a nomina-
ton is not equivalent to an election
as short-sighted policy has several
times proven.
1t is the aim of every good Demo-
crat to present a strong ticket, from
top to bottom, that will receive the
respect of the voter. Asa chain isno
stronger than its weakest link, so we
must do our utmost to present an
aggregation that cannot be assailed
by our political opponents. Person
alitics should be forgotten, for no
true Democrat will feel the same in
terest in the individual that he holds
for the success Of the party. The
fight in Maryland this fall is fast
being mapped out by combination
of circumstances. For the past ten
years there has been agrowing senti-
ment that the suffrage of the State of
Maryland is being shamefully abused
BY the large increase of the negro
vote. Murmurs of discomfort were
first apparent in the campaign of
1895. Since that time, the white
people of the State have become
more and more impressed with the
fact that the negro population should
be restricted from casting a ballot,
which was unfortunately thrust into
his hands by unscupulous parties
during the Reconstruction Period.
Not because the negro supports any
particular party do we wish to see
him deprived of his right offranchise,
but from the attending arrogance
and increase of crime which is direct
" traceable to this one cause. a
few newspapers still attempt to cast
slurs at the sincerity of those who
maintain this doctrine, but we be-
lieve that vast ma ority ofthe white
people consider these views correct.
Nor is this confined to the State of
Maryland alone. Several Northern
papers, including Harper's Weekly,
have recently published able articles
OH the question of repeating the Fiji
teenth Amendment to the Constitu-
ton of the United States. 1t would
be an advanced step towards modern
enlightenment and we who have the
question to deal with in a practical
manner, cannot but appreciate the
aid of those who are only discussing
the subject from theoretical stand
point.
We ventured the prediction last
week that the race issue would be
the foremost topic of this campaign.
The substantial manner in which
this statement has been received tends
to confirm our views. 1t will be
better far for the Democrats to stop
their petty personal squabblings and
get together on the generallines that
are staring them in the face. The
mere matter of personal choice pales
into insignifcance when we consider
the security of our homes and the
virtue of our women are at stake.
The horrible crime that was recently
committed just across our lines,
brings to home the fact that we can
no longer daily with a momentous
question that involves, in so weighty
a manner, matter concerning our
social organization.
In the present primary election
CAMPAIGN The 4>gis intends taking
no part. 1t prefers to leave the
matter of choice to the wisdom ofits
fellow Democrats. The voters should
be allowed to use their good judg-
ment and every man and his friends
must be accorded fair play. With an
eye single to the success of the Demo-
cratic party at the general election,
our people cannot go wrong and we
are willing to leave the same in their
hands trusting that out of such COM
munity of interest nothing but the
best results will follow.