The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-10-14
The Maryland Democratic Platform.
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 2e, 1905


campaign is whether negro suffrage, put upon
us against our will by force, shall be restricted
and lis power for evil destroyed.
This Democratic Convention, representing
two-thirds of the white people of the State,
reaffrms the declaration of our party in our
platforms of 1899 and 1908 upon this subject,
and now proclaims anew our resolute purpose
TO maintain the supremacy of our race and
its control by all lawful and Constitutional
means of the administration of the political
affairs of the State.
Upon this question, distinctly presented in
the campaign of 1908 as the paramount issue
of that contest, we succeeded in obtaining
three fitths of the Senate and of the House of
Delegates, and for the first time in many years
found ourselves in position to redeem our
pledge to the people and obey their command
by preparing and submitting for their adop-
ton an amendment of our Constitution to cure
the intolerable evil from which we have suf-
fered so long.
: Our Democratic Legislature of 1904, clothed
with this power and exclusively charged with
this duty and responsibility, proceeded with
care and deliberaiion to frame an amendment
which, while avoiding all conflict with the
fourteenth aud fifteenth amendments of the
Constitution of the United States, will, if
adopted, rescue us in Maryland from the
blight of Ignorant and debased negro suffrage.
1t will keep from our registration books the
names of thousands of ignorant and venal me-
groes totally unfit TO vote, and will thus go
far 10 lessen the evils OF absolute and unre-
stricted negro suffrage,
1t will give US the great and inestimable
boon ofintelhgent manhood suffrage and Sc
cure to us the priceless benefit of the political
supremacy of the white people of the State.
And these ends will be accomplished right.
eously, honestly, by fair means-for, with
bipartisan boards Of registration, constant
attendance of party watchers in the registra-
ton room and full right of appeal TO the courts,
provided aud secured by law, which we pledge
ourselves to maintain, arbitrary and unjust
denial of registration to men, white or black,
truly entitled to be registered, will be practi
cally impossible.
Believing, therefore, that the amendment
will operate an effective remedy for the evils
Of our situation, without prejudice or injury TO
any race er class; regarding it, moreover, as a
complete response TO the clearly expressed
mandate of the people, We unreservedly com
mend and approve it.
We make ii the single issue OF this cam.
paign.
We declare il to be our battle.cry.
The negro vote as il stands today is per.
petual menace to the prosperity and peace of
MarylAnd-a menace to our very civilization
for il is ignorant, corrupt, the blind instru-
ment of inscriptions and selfish leaders.
White voters divide upon measures of public
policy They keep alive the movements of
patriotism which make popular government
possible. The negro voters never divide.
They remain compact mass, under all cir
cumstances, subject TO the orders Of their
managers, asking no questions mere nn.
thinking herd, to be delivered in the market
place
With such factor forever present in the
equation of our political destinies-a factor
potent enough to turn the scale, but always
inseusible to the promptings of true citizen.
ship-whai hope of honest and enlightened
government is possible
The Democratic party, therefore, represent
ing Two thirds OF the white people OF the State,
nov proposes an amendment TO the COnstltu-
ton Of Maryland under the operation OF which
the evil in question viii be greatly reduced.
We do this not only in discharge of a solemn
duty imposed upon US by the popular vote of
1908, bul with the profound conviction that
il will open the way TO intelligent aud clean
politics by lodging the power in the honest,
responsible aud patriotic masses, without
reference TO their party inclnations and am
liaiions.
Ii is alleged, though without truth or JUS
lice. that the amendment coniemplates the
oppression Of class As matter of fact, it
does nothing of the kind. We seek merely to
set up a standard of citizenship whereby the
obviously unfit NAV be excluded from the
ballot box and to lift the franchise from the
gutter into the realm of common decency.
Ia the hands OF the ignorant aud depraved
the ballot is a public peril. In the hands of
the intelligent aud virtuous It IS the safeguard
I ka arafl -
party Of MARYLAND appeals 10 the whole eiec-
torate TO defend the honor, the integrity and
the peace of this proud Commonwealth.
Nothing in the proposed amendment dis
eliminates against any race or class. Ihe
moor as well AS the rich, the humble as well as
The mighty, the naturalized as well as the
natiye-born citizens-all can exercise the
privilege of sovereignty, and on perfectly
eoaal terms. under the operation of this
amendment. To say that it violates the or
gsnic law OF the nation is TO indulge IN mere
idle rant. Those who make the accusation
know that it is intended only for the wlgwam
and the stump, They know that It would re-
ceive nothing but contempt and ridcule IN
the forum of the courts.
The truth is that the law we advocate is
more liberal aud Just and righteous than any
OF :he laws that have been enacted anywhere
for the purpose Of protecting society and CIV,
ilization as against corruption, anarchy and
crime II constitutes bnlwark for the State,
for property, for order, for the freside. That
auy man. at once honest and intelligent, can
oppose il must ever be mystery. II appeals
To everyone who respects himself and at the
same time considers the welfare OF has neigh
Dor.
This is an intimate and personal question
with all of us. The capitalist, the merchant,
the wage Garner, these equally depend ior
their prosperity upon wise, orderly ana vir-
tuous methods Of government, II the oaiioI
be retained in the hands of the ignorant, de-
graded and criminal classes, whose home IS
safe ? Whose livelihood assuredY
The Republicans Sc. up the proposition that
| they will continue TO employ these 5S,OOO
| ignorant, corrupt and irresponsible voters
| without injury TO the Commonwealth, without
injury 10 our civilization, without peril to So
| ciety. We repudiate the claim as lnsincere,
physically, morally and intellectually impos-
| sibIe; and we charge them with full knowledge
l of that fact. On the other hand, the Demo-
| cratic party submits to the white people OF
| MARYLAND platform without teehnicahtles or
| evasions, an issue clear cut. bipartisan; a
/ plea for good government; for the integrity OF
| our institutions; for the protection OF our
| families and the safety aud honor of our hre-
sides.
We say again, therefore, that there is but
one issue-lhe puri6cation of the electorate.
| And as there is but one issue, so there can be
but one appeal-to the conscience OF honest
and enlightened men.
With this distinct declaration of our views
upon the vital question which now alone en-
cages the attention of the people and with our
hearty commendation of the admirable man
ner in which the business affairs OF the State
have been managed by the Governor, Comp
troler and Treasurer, We enter upon thus
campaign confident that the people will again
declare with renewed emphasis their resolute
and unalterable purpose to maintain the su-
premacy of our race.
Nro-rr o1n No,,nforfait