Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-10-06
RIeHr oF AppEAI. po1Nrrn our.

And these ends will be accomplished
rlghteously, honestly, by fair means; for with
bipartisan boards of registration, constant
attendance OF party watchers In the regis
1ratlon room and full right Of appeal to the
courts, provided and secured by law, which
we pledge ourselves to maintain, arbitrary
and unjust denial Of registration to men,
white or black, truly entitled to be register
ed, will be practically impossible.
believing, therefore, that the amendment
Will operate an effective remedy for the evils
OF our situation, without prejudice or injury
10 any race or class; regarding 1t, moreover,
as complete response to the clearly ex.
pressed mandate OF the people, We unre.
servedly commend and approve It.
I'VE make 1t the single issue OF this cam.
pagn.
I'VE declare 1t to be our battle-cry
The negro vote as it stands today is
perpetual menace to the prosperity and
peace of Maryland, menace to our very
civilization, for 1t Is ignorant, corrupt, the
Dllnd instrument of INSCRIPTIONS and self
lsh leaders. White voters divide upon
measures of public policy. They keep alive
the movements oil patriotism which make
popular government possible. The negro
voters never divide They remain com.
pact mass, under all circumstances, subject
to the orders of their managers, asking no
questions-a mere unthnking herd, TO be de.
llvered In the market place.
with such factor forever present In the
equation of our political destlnes-a factor
potent enough to turn the scale, but always
lnsensible to the promptings of true citizen.
ship-what hope of honest and enlightened
government is possiblep
SOLEMN DUTY" 1T says.
1.-THE Democratic party, therefore, REPRE-.
sonting two thirds OF the white people of the
State, now proposes an amendment TO thap
Constitution OF Maryland under the opera
ton OF which the evil in question will be
greatly reduced. We do this not only in
discharge Of a solemn duty imposed upon
US by the popular vote of 1908, but with the
profound conviction that II will open the
way to intelligent and clean politics by
lodging the power in the honest, responsible
and patriotic masses without reference to
their party inclinations and affiliations.
at is alleged, though without truth or
justice, that the amendment contemplates
the oppression of a class. AS o matter of
fact, IL does nothing Of the kind. We seek
merely to set up a standard Of citizenship
whereby the obviously unfit may be ex-
cluded from the ballot box and TO lift the
franchise from the gutter into the realm Of
common decency. In the hands OF the igno-
rant and depraved the ballot 10 public
peril. In the hands of the Intelligent and
the virtuous 1t Is the safeguard OF our hal.
lowed institutions. The Democratic party
OF Maryland appeals to the whole electorate
10 defend the honor, the integrity and the
peace of this proud Commonwealth.
"Nothing In the proposed amendment dis
eliminates against any race or class The
poor as we'll as the rich, the humble as well
as the mighty, the naturalized as we'll as the
native.born citizens-all can exercise the
privilege of sovereignty, and on perfectly
equal terms, under the operation OF this
amendment. To say that II violates the
organic law of the nation is to indulge In
mere idle rant. Those who make the sccu-
sation know that II Ia intended only for the
wig wan and the stump. They know that
II would receive nothing but contempt and
ridicule In the forum OF the courts.
DECLARED LIBERAL AND JUST.
"The truth s that the law we advocate
is more liberal and Just and righteous than
any of the laws that have been enacted any
where for the purpose of protecting society
and civilization as against corruption, an
archy and crime. II constitutes a bulwark
for the State, for property, for order, for the
Preside. That any man, a. once honest and
Intelligent, can oppose II must ever be q
mystery. II appeals TO everyone who re-
spects himself and at the same time con-
siders the welfare Of his neighb0r.
"Thls Is an Intimate and personal ques
ton with all of US. The capitalist, the mer-
chant, the wage-earner-these equally de.
pend for their prosperity upon wise, orderly
and vlrtuous methods OF government. Ii
the ballot be retained In the hands of the
ignorant, degraded and criminal classes,
whose home Is safeS Whose livelihood as
suredp
SFhe Republicans set up the proposition
that they will continue TO employ these
03,OOO ignorant, corrupt and Irresponsible
voters without injury 10 the Common wealth,
without injury 10 our civilization, without
peril to society. We repudlate the claim as
inslncere, physically, morally and intellec.
tualy impossible; and we charge them with
full knowledge of that fact. On the other
hand, the Democratic party submits TO the
white people Of Maryland platform with
out technicalties or evasions, an issue clear
cut, non. partisan, a plea for good govern
ment, for the integrity of our institutions,
for the protection OF our families and the
safety and honor of our flresdes.
THERE Is BUT ONE ISSUE"
awe say again, therefore, that there Is
but one lssue-the publication Of the elector
ate. Aud az there IL 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 engages the attention OF the people,
and with our hearty commentator OF the
admirable manner In which the business
affairs of the State have been managed by
the Governor, Comptroller and Treasurer,
we enter upon this campaign confident that
the people will again declare with renewed
emphasis their resolute and unalterable pur-
pose to maintain the supremacy OF our
race"