The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-08-31

ency, in part through a discreditable |
trick in legislation, and that some of |
| these very men were again chosen as
election officers, and at least one was
repaid by an official position for his
crime and his brief Imprisonment.
Let us recall again that two of our
judges of election committed brutal
and cowardly murder after their APP
pointment, bnt before they could
serve, and that our then supervisors
actually hesitated and even, at first,
refused to remove them. Finally, let
us bear in mind that not only the
same ring. but the same individuals
composing that ring, at whose door
are justly laid all these scandals and
a multitude of others filling up 20
long years of our States history, will
permanently control the Democratic
party if the amendment be adopted
and choose the officers of registration
who will put it in force.
with all these facts before our
L
said day or two since, that such talk
about the presumption of innocence
and the Observation-Disclosures of hasty
Judgment argues in those who use it
enough brass 10 rebuild the Colossus
of Rhodes.
1t Is, however, a vet more striking
exhibition of contempt for the peo-
pies intelligence when we are limo
Gently asked to give the amendment
a fair trial, and told we can change
it if we don't like its working. The
horse, in Aesop's fables, asks man,to
help him get rid OF the stag who tres
passes on his pasture; and to effect
this, allows the man to get on his
back and put bit in his mouth. The
hunt ended, he suggests that the man
, dismount and set him at liberty; but
the man doesn't see it in that light,
, and is still his ride and master today.
Suppose, as | feel sure would be
the case, large majority of the citi-
zens of Maryland do not like the
7 working of this amendment after it
has been adopted: what are they
going to do about it? The ring will
be well pleased with its working; the
officers of registration chosen by the
@ ring will be no less pleased; and |
. venture to predict with absolute con-
F., tidence that few indeed of those wish
o the change viii be found able to give
q a reasonable explanation of a pas
o sage in the Constitution selected by
7 those officers. When Sinbad took
o the Old Man of the Sea on his back
9 he at least acted in ignorance; we
9 shall put on this shirt of Nessus with
f full warning that, once on, it can
q never be pulled off.
, 81 can hardly treat an argument
# even as sophistrY, the bald and i'm.
p pudent falsehoods which are publish,
q ed-fOr the most, part, | must say
q anonYmOusly-in support of the Poe
= amendment. What can you say to d
+ man who tells you it will be safe
9 guard against an ignorant suffrage
would-be voter need not know
4 how to read a section of the Constitu.
q ton, or to read anything, he need.
T. not even know his letters to be regis
If tered; on the other hand, the success
J. sor of Chief Justice McSherry or o
! President Remsen, of Cardinal Glib
:, bons or of Bishop Paret, of ANYBODY
p you please, in fact, might be readil,
4 disfranchised; all would depend OF
Re whether he explained some provis
&c ion of the Constitution, selected a
p random, as twas I'm derstood or mis-
If understood by two out of thre
~ fourth-rate politicians, in nine case
as out of ten absolutely incompetent t,
io determine its meaning intelligently
n Or, to speak more accurately, a.
ar would depend on this if the amend
ment were applied in good faith; il
IN point of fact, all, or nearly all, woul
"a depend on whether the vote of tn
a applicant, were he allowed one
ir could be safely counted on for tn
;r ring.
10 This is but one of the many gros
or and shameless perversions of trut
so used to hoodwink the voters of Mary
I'll land into permanent and hopeless
f. abdication of self-government;
m would tax your patience too severed
m to attempt description of even a.
"a enumeration of all such. | cannC
tb pretend to say who is entitled to tn
lis honOrs of paternity with respect t
g. this measure: the Democratic polit
II clans who would foist it upon til
% people of Maryland may determir
rs this delicate question to suit then
tv selYes-such matters ought to be Sc
nj tied within the family and not b
7e outsiders-but if, as with our vote
IN after adoption, its right to politics
as- existence depends on its having
M grandfather like unto itself, | unhe