The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-08-05

what pubic opinion Is and does not care;
that never comes in contact with the
people, that would pay not the slightest
attention or regard their wishes or petit
lions, and that would WELD with the
same unlimited power and dominion
within the party as has ever been WELD
ed by the most absolute despotism that
ever trampled upon the liberties of the
human race"
But the strongest of all reasons why
the "Straus amendment should not be
deemed party measure" which de-
mands the support of all Democrats, re-
CARELESS of the Individual views is to be
found in the record of the Democratic
party itself, as expressed in its various
platforms. 1t is, in fact distinctly
pledged not to attempt the wholesale
disfranchisement of the negroes. At
its convention in 1899 when John Walter
Smith was nominated for Governor the
platform upon which it regained con-
troll of the State, contained the follow
ing promise:
I'VE distinctly pledge ourselves to do
equal and exact justice to all without
regard to race, and to guarantee to the
colored people of the State the fullest
protection in all their rights" In the
following year. 1900, their State Con-
vention, adopted the following planks:
1--WE declare that all governments
instituted among men derive their just
power from the consent of the govern
ed. "
That any government not based
upon the consent of the governed is
tyranny.
Again in 1903, but one year before
they tried to jam the Poe amendment
down the threats of the people, the
Democratic party declared in its plat
form that:
eve disclaim any purpose to do any
injustice whatever to our colored popu-
lation"
In 1904, although they had pushed
the Poe amendment through the Gener-
al Assembly, but few weeks before the
the State Convention met they We're
nOticeably silent upon the subject of the
negro voter. But the National COnven-
ton, held at St. Louis on July 8th of
that year, supplied the deficiency by
adopting the following as part of its
platform:
"To revive the dead and hateful race
and sectional animositles in any part of
our common country, mean confusion,
distraction of business, and the reopen
ing of wounds now happily healed"
Again in their National platform for
the campaign of 1908, is to be found the
following declaration:
The Democratic party is the cham
pion Of equal rights and opportunities
to all. "
1t may be noted in this connection
that this benefcent declaration does
not apply solely to those whose grand
fathers voted prior to 1869, but to all
alike. These declarations and promises.
if they mean anything at all, prove con-
clusively that the Democratic party
both State and National, has not com
mitted itself to the support of the
Straus amendment, although the
bosses" of that organization have
done so. Upon the contrary they have
in the clearest possible language, re-
peatedly disavowed any intention of do
ing what the Machine" is now en-
deavoring surreptitiously to accomplish.
No Democrat is therefore, obliged to
vote for the measure merely because he
is Democrat.
What every voter should do before
he makes up his mind in regard to this
amendment is again clearly defined by
the late Judge Phelps, in the same docu-
ment above referred to. He said:
"A proposition of that nature is to be
ScrutlnlZed with jealous care from the
standpoint of its reasonable probable
effect upon the freedom and purity of
future elections and under the seach-
light of our past experiences. "
The first step to be taken in "scrut-
inizing with jealous care from the
standpoint of its reasonably probable
effect upon the purity of our future
elections" such a proposition as that
framed by the Attorney General and
endorsed by his fellow members of the
Organization" is to carefully consid-
er the motives Of those who caused it
to be drawn and submitted to the peo-
pie. That purpose is now as it was in
1905, to intrench the Organization in
power Such bold scheme should be
vigorously opposed by all who are inter-
ested in the future of our State.