The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-08-19
CAN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
MAKE NEGRO DOMINATION"
THE ISSUE?

According to the United States
census of 1900, there were 1885,
o44 people in the State of Mary
land, of whom 235,o64 were black.
The latter, outside of Baltimore
city. had shown a decrease in
numbers in the decade from 1890
to 1900.
In the last few years there has
been a decided awakening of pub
lie interest in Maryland in a num-
Der OF questions which largely con-
Germ the welfare and the prosper
ity of the State, and the public
has turned to the political parties
for aid and encouragement in their
solution through legislation. The
people Of Baltimore and Maryland
are now interested in the proper
control and regulation of the pow
erful public-servIce corporations;
in the reassessment of property
throughout the State so as to equal-
ize the burden of State taxation;
in the building Of good roads; in
the application Of the merit system
to the government of this city and
the elimination of the miserable
spoils system; in seeing the State
take decent care Of the insane; in
the passage Of pure food law; in
the extension Of the direct primary
for the selection of State andcoun-
ty officers; in an honest Senatorial
primary; in the elimination Of
graft and extravaganza at Anna
polls; in the enforcement of the
corrupt practices act; in doing
away with trick" ballots, and in
the just representation of Baltimore
In the Legislature.
Here are questions which might
properly challenge the construct
i've ability of the highest states
manship in Maryland. Here are
issues proper to submit to any
people as problems worthy Of their
time and attention. Yet, with all
these serious matters awaiting So
luton, the picked delegates of a
party which boasts, and truth
fully boasts, that it represents the
best brains and the best blood of
Maryland assemble in convention
and go on record with this state
ment:
We declare that the adoption of
this amendment [disfranChisement
of the negrol is the main and vital
issue Of the coming election.
All else is secondary. The ne
gro 'bugaboo" is once more shak-
en- in the faces OF a people who at
this time are simply yearning for
real political leadership, for real
states manship to point the way so
that this great metropolis can ad-
vance along the lines destiny seems
to have marked out for it, and the
State can gain in full measure the
growth and prosperity which its
natural advantages presage for it..
If these political leaders are to
have their way, everything else
must halt while a million white
people make war on the political
rights of one-fourth as many black
people.
1t is the deliberate opinion OF
The News that this city and State
will never attain the goal for which
they are striving as long as this
spirit prevails. A people, con-
fronted by SO many and so serious
problems, who would permit such
a transparent political subterfuge
as the fear of negro domination in
State of Maryland at this time to
determine their attitude on public
questions will fall an easy victim
to the wiles of the political trick
ster who is meyer without some
paramount issue" which means
nothing more than the hope of re-
tanning place and power, -Balti-
more News.