The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-04-16
HUNTING COVER

IT. HE Baltimore Sun calls the
Governor action i'll vetoing
the Digges Bill an act oi pat
rotism and courage" Fiddlcsticks |!
1t was the patriotism aud courage"
OF the fellow who starts fight. and
ds 10 cover Wien Il gets too hot fcr
him. We have never thought the
Governor, blessed with what is COM
monty called nerve" His most dar-
ing achievements are of the hot ar"
variety, and his habit OF political fight
ing has been OF the 'stiletto ;n-the-
dark style. When things get hot, he
gets cold feet''-or conveniently sick.
He has vetoed the Digges Bill simply
because he realized that the fool affair
was likely to land somebody in the
penitentia.y. To call that veto an act
OF PATRIOTISM and courage IS simply
an insult to the public intelligence.
That public knows full ie!l how thor
oughly the Governor is in accord with
the netarlous tempt at notification.
In fact, it was las own message to the
General Assembly which virtually call
ed for some such legislation, and the
legislation was framed along the very
lines OF that message. He was per-
tectly cOgnizant OF every step taken
toward the passage OF the bill; and
when the | legislature had adjourned,
he gave the bill his hearty endorse
ment i'll the following words, which
we take from his own public state
ment:
The Digges bills VIII present the
question Ui negro franchise scuarely
and honestly to the white people OF the
State. 1t will not be complicated at
the election with any question about
foreigners or illitcratc whites Under
this law there will be no excitement
1t is an orderly and legal method oi
testing the Fifteenth Amendment. The
State officials who will lie elected UNI
der the Digges law will hold their re-
spective offices until their successors
qualify. and the State government will
go on in an orderly and legal man
ner, even il the Supreme Court should
decide the law to be invalid The State
will bow i'll quiet submission to the
decision OF the Court, and, ii that de-
clSion is adverse to the State, we will
be just where we are now and no worse
off. There is no occasion for excite
ment. The negroes will vote this iall
and at every Congressional election,
and | believe they will be satisfied
here as they have been elsewhere, and
that the law will result to their advan-
tage as well as to the advantage OF the
white population"
After all OF which unctious palaver
he suddenly beats a hasty retreat
dives into the cyclone cellar" to Dor
row the phrase OF The American And
why? Because of his patriotism and
courage Pshaw! 1t was because
something 'jarred" him. He found
out in double-quick whether or not
under this law there would be no ex-
element" The hornets got so busy
under his coat tails that he precipitate-
ly decided that he was mistaken in
thinking the Diggcs Bill will present
the question of negro franchise square
ly and honestly to the white people OF
the State As a matter of fact, they
could only present sundry election Off
Gals to a Federal grand jury. That
is what brought the Governor and
his fellow conspirators to book. Il
have endeavored to give this question
the serious consideration which its
gravity and importance demand.
Thus he opens his apology for his
veto. Well, did he give it no such