The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-10-13
WHAT IS A DEM00RAT9

While IN matters OF state, rs IN mat
tiers Of religion, there 10 nothing less
TO be desired and less fruitful Of good
results than blind adherence to Q
shibboleth of party which shuts ones
eyes TO all that il worth while In all
others, the dominant political parties
have from time immemorial been found
ed on different interpretations Of GER
tain fundamental principles Of govern
ment, the practical application Of which
gives very different results to the people
governed. To call ones self Demo-
crat means believer In the broad prin.
ciple of equal opportunity to all; Of a
national organization TO deal with ma
tional and international matters, but
does not unduly overshadow affairs Of
more or less local nature; Of taxation
equitably and judiciously applied to all
in proportion to their worth, but free
from special benefits for the classes at
the expense Of the masses: and In
general way democracy aims to make
every man as big factor as he deserves
10 be in the conduct Of the government
under which he lives.
This is not always productive Of the
most effective government, 40 such, but
It is productive Of the most efficient
people for It gives to every man the
fullest possible blessings Of the govern
ment under which he lives, and this is
the ultimate end for which government
exists.
When applied to the smaller units Of
government. as to the county or the
municipality where voters and candi-
dates are more or less acquainted, the
personal element necessarily cuts
more or less important part and party
principle and personal preferences will
become more or less mixed; but II there
ever was AN election where party prin-
ciples should be the guiding star II 10
the present one.
Let us see: our voting will be confined
TO selecting one member in each branch
Of Congress, and Chief Executive.
Everything points to the probability
that Mr.. Wilson will be stronger than
his party. but there are certain mutter.
ings against Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Tai.
bolt. Mr.. Lewis love Of his fellow man
and his eagerness that government
shall help all humanity to rise, rather
than that it shall help the strong to rise
at the expense Of the weak. 10 called
Socialism. No Democrat could possibly
compare MIR. Lewis untiring efforts
and his unusual success as a law maker
with DR. Frances modest career as
State Senator. and their only possible
justification for giving him vote would
be To give Mr.. Lewis the big stick"
because he got the most votes In the
primaries. No Democrat could possibly
give Mr.. Lawrence. young lawyer
whose practice thus far has been con.
fined to defending in the Criminal Court
the parties who have done 90 much to
make Highlandtown and vicinity Justly
notorious, and who would never cast
Democratic vote as long as he might be
sent to Congress by Democrats, but
they could give Mr.. Talbot jab In the
ribs because during his long public career
he has not been able to make political
Jobs 20 around to all who wanted them,
because he did not favor the annexation
OF large proportion Of the wealth Of
his county by Baltimore City, and be
cause he has not done In public life ell
the things all the time which all bis
favored,
A club in one hand and ballot In the
other on election day would not be an
unknown combination, but 1t 10 an indie
fensible one. and It does not pay. We
have seen men sent to defeat In this
style before, but even as q matter of
practice, and without reference to prin-
ciple, II does not pay, lin fact IL long
practiced nominations become q farce
and elections become much worse.
II is earnestly urged by the campaign
managers of the state that many local
centers follow the course already adopt. |
I'D in some parts Of Hartford Of organic |
ing promptly clubs which will regularly
meet and work TO poll q vote in their
sections which will truly reflect
their strong support Of the ticket It |
should not be objected that national |
speakers could not be secured; often
our own home people are most respon- |
siVe to local clubs desires, and these |
can be secured without difficulty. The
club meeting has in many ways value
that no newspaper can have. anda still
hunt campaign is the most unintelligent