History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc, Part 28

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344

USA > Maryland > Baltimore County > Baltimore City > History of Baltimore, Maryland, from its founding as a town to the current year, 1729-1898, including its early settlement and development; a description of its historic and interesting localities; political, military, civil, and religious statistcs; biographies of representative citizens, etc., etc > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

was as full of promises as a mulberry tree is of fruit, was the most corrupt ever known." "They have taken the people who committed the frauds and put them in of- fice."

Mr. William L. Marbury said: "I did not come here to make a speech. I came here to hear Mr. Cowen; and I never saw a man in a fight who was a friend of mine but I went in with him. I will not support any such ticket as the Democrats have nomi- nated by the means used in the primary election. I am a Democrat, but I am satis- fied with your platform on State issues."

Mr. Brooks, the Republican nominee for Governor, said in his letter of acceptance: "Now if an election by the people ineans the, will of the people, it is worthy the genius of the age to devise some law to protect that wish. In a resolution the Convention declares that reform in the civil service should be thorough, radical and complete. This noble declaration gives no uncertain sound, and I accept it in its literal sense, with earnest approval."

Elihu Jackson received the Guberna- torial nomination at the hands of the Democrats.

Wednesday, September 2d, David L. Bartlett was nominated by the Republicans for Mayor of Baltimore, the Democratic nominee being Ferdinand C. Latrobe.

The Independents held a meeting in the Concordia Opera House, September 30th, presided over by W. W. Taylor. An ad- dress was issued to the public, in which it was stated: "We propose as Democrats to vote directly for the men who are running as Republicans in State and city. We shall do it without fear, and are fully responsible for our acts." Charles Marshall, in the

226

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

course of his speech, said: "I find myself standing here to advocate the same prin- ciples that I and others have been advocat- ing for eight or nine years; I do this with- out the slightest change in party principle."

"Alas! we all remember when that cele- brated triumvirate was in the State; it is called O'Bannon, O'Gorman and O'Whyte; they have come together again, smoked the pipe of peace and kissed each other; but, my friends, it is not the kiss of right- eousness."

Mr. S. T. Wallis: "When I joined the Democratic party I did so because it rep- resented certain principles. When it de- serted these principles I had no further use for it; I belong to the party, but not as a chattel. The days of involuntary slavery are over, and the white man has a right to the benefit of the change. Do they tell me, because I propose to give my vote to hon- est men, who represent the principles that I own and are willing to put down tyranny, that I have broken my allegiance to my party, that I am a traitor. The greatest and foulest treason that a man can commit is treason to his conscience and his coun- try. I have the right to pick up any stick to stay the wolf. Shall I be deterred be- cause the other party did wrong during the war, committed oppressions of which I was one of the victims; and I am sure if I can stand the Republican party now, Mr. Gor- man ought to be able to stand it. Who are the people who make this outcry? They are the people who never suffered anything, the war horses who stood still in their stalls and quietly ate their fodder."

Friday, October 7th, the Democrats held a meeting at the Concordia Opera House. Judge William A. Fisher, on taking the

chair, said: "One week ago some people attempted to bury the Democratic party, in a grave of words. They said the Demo- cratic party is nothing more than a training association; this is too much like an in- dictment against the whole people. We are asked to leave the Democratic party, but where will we go? From the way they spoke one would imagine they would go to a convention of saints, but all are sinners here and all saints there. We are asked to go to the Republicans; our memories are not so short that we have forgotten some- thing of the Republican party."

Mr. F. C. Latrobe: "Realizing that the people of Baltimore depend upon its be- coming not only a commercial port, but a manufacturing centre, we have not only deepened the harbor to a uniform depth of twenty-four feet at low water, but we have aided all manufacturing interests in Balti- more by reducing the price paid for hydrant water, and exempting from taxation all plants used for manufacturing purposes."

William P. Whyte: "Shall we restore the party of Holiday Hicks and Winter Davis to power; therefore why should we do this? Because they say they want fair elections, honest count and correct returns. No one denies there have been individual violations of the law relating to elections, and that the violators of the law have been punished through the office of a Democratic State Attorney; and it is well known that the whole election system needs revision and change to secure honest suffrage and the safety of the ballot-box."

Mr. Rayner: "My friends, I can never believe in your so-called reformers. I know the character of the element that control the working rank and file of that party in this

227

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

city. Just as long as their exampler is Foraker, so long will I continue fervently to pray that heaven may save and spare us in our worst stages of suffering from re- form to be administered by the Republican party."

A Republican meeting was held October 8th at the Concordia Opera House. Jo- seph M. Cushing, the chairman, remarked: "We organize for the fight with the co- operation of those honest as we are, with whom we have differed in our views. They are with us, who were once against us. We must have a hand-shaking that comes from the heart. These honest men have united with us to wrest city and State from ring rule."

Archibald Stirling: "If our plan succeeds we will make an end of the rule of the men whose names we see so often in the news- papers. We propose competitive examina- tion, except for ballot-box stuffers, and we need not exclude them; their ignorance will ever bar most of them from places of trust and profit."

Gen. Adam E. King: "It is no use for Gen. Latrobe to get off his old speech about low taxes. it is all right to talk about a lower taxation, but you must also look at the basis of taxation. I doubt if any place in this country has the taxes, considering the basis, as high as they are in Baltimore."

Wednesday, October 12th, John K. Cowen, in his speech at Carroll Hall, said: "I will tell you a story, it's no fancy story, for the conversation actually took place in a club. One of the candidate's friends said he 'has got a good deal of strength, he is a workingman; he goes to all the parties and keeps an eye on all the waiters, and they know him; the ladies know him, too,

and they talk to ladies about him. He's got great sense.' Nowthat is what they call having the sense of a workingman. Com- pare such a man with Franklin L. Shep- pard, and tell me if he ought to have a say in the Government, and men like Sheppard and Bartlett, who employ hundreds of men, ought to be absolutely excused from all participation in it. One-half the capital in the banks belong to Republicans, and one- half the officers in the banks are of that party; their names are linked with all your industries; these men, chieftains like Gor- man, ought to .be kept out of place."

At the October election in Baltimore La- trobe received 34,827 votes, Bartlett 30,332 votes. At the November election Jackson received 34,587, Brooks 27,831.

1888.

On Thursday, April 12th, the first gen- eral convention of State League Clubs was held by Republican clubs in Maryland. One hundred and twenty-five organizations were represented. The convention met in the German Street Hall of the Concordia Opera House. William M. Marine was the temporary presiding officer. On taking the chair he said: "This honor was unexpected and therefore the more appreciated. The Republican party, like the grand old guard of Napoleon, may be beaten down, but it never surrenders. It draws inspiration from every defeat; it says right is might and must, in the end, win."

"At the close of the legislative session at Annapolis we have seen the defilement of the legislative halls. They have been contaminated by the treasonable transac- tions of the ring that controls the Demo- cratic party."

228

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

The committee on permanent organiza- tion selected Mr. Marine unanimously for permanent president of the League which was to be formed; he went before the com- mittee and withdrew his name in favor of William W. Johnson, who was substituted. Mr. Johnson was installed and the work of the convention proceeded. The constitu- tion of the League was adopted, the second article of which read: "The objects of the League shall be to encourage and assist in the formation of permanent Republican clubs, to unite such clubs for effective and organized work, and generally to advance the principles of the Republican party."

A series of resolutions was adpoted, and an executive committee was named when the League adjourned.

This year the candidates were: For Pres- ident and Vice-President on the Republican ticket, Benjamin Harrison and Levi P. Morton; on the Democratic ticket, Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman. In the Third Congressional District of Baltimore Daniel L. Brinton was the Republican can- didate for Congress, and Henry Stock- bridge, Jr., in the Fourth. The Democratic candidates were Harry Welles Rusk in the Third and Isidor Rayner in the Fourth.

On Thursday, August 30th, at the Con- cordia Opera House, a meeting of Irish- Americans favorable to Mr. Cleveland's election to the Presidency assembled. Wil- liam Pinkney Whyte was the principal speaker. He discussed the Fisheries Con- troversy with England, saying among other things: "Arbitration is far higher states- manship than retaliation, and friendly ne- gotiation is always to be desired instead of war; but there come times in the history of nations when war is preferable to dis-

honor. The rejection of a friendly treaty does not always indicate the possibility of war. Now that they have remitted the President to the alternative of arbitration they treat with insult and contumely his de- mands for the means of absolute inter- course."

November 6th a complimentary recep- tion was given to William M. Marine at the New Assembly Rooms. Mr. Marine re- turned from Indiana, where he had been on a speech-making tour. Daniel Conklin presided and Henry Longenfelder was sec- retary. Mr. Marine made this reference to tariff : "We want no English brand stamped on the face of American history. We would not have this country experience Britain's ill for its seeming prosperity. We want no destitute homes with their fam- ished occupants; no gaunt forms of dwarfed men and womanhood to disturb our rev- eries of greatness. We want no bread riots, nor gatherings under the column crowned statue of Washington, like those in Lon- don, in Trafalgar Square, under the column crowned statue of Lord Nelson. Rather we would have America as she is to-day, under American conditions, in the lead of all the nations of the earth."

Henry Stockbridge, Jr .: "You have to choose to-day between the principles of protection and free trade. Under the sys- tem of protection we have developed a char- acter for ingenuity that has made us famous the world over. We are also about to de- termine the question whether we are to have a free ballot and a fair count or not."

Daniel L. Brinton: "I would not have been present, after my several weeks of hard work, if it were not to pay my tribute of regard to the services of Mr. Marine, who

229

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

has done such good work for the party in every county of this State for years.

"I do not think the American people are willing to give up the system of protection. They know if a blow is struck at it now the result would be to retard the progress of the essential development of the industries of the country."

Mr. Whyte, on the same night, spoke at the Crescent Club, saying: "All of us are under the banner of Cleveland and Thur- man; we must swallow the whole ticket, hog, bristles, tail and all. We need not examine the name of any man on the ticket. We have buried our political differences deep in a grave until after this election. When the battle is over, we will be free to attend to our political affairs; to carry on a warfare and see that power is equally divided and that no clique or combine of a few men shall absorb the force of a whole community."

In the November election Harrison, in Baltimore City, received 39,607 votes, and Cleveland secured 44,522 votes. In the Third Congressional District Brinton re- ceived 14,289 votes and Henry Wells Rusk 19,578. In the Fourth Congressional Dis- trict Stockbridge received 19,078 votes and Rayner 18,998 votes.

1889.

During this year the Democratic candi- date for Mayor was Robert C. Davidson; the Republicans selected Major Alexander Shaw. Victor Baughman was the Demo- cratic candidate for Comptroller and was opposed by George L. Wellington, Repub- lican.

The Democrats opened their campaign by a meeting at the Concordia Opera

House, Thursday, October 3d. William A. Fisher presided. He said: "The Business Men's Association, of which I am a mem- ber, has been organized to heal party dis- sensions, seriously threatening Democratic supremacy."

Robert C. Davidson: "If I shall be elect- ed, my fixed resolve is to forget that I am a partisan, and to administer the office on the broad lines of duty to all, irrespective of their political opinions.

"What the people of this community de- sire is an administration of the duties of the office of Mayor by those methods of com- mon sense, economy, business integrity and sagacity by which men achieve success in private and corporate enterprises, then the vision is cleared and the path straightened."

James Hodges: "There is a

small body of political Ephraims joined to their idols and any further appeals to them to join hands and hearts with us in political fellowship would be a waste of effort. Rea- son like this congealed into prejudice is be- yond the reach of argument."

Albert Ritchie: "While the Democratic candidate is a party man, the only thing I have heard against him is he was not born in Baltimore. Mayor Shaw, the Republi- can candidate, was born in New Jersey. When Davidson came from Virginia to Bal- timore he was so young that he traveled on a half-fare ticket."

Bernard Carter: "A man to be a good Mayor must have strong common sense, business training, untiring industry, no other occupation to demand his time; to be untrammeled by past party affiliations, as free as air to select the very best men that Baltimore can afford as his assistants; patient to listen, intelligently to make up

230

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

his mind and ready to do right against all comers. Unless the Democratic party holds together in Baltimore it will crumble to dust all over the State."

In the Municipal Republican Conven- tion, held Thursday, October 10th, J. Frank Supplee, in placing Mayor Shaw in nomi- nation, said: "All the business men of Bal- timore are not included in the membership of the Business Men's Democratic Associa- tion. The Republican party numbers in its ranks a majority of the bank presidents and cashiers of the city and includes in its men- bership the largest tax payers on the tax books."

Edwin H. Fowler: "We need a man at the head of the city government who will realize there is something more for him to do than merely to appoint men to office."

John H. Butler (colored): "Our Demo- cratic friends haven't got that great whirl- pool machine they used to have; they haven't got any screen to go behind now, but must come out and face the music. Why, the finest educated and the richest Democrats in their party are tired of their party's ignoramus ways."

A committee of one hundred Independ- ent Democrats, headed by Gen. George S. Brown, Judge George William Brown, S. Teackle Wallis, C. Mortin Stewart, William Keyser, George W. Gail and others, were escorted into the hall where the municipal convention was held.

John K. Cowen, their spokesman, said they were there "as the representatives of over five thousand Independent Democrats to say without regard to party" they "would march shoulder to shoulder this fall for the reforms so long sought. They should be asked of the Legislature as well as in the

City Hall. On strictly national affairs the Independent Democrats were as far from the Republicans as the North Pole from the South Pole. Like the old man who had worn out his trousers and turned the hind part before, this Business Men's Demo- cratic Association had put the hind side be- fore and the front side behind. If there was one thing to be despised more than another it was the good business man in politics."

Major Alexander Shaw: "I believe mu- nicipal government can be carried on upon business principles. I believe the success of good municipal government is more im- portant than the success of party, and if I am elected Mayor I will endeavor to give the people a non-partisan administration.'

Senator Gorman addressed a Democratic meeting at Hollins' Hall on the evening of October 20th; referring to a charge against him, he replied: "It has been reported un- der these tax laws Mr. Gorman had made one million of dollars and Mr. Rasin hun- dreds of thousands of dollars. It is the first time in my history a man has so far forgot- ten himself as to say I have grown rich in the public service."

The election in Baltimore resulted in Shaw, Republican, for Mayor, receiving 38,066 votes and Davidson, Democrat, 41,- 096 votes; Wellington, Republican, for Comptroller, 37,598 votes and Baughman, Democrat, 41,382 votes.

1890.

The Republican party in the city of Bal- timore during the campaign of this year was badly rent by factional differences. Rev. Royal H. Pullman, a Universalist clergy- man, was nominated in the Third and Henry H. Goldsborough in the Fourth District for

Ingraved by J.K.Campbell, New York

Video Sambeaton

231

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Congress. Harry Wells Rusk was the Democratic nominee in the Third District and Isidor Rayner in the Fourth.

September 19th Congressman Rusk, in accepting his nomination, said: "I have es- teemed it a great honor to be a member of the House of Representatives under the first Democratic President since the days of Buchanan, and to be able to follow the leaders of Democracy in raising the great political issue of the day-the cause of the people against monopoly."

At a meeting, the night of Thursday, Sep- tember 25th, Mr. Pullman spoke, saying: "In accepting my nomination at the hands of the Republicans; your endorsement of the administration (Harrison's) and the ac- complished and proposed measures of the Republican Congress, voice my own views. So far we are in perfect accord, and I trust that in harmony as perfect we shall conduct the campaign to victory.

"The honorable future of our country and our millions of happy homes depend upon the patriotic devotion and intelligence with which the ballots are cast. I want only such votes; an election otherwise would be hu- miliating. In the halls of legislation we want men as well as measures."

Friday evening, October 17th, Mr. Ray- ner spoke at Hollins' Hall. He criticisingly said: "I haven't heard a word about the is- sues that are before us to-day from Rev. Royal Pullman, nor for that matter from the gentleman who is running in this dis- trict, not a word, but I have heard sky- rockets and fire-crackers, but not a syllable about the issues."

Judge Goldsborough spoke Monday even- ing, October 27th, at Hollins' Hall, paying his respects to Mr. Rayner in this wise:

"Isidor Rayner, the Reformer, did not advocate the Reform League's ballot law when he was a member of the Legislature. Mr. Rayner claims that he was recently defeated for Congress by the colonization of colored voters from Washington. He is mistaken; he was defeated by the glass blowers and other workmen who refuse to swallow his extreme views on free trade."

In the Third District Pullman received II,273 votes and Rusk 16,914 votes; in the Fourth District Goldsborough received 12,- 106 votes and Rayner 18,740 votes.

1891.

The Republican State Convention met at Ocean City and nominated Col. William J. Vannort, of Cecil county, for Governor; George M. Sharp for Attorney General, John McDonald for Comptroller, and Enock B. Abell for Clerk of the Court of Appeals. The Democrats placed in the field the following ticket: For Governor, Frank Brown; Attorney General, John P. Poe; Comptroller, Marion DeKalb Smith; Clerk of the Court of Appeals, J. Frank Ford. The municipal candidates this year were Solomon Davis Warfield, Reform, and Ferdinand C. Latrobe, Democrat.

Saturday evening, October 24th, a mass meeting of Republicans was held in Monu- ment Square. Mr. Vannort, during his speech; said: "The issue is therefore a plain one; if the people of this State prefer to perpetuate the ring that now dominates it, and have continued a personal and the worst sort of a political government, they have the power to will it so. That means the per- petuation of all the great category of ills that annually have been thrust on the at-

232

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

tention of the public. The ring authority knows no law for its curtailment; its ef- frontry becomes more colossal and monti- mental. Under the guise of the people se- lecting the Democratic nominees, it selects them instead. Would-be State Senators, States Attorneys and Councilmen, all wend their way to their Mecca at the Carrollton, where the Democratic Committee is held in an annex room to Mr. Gorman's, and there they pray that they may have a lift of their several booms and a gratification of a loyal and ardent desire to serve Mam- mon in the name of the people."

Mr. Sharp: "The Democratic organiza- tion stood for no good purpose, only for the personal ends and ambitions of a few men. No measure of progress or reform could be traced to it. They were all due to an en- ergetic Republican minority, aided by the Independent Democrats."

George L. Wellington: "The leaders of the ring Democracy are endeavoring to evade the issues of our State campaign and shout that national politics should be con- sidered. Twenty-four years ago the Demo- cratic party by an appeal to the passionate prejudice and bitter feeling arising from the embers of sectional hate and Civil War be- came masters of the Commonwealth. Then the State had emerged from the Civil War. It had its war debt and war taxes, its sink- ing fund and a balance in the treasury. What is the condition now? War taxes levied upon a war basis for expenses kept to war figures. Even these failed to meet the extravagant demands of the official hordes. That portion of the taxes set aside by the Constitution as a sacred trust, called the sinking fund, was used for other pur- poses, wrecked, destroyed, annihilated."

A Democratic mass meeting was held in Monument Square, Thursday evening, Oc- tober 8th. Frank Brown was the first speaker. He said: "It is a glorious thing to belong to a party which has its history beginning with the first years of our Gov- ernment, and full of achievements inter- woven with all that has made our country great and kept our people free. It is an in- spiring thing to know, that by virtue of our act of membership, we are associated with those who resist the attempt of arrogant po- litical power to interfere with the independ- ence and integrity of popular suffrages, who are determined to lead our countrymen from unjust and unnecessary burdens; who, intent upon extravagance in public expen- ditures, and who test party purposes by their usefulness in promoting the interests and welfare of all the people in Maryland." Senator Gorman said: "This is not a skir- mish; it is the beginning of the battle of 1892. I have said in this square before that I have but one ambition. You can't afford to divide on minor matters now. They talk about city misgovernment. Let every Democrat remember that there is no such thing as a perfect government in the uni- verse, and let him remember amid all this criticism that there is no better governed city in the Union than Baltimore.

"The Democratic party is always for the hard money of the Constitution, gold and silver alike; it has framed and passed every law regulating money in this country, and when we get back into power, as I believe we will in 1892, we will give to the people their Constitutional hard money. Never from a Councilman to the President of the United States should there be any compro- mise until the Democratic party is installed

233

HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

in power. We have done our full duty in fighting the battles of the Constitution. I want to see Maryland and Baltimore plant their banners on the ramparts of the en- emy."

Ferdinand C. Latrobe: "The Democratic municipal ticket is a good one, and your candidate for Mayor has a certain advan- tage that cannot be enjoyed by any candi- date the opposition may select. I have had some experience in the office of Mayor, and you paid for it. Now if you should elect a new man, you will be put to the same expense again. On a point of economy in- volving capital, it is to your benefit to send me back to the City Hall."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1344

Author: Shepherd, Henry Elliott, 1844-1929, ed. 4n
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Uniontown? Pa.] S.B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1344