The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-11-19
There is. dnuhtlcss. much rnWdl

- here is, Doubtless, much rowdylsm
in Baltimore, as there is in every other large
city we believe, however, it is not worse
than other cities Of equal population. New
York is much worse. as will be readily admit
ted by those who watch the local news of both
places. The reason we hear so much of the
rowdyism Of Baltimore is, not only, that it
is so much nearer us, but because it has
become the interest Of the presses and dema-
gogues of the locorOco party to magnify every
ontbreak-lo defamc every American meeting
and procession-and to lie, generally, for
political effect. On the day of the late cleo
ton it WAS telegraphed from Baltimore to the
northern papers that there was terrible fight
ing there-that thirty or forty persons had
been killed and many wounded. This was
sent abroad over the country, and is, no
places. 1t was circulated here on the day of
the election and some days after, that Mr.
VIM. p. Preston who ran against Morrison
Harris for Congress, had been attacked at
the polls ny American lowdies, and beaten
till his life was dcsyailcd Of. Taking up the
Cambridge HcraM we find it saying as
foows:-
"Whilc VIM. P. Preston, the candidate
for Congress in opposition to j. Morrison
Harris, was conversing with gentleman, near
the polls, in one Of the wards in the city of
Baltimore, on Wednesday last election day.
he was struck on the back ofhis head with a
slug and on the nose with brass knucklcs
which knocked him SenScleSs for a whIlc he
was Immediately taken to Barnnm's Hotel and
cared Ior--hs life was dispaired for awhile,
but hopes are entertained of his recovery.
Baltimore city needs Il vigilance committee
to rid her Of such scuundrcls and the sooner
the 5ettcr.''
That, at least, is not very complimentary
to Mr.. Preston, for the term scourdres :"
as used, can only be applied TO him; but the
Statement is untrue it is of a piece with the
other stories pu, forth to damage Baltimore
and the American party. MIR. Preston. on
the day after the election sent a card to the
Amencan, stating that he was knocked down
in Rnpport's drinking saloon, on the night
before the election. lie does not pretend to
say that any American dealt the blow
And many of the stories set aaoat are of a
piece with this.
The principle thing harped on since the
election is the shooting of Mr. A. B. Kyle, Jr
1T is very lamentable that his life was so sud-
denly brought to a close !: but the effort to
make martyr Of him is futile and ridiculous.
The facts in the case, as developed at the cor
oner's inquest, show that Mr. Kyle and his
brother went to the place where the polls
were to be held, IN one of the wards, an hour
before the time of opening that the brother
had under his arm bundle ofreform tickets:
that the two were armed with pistols, bowie.
knives and loaded canes that they were
ask cd for some of the tickets that on refu-
sing to give any, some oil the persons present
pressed on George Kyle for the purpose of
snatchng some Of the tickets away. That
,he Kyles backed few feet and being still
pressed on, Adam drew revolver and shot
twice or thrice into the crowd, crppling one
man-that lie then turned partially around
and deliberately shot at man Oh the other
side of the street, who was putting up an
American flag, and doing nothing to him,
whatever, by which last discharge of his ps-
t0t he shot boy (who was assisting the man
with the flag through the breast, which shot
killed HIM. Then the fury Of the crowd
arose, and then they pursfcd Adam Ky lie and
he received the shot which TOOK his life.
The Kyles, 50 the proof ran. went to the polls
5ristling with weapons of death, ready for
battle they drew the first weapon and the
first blood they did the first killing. Adam
fell in the couhict, and be should have been
allowed to rest in peace.
But why went the Kyles out TO battle g.
They went ont so bloodl y armed for the fray,
because the Speakers at the so called Reform
meetings and the papers advocating the So
called Reform movement, thus urged their
partizans. The word was arm yourselves to
the teeth you have thousands of majority
on your side 60 out like brave men prepared
for battle; take The polls in the morning, brave