Maryland free press., 1866-05-24
TUT lHU t IVC Il IUsS.
Editorial Precept and Pra ctice.

Constitutional men of Washington County,
have once more a medium, in their midst,
through which, they may hear, and be
heard, in regard to the vital issues which
press upon them. Unfortunately this has
not been the case for four years past. Mob
law has been the rule and not the except
ion. In the Free Press we look for
much. The right kind of spirit is here
displayed. There is nothing like fighting
the Devil with fire." In time it will tell
and create friends. If you had gentle,
honorable foes to deal with, instead of a
set of bloodthirsty, and windy patriots, a
different course might be advisable; but
you know it will not do to throw pearls be-
fore swine, and, therefore, we trust, the
Free Press" will continue ,sas it began,
to be the bold advocate of principle and
justice, regardless Of consequences.
Who are the men among us who arro-
gate to themselves all the loyalty and pat
riotism in the country, and damn others as
"traitors," Rebels" "Copperheads" and
"rascals?" Nine tenths of them are arrant
towards, who never shouldered muskct,
never saw an armed enemy in the field
but ran to the hills and mountains for con-
cealment, as soon as they heard the dis
tant roar of the cannon. They have paid
little taxes, but have ravenously seized
hold of all of the contracts which the Gov
ernment would give them. They are our
loud-mouthed, ,gassy braves, who hug lamp
posts, and stand on street corners, denoun-
cling their neighbors as rebels, &c. For
the conscientious soldier, who left home t.
fight the battles of his country, from pure
motives, We have profound respect, but for
these sneaking vampires, who did nothing
but talk and bluster, silent contempt is all
they deserve.
1t is impossible to read the Herald and not
pause in wonder at the cool impudence, the
bold efrontery, of the man who writes its
editorials. There we see this same spirit
ofself-assumed patriotism and scurility dis
played, of which we have spoken. We all
remember the vile course of his predeces-
sors, for four years, in denouncing all Of
those who honestly differed with them in
opinion; how bravely they talked in the
absence Of danger; how they ran away
when the enemy was near; how they re-
garded the President as ''the Government,
as long as it was to their interest, and how
one of those pugnacious individuals, shor
time ago, offered resolution in Hagers-
town, to endorse the loyal acts Of Presi-
dent johnson, as if the Executive was moi
still "the Governments"
But we let them pass. 1t is with the
present aspirant for political honors, who
presides over the editorial department Of
the Herald, that we have to do-as a type
of patriotism and loyalty. His venomous
course as writer; his loathsome SANDER OF
better men, and private worth; his men
dacity in regard to facts; his hate of the
white man and love of Sam5o; his revilings
of noble President, who is trying to re-
store ~hole country, all induces us to ask
what great deeds of arms, or eminent SER
vices in the halls of legislation, has this
man done for his country. Men who have
known him intimately during the war,
never knew him to seek the smell of gun
powder. Nor did he ever furnish a sub
stitute, brimful as he was of patriotism and
greenbacks. His legs were his best pre-
lection. Whenever the rebels were near
he was among the first to leave. He did
not even trust to the swift heels of his
young blooded horse "Andrew Jackson" j"
but sold him, at sacrifice, and always de-
pended on steam; took the first train, and
left for parts unknown, never to return uu-
til all danger was over. He believed in
the doctrine of Hudibras:-
Will live to see another day."
AS this man never showed his bravery on
the battle field; never shed drop of his
precious blood for his country, never furn-
ished substitute. nor paid more taxes
than were his due, we cannot say of him
as Virgil did of Eneas:-''Arn,a virunsque
caao." In military point of view there
fore, he must be classed with the South
ern Sympathizers.
But what has he done in a legislative
capacity, to entitle him to carte blanche
to abuse all who differ with him in opinion?
We do not know that he ever held any
prominent position before the war, above
secretary to district meeting. His light
was hid "under bushel;" nor did its
scintillations ever set anything on fire. un-
til it came in contact with wooly-heads.
The war broke out and the bayonet took