Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-11-26
fFor the Democrat
4 WOrd More.

The right to ciiticse the management
Of public interests through the medium OF
the press, admits of no denial; but. when
by that means statements are set afloat,
Icalculated to mislcad the public, It as
rightfully becomes the p riyilege OF any
one interested, to make due correction of
the same. Such was the object | had in
view, when penncd an article for the
Democrat, entitled "A Word for Merry"
As a citizen of Newry, felt at liberty to
offer few facts republication, and nei-
Their showed or intended any ,liscourtcsy
to Clark, in any allusion to his eommuni-
cation. Nevertheless, the latter makes II
the occasion Of another eifusion in the
Democrat under the caption of "An
Apoiogy for Merry" which caption is OF
i itself covert sneer, since no apology Is
made or intended, as perusal OF the arti
Gle in question will of itsclt show.
His object in going over the ground
again, becomes apparent when we notice
the snecring way in which he mentions
the Little town Of Ncwry," and words
his illusions to "Mr. b." (which make up
the body of his communication and the
authoritative manner with which he an
nounces further discussion to be useless.
| seems TO leave us but one alternative,
that of humbly begging Clark's pardon
for our intrusion, and ingloriously quit
ting the field IL certainly does seem
surprising. that the "liaie" town of New
~ should in any way object to impcrti
ncnt intermeddling in her affairs, or that
any one of her citizens, Mr. b. in pal
licular, should have been guilty Of such
an oversight rs TO think it proper To offer
n word in her favor in the columns OF the
Democrat
Impartial criticism is legitimate right,
to such | do not object; sneers are the
fitting emanations of a mind surchargcd
with set-conceit. and serve rs a safety
valve for the escape of spleen but mis-
representation is n grave fault, Tor which
an open rcbukc is no discourlesy.
Clark charges me with desire TO agi.
tate this matter in order Ia bring things
to my Gown liking and furthermore al.
lcges that sought 10 place Ncwry ahead
of other adjoining towns in the public es-
timation. in repairing damages since the
treshct, and rs better prepared 10 meet
emergencies of that Kind did say NJ
ter stating facts p:ovablc by any number
oi reliable witnesses. that Newry claimed
to bc "not one whit b.hndhand" with
otter towns in this region. and in the
cics of this sort How such language
will bear the construction Clark gives to
it, let the impartial reader judge.
The oversight" ofwhch II was guilty
according to CLARK, is arrived ut by a
curipu, process Of reasoning, whereby b
is made to SAY wha, he did not say, and
thus becomes chargcable with the CON
clnsion drawn from the premises.
What are the facts in regard Ia Ilanov-
err The damage which that town sustain
by the frcshct was slight, compared with
what Ncwry suffered consequently, her
roads were mostly pasSable with slight
repairs but whore the Stony brook bridg-
Is were swept away, the road has only
been opened 10 the public at 4 recent
date, and long after Newry bad made re.
pairs Ia the satisfaction of the SclectmCn,
and sufficient In meet the demands of the
travelling public. This is not in dis.
paragcmcRt to Hanover, but rs spcci-
men of Clark's adherence TO facts in treat
ing of this matter. We ilatter ourselves
here in Ncwry hat ut an expense OF sew
eral hundred dollars, we, at last, have
been able 10 attend 10 those little Jobs"
of which Clark so kindly reminded us,
and, so may now rest clear OF the imputa-
ton Of "slackness.' Ii may be crafty
ing To him 10 learn that We now have
bridges capable of withstanding Il few
buckets full of water, and culyertS that
will hold up ycarliDg calf, rs he terms
it. 1t may not be displeasing TO him TO
note that the abutment at Bear river is
progressing. and will cost about five hun
drcd dollars, instead of three hundred, rs
before stated; also that the bridge over
Sunday river is under contract to be built
for six hundred aud fifty dollars.
If the sight OF b getting his back up"
WAS the cause OF that hump which has
evidently risen on Clark's back, and So
drew forth the castigation with which he
relieves his feelings, b. would remind
him that he has 4 thick skin, and feels
wonderfully comfortable under the intlic-
ton. His backbone" remains intact,
being round shouldcred, the weight of
Clark's displeasure falls to the ground
He still remains in the dark rs TO the
plausibility of that grammatical theory,
which makes it proper to speak OF Newry
rs her in one paragraph, and snecrs at
the designation of it rs "she" in another.
\. S. BAKER.
Newry, Nov. 18th, 1869