The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-11-04
The Democrats AbOrtire Attempt

suppose, makes a lengthy, but exceedingly
feeble attack, upon the Address issued by
the Republican party, "To the Voters and
Taxpayers of Cecil County" in which it
manages to admit all the statements put
forth in that Address, charging the Demo-
cratic party with corruption and extrava-
gance. Its excuses, where not entirely
false, are the weakest imaginable. For
instance, the defence says, "They (the
Republican County Commissioners spent
less than their successors because theirs
was the cork Of destruction, while to their
successors has fallen tho lot to build dneu.
And again: "When the Radicals were in
power, all things went to pieces, either
through their violonce or by theirneglect. "
This is singular. rambling talk. What
single interest did they neglect? New roads
were opened, and old ones supervised; new
bridges were built, and old ones repaired,
whenever and wherever necessity demanded.
No single instance of neglect is specified
to support this sweeping assertion, and
for the simple reason that none could be
cited.
In the matter Of the Public School e1pen-
ditures, after admitting, which could not
be avoided, that the Democratic party have
"leyied more for Public Schools than the
Radicals ever did," we have the following
remarkable statement: &" We have just paid
large debt that We inherited from them"
These hap-hazard assertions are either
iuexcusable ignorance, where the statistics
are SO handy to consult, or monstrous tri-
fling with FACTS. When the Democratic
School Board took the Public Schools in
charge under a Democratic School law, the
records of the old Board passed into their
hands, showing liabilities amounting to
81, 263.22, and assets amounting to 50, $780,
33, leaving the actual Indebtedness of the
School Board, $2,273.s9. The last meagre
Report of the School Board, published
January 14tb, 1871, shows an indebtedness
of s1S. 600 borrowed money, with cash in
hand, the only assets given, of about 81, 900,
leaving debt of upwards of 1900 at
present owing, as an offset to little over
$4,000, when the present School Board
came into power. This is a favorlte Demo-
cratic mode of paying debts, which their
organ boasts over.
The Sheriff's expenses are defended in
quite as novel manner. After admitting
the great disproportion between the sums
paid to Democratic Sherias and the same
Republican officers, the jnstifying reasons
are assigned thus:
"The Sheriff's fees are limited by law.
They have not been increased since Radi-
cal Sheriffs ceased to prevail. If their bills
are higher now, it only shows that there
are more criminals or more delinquent debt
ors to deal with"
That the Sheriff bill was unusually large
Tho Democrat pleads, was on account of
he trial of Harris and Bolt being removed
to Hartford. But how does it happen that
the other four years of Democratic Sheriffs
arc third higher than the same length of
time previous, when the Office was held
by Union or Republican Sheriffs? The
only answer attempted is quoted above
cit only shows that there are more crimi-
nails or more delinquent debtors to deal
with" The facts of the Address are not
denied, and this is the extenuating excuse.
When the Democratic pot is set a-aboiling,
"criminals and debtors rise to the sur
face. The taxpayers will doubtless con-
slider this valid reason for keeping that
party in power.
The Court expenses are admitted, and
excused in quite as lame manner.
OF the road expenses, while tho county
has been in Democratic hands, the follow
ing plea is made:
"Thc committee have Furnished no evil
dencc, however, that they have cost more
in Democratic than in Radical limos. That
there is greater expense in the bridge
account is natural. The Radicals built no
bridges, and let those already built 90 to
decay, while the Democratic Commissioners
have possibly been too liberal in this re-
spect."
The committee have furnished the follow
ing expenditures from tho county records
"for roads and bridges" and any person
can compare the last five Democratic years
expenses with the preceding Republican
management, and no further common. is
required:
1904 q