The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-07-22
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ELKTON, JULY %. 1871.


the bag" by giving a true and faithful his
tory of the party and its wre-pulling rings,
on that occasion. The organ of the party
ms thought to conceal the "rumpus y and
slip over the onpleasantness." But this
little love affair of the Democracy having
been ventilated by The Why, The Democrat
felt itself called upon-or aoas called upon
to attempt denial of the g Ring bust
ness, which it did in column or more of
confounding, or communicative know not
which is the better CONGRATULATIONS
This attempt to prove the Rims" myth,
brought out sharp reply from the opposi-
ton, over the signature of Facts from
which we reprint the following I" shoulder
hitters." This enemy of the Ring" says
to the editor of The Democrat:
In contradiction to your elaborate edito-
rial of last week, assert that king OF
Elkton politicians, for scouting the patron
age of the Democratic party of Cecil to
themselves and their partizans has existed,
dose erist, and, until the people learn to de-
fend themselves, as they did in the late
Convention, aoW continue to erist.
You argue that the Ring" is "invis-
ible." Against that assertion l charge
that it is visible in every office in the
gift of the people Cecil county.
Were only Elkton politicians qualified to
hold the following offices CLERK of the
Circuit Court, Sheriff, Clerk to the County
Commissioners, State Senator.
Does any gentleman in this county sup
pose the naturally kind hearts of the rural
districts forced these snug little berths up
on Elkton wire-pullers? And do you at
tempt, by quotations from Esop's fables
and Poor Richards saying, to justify such
action? ''In unity there is strength '-''di-
vision is weakness are your sentiments.
And never did the poor people OF Cecil see
better illustration than i'll the strength"
of that ''unity' which has enabled few
men in Elkton to secure to themselves and
friends the entire patronage of large
county.
First, you ask-"If a Ring did exist in
Elkton, as alleged, what strength did it
manifest.
1t manifested great strength in pulling
the buttons off every delegates coat. 1t
manifested great strength in convincing
the people of the truth of every charge,
which in Elkton's name you now deny,
namely, that there was ''Ring" and a WIS
IBLE Ring" that it was composed almost
entirely of the Office holding, office-hunt
ing, politicians of Elkton and a feeo outly
Sng scouts; that these men worked together,
and seemed thoroughly to appreciate the
wisdom of ''unity" which you so much
extol-pushing it to the verge of the redi-
culous in the late Convention, if, as you
say, they had no end in view-no 'taxe to
grind"
To illustrate: The delegation of the
Third (Elkton) district was full. But al
though George Giles, 4 miller near Elkton.
was in the Court House and ready to tako
his seat in the Convention, his place was
supplied by more experienced hand; while
the place of a Mr.. Blake was treated in
similar style. Why this reefiing of the
sails? Why this clearing Of the decks
The answer is patent : In an insane moment
Elkton Tammany had defied the county,
and the patience of the ridden Democracy
of Cecil was exhausted.
SINCE THAT FATAL DAY TAMMANY HAS
BEEN BUSY DENYING ITS OWN EXISTENCE.
Is not the sublime of impudence reached
when a little knot of Elllton re-pullers
swell up and say to the county, "Cease
your opposition; submit to our dictation-
to us who have a prescriptive right to rule
you. Would you play into the hands of
the Radicals? In opposing us you oppose
the party. We are the pary.' Such in
effect is the language employed by the
"Ring."
The writer in his enumeration of Elkton
office holders has overlooked the Registers
Office which affords two fat places.
But the editor, as if to outdo his CORES
pondent, and quite entirely emulate the
loving couple who quarrcled at the dinner
table and gave vent to their pent up feel
ings by taking turn about in smashing
crockery till the board was cleared, gives
list of the office holders in the county, from
which we select the Elkton residents, which,
we think makes the case much stronger
for Facts -" than he succeeded in putting
it. The following is the list of Elktonions
holding the principle and most lucrative
offices in the county, and which lays the
Elkton politicians of Democratic faith so
open to the charge of their opponents as
the successful managers of a dangerous
"Ring.'
l. Frederick Stump, Associate Justice.
9. Noble It. Biddle, States Attorney.
2. David Scott, Clerk of Court.
q. Albert Constable, Auditor.
5. George w. Denny, Sheriff
6. Clinton Mccullough, Commissioner
in Chancery.
Z. F. A. Ellis, Commissioner in Chan
Gerry.
8. John E. Brown, Crier.
o. A. P. Shockley, c. E. Lewis, J. B.
Ash. Bailiffs.
10. Reuben D. lamar, Register Wills.
II. Reuben E. lamar, Deputy Register.
1t is clear enough that the above offices
are all that are pecuniarily worth filling in
the county. Another noticeable fact here
presents itself. For the first time in the
history of the county, all the Court bailiffs
are taken from Elkton. Under all former
administrations, both Republican and Dem
ocratic, the bailiffs of the Court were
selected from among the constables residing
in different parts of the county. But as if
to entitle this Elkton Ring to the cpl
tibet of Tammany, which 60 Facts " applies
toit, we find the Elkton favorites not merely
holding one Office apiece, but like the titled
dignitaries of England, some enjoy the
emoluments of a plurality of Offices.
1t will be remembered what laundering
charges were launched against the Republi-
can office-holders of the county, during the
war, and subsequent to that time, of cor
ruption and rioting in the peoples money.
1t was charged by these innocent souls,
whom the disguised of their own party
convict of cheating and swindling by the
aid of a Ring, that the Republican officers
burrowed in the dark recesses of the Court
House, fattening on the spoils they filched
from the pockets of the people. The Wig
very promptly and truly, as the sequel has
shown, denounced these charges as false
and slanderous at the time they were made.
melted by the ravenous craving of that
party for the spoils of office. The tax-pay-
ers, who needed not our warning at the
time. have had cause to rue the day that
they turned their backs on an economical