The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-07-18
A CARD.
WHIST,

MIR. EDITOR: Forced from the retirement
and privacy of unofficial life by an attack
made upon me by the Hartford Democrat, in
its issue of the 18th July, am compelled to
seek the columns of your paper for the pur-
pose of answering the masked article in ques-
ton. Now holding, as do, that the public
acts of public servants are public property,
and that the people have the right at all times
to enquire into and debate those acts yet at
the same time hold and cannot consent,
and will not permit, my name to be logged
into the petty articles ofthe Democrat, for the
purpose of gratifying the wounded pride, the
curious jealousy or the embttercd feelings,
and bitter political rancor and party hatred
of the Editors Of that delectable sheet, or
either Of them. Why the Democrat thought
it necessary, in reply to an article in which
| scarcely recognize my humble self as the
one who, with the short experience of less
than two years has so seriously nterfcred
with his recently conceived hobby of "rota-
ton in office" to go into my relations to other
candidates, then as now favorites of q clique
Which seems to have no other object than the
personal advancement and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of
its favored few, IcdnnOt conceive. Perhaps the
Editors had had experience in somcrsault-
ing, and knowing the controlling motive
with themselves, have, in the simplicity of
their hearts, ascribed the same to me- But
let me tell them, that just in proportion as
exceeded one of them in the leap (taking the
number of votes received as the meaSure) so
in the motive mine was UNNECESSARILY above
the sOrdid Inducements which seem to be
limited by the one, and which | am well as
sured governs and controls the other No
Sir it was not votes that induced the change
in my support to the Judicial candidates; and
c fhn EIitprc In fhipIy | hn1 npf laval
capacity to form proper estimate of their
respective titness-(which by the way is q
reflection on the people, if we again take
their votes for us respectively as the measure
of their appreciation of oar fitness, )-then
there must have been some other reason
What was it? Now, l take it that it did
not require very extensive study or ac-
quaintance with Blackstone, or Coke, or
Kent, to ascertain at that time that there was
a ring or clique, with selected candidates to
be voted for and Endorsed by its members in
all its ramfcations; and as was candidate,
partially induced to become SO by those who
had pledged their support to the ringers, /
felt it to be my duty to 60 in person, taking
friend of both with me, and reluctantly
withdraw support induced by friendship
and services in a common cause. did it
because | felt that the voice of the people was
DCIuS Wy tllC uCblOu VI IL juno,
which did sacrifice one of the Editors ofthc
Democrat, together with some who were more
the favorites of the ring than himself, to the
Moloch of their power and their prescription.
Now do you call that somersaulting? l
call it selfprotection, as member the body
polite from the Vaccinations of those who
would delude and use others for their own
selfish ends l am here to defend, not to ac-
cuse or / would ask the Democrat what it
calls the short corner it turned on the Greeley
move. Perhaps twas there they got the
name 'somcrsaulting," and perhaps there
the motive. 1t is my belief that this
MASKED Battery" has again been opened in
the interest of the ringers and for the pur-
pose of trying to defeat the choice of the
people
Craving your indulgence, Mr.. Editor for
trespassing upon your columns by answer
ing at length the article in question beyond
its merits, will conclude with the assurance
that have been actuated solely by regard
for the good of the Democratic Party and
to defend myself against base calumny
which if suffered to remain uncontradicted
might place me in false position among
those whom l regard as friends.
STERLING ROSAN.