The Cecil Whig., 1873-06-28
"LABOR AND MATERIAL"
A REJo1NpER TO ga REJoISDEI. "

A L..
MIR. EDIToR:-Under the head of ga
Rejoinder in your last issue, is a COM
munication, which more from its spirit
than its matter, merits reply. There is
unfortunately for us here in Elkton, 4
mean and selfish littleness, as regards pub
liz affairs and improvements incorporated
into the very mass Of our people, which
has ever barred and which will ever continue
to bar, our road to progress and advance
ment, unless dissipated. With history
dating back to colonial times, we are to
day town ofless than two thousand inhab-
itants. And yet the most casual observer
remarks our superior natural endowments
and advantages for trade. Nor has oppor-
tunity failed to have been offered to us.
Statedly, on the other hand, has capital
and enterprise knocked at our doors, as
often, by silly and exorbitant demands for
their necessities, to be turned away. Who
can remember with other than deep regret
the case of the p, w. & B. r. R. car
works. To-day, instead of a half deserted
village-sleeping lifeless beneath the mid
day sun-we might have stood a manufac.
turing town of real Importance. People
not less stolid, than the dried remnants of
Egyptian mummies, would have turned
out in mass, to welcome and encourage
such an offer. True to the traditions of
the past, we demonstrated our apprecia-
ton of it, by demanding for the grounds
they would require and occupy, price as
ridiculous as the action was blind. Note
the sequel. "The mummics still retain
their land, the same, on whose parched
surface, is no thing to day, save few
drawfed and burned up sprouts of In
dian corn. While Wilmington from that
and other thriving industries, stands Sec
ond in prosperity to no city in this Union.
AS illustrative of the same spirit of sell
tishness and folly, might be mentioned the
matter of the "Wesleyan Academy" To-
Gated at Smyrna. Educational institutions
of importance are always of particular
advantage to town and community: yet,
when lands were selected here for the pur-
pose of that school, the same spirit of ex-
tortion ruled, and it was driven to less
inviting but more hospital place.
And now the same selfish, morbid spirit,
stands out as the leading idea in the weak,
witty production of "Tax-payer. In the
furtherance Of an object, where every ben
eft would be to the town,-the result of
petition bearing the names of.every respon-
sible citizen of it; and the surrounding
country, with, perhaps the exception of
one or two-who had an interest in some
body, who had an interest in the railroad
the 7own Commissioners, by express re-
quest, agreed to entertain the Engineer,
sent to us by the Government in answer to
the petition, to ascertain what appropria-
tion would be neces sary for the proper i'm
provement Of our river channel. Now for
the expenses of single supper, given said
Engineer, with half dozen citizens,
appointed to assist him, and who spent tho
whole Of most disasreeable day in aiding
him in this work for the town, three of
them at their own private expense, furnish
ed teams for the conveyance of the party
to Frenchtown, five miles away, all that
more satisfactory report might be render
ed, looking to the improvement of Elkton
For the courage that assails private char
acter over a nome de plume we have small
respect. Nor would we give much for the
manliness Of man, who covertly writes to
community, what he would not dare
openly speak to the individual. The re-
tirng Board of Town Commissioners full
filed we'll the duties Of their office, of
which an examination of their records will
show. Candor is the grand prerogative
of honor and honorable minds, and if he
who writes himself TAX payer" DO in
reality Taxpayer, Il simple request to any
of the gentlemen in charge of the records
would have secured any examination he
might have required, and intimatiens and
fnsinuations, aimed at the most upright
and estimabls citizens cf our town, thereby
avoided. Equity.
Wanted.-A few Bogus Hones, for old