Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-10-01
a LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA.
Los ANGELES, September l4th, 1875.

Los ANGELES, September 18th, 1875.
Mr.. WELLs,-Dc0r Sir: The Times
continues to arrive regularly, and it is a
most welcome and entertaining visitor.
Some of its recent issues | have read with
special pleasure and pride in knowing
that there is some one able and willing to
rebuke those of the envious and malicious
who would hide from view the glorious
record of old Charles, and who are trying
to cast odium upon her, and her honest
and honored citizens because of their mis-
fortunes. Did the respectable and intelli-
gent portion of the press share the senti-
ments expressed, sometime since, by one
of your Western Maryland exchanges in
connection with the Treasureship, "venal-
ity would no longer SIX ulk in the dark, but
would snatch the bride in public 1t has
almost come to this already, but there
would be a much sadder state of affairs if
the public were taught to believe that
none but the rich should be trusted. and
that poverty is a badge of mworthiness,
1t is to be hoped that the day will never
come when lack of wealth will be made an
obstacle TO official position But when
we look back n few years and trace the
course of events to the present, we see IL
wonderful extension of pernicious ideas
and when the newspapers are publicly
proClaiming them we should realize that
serious evil is threatening our welfare,
and 1t Is to such papers as the Times"
that we must look for protection. AS
do not propose to write an essay on pro-
gressive ideas, will state in explanation of
the above train of thought that your ar
ticle, in one of your late issues, on the
"Treasureship," is fresh in my mind
Time, with the distance of some three
thousand miles or more separating me
from my native place, has not yet render
eel me indifferent to anything touching
the honor of old Charles and her good
people; hence the willingness of my pen
to protest against any and all unfair in
situations and charges aimed at either
Had we never seen what an immense a
mount of impertinence some people with
little minds possess, should believe it i'm
possible for any one to attempt to detract
from the political record of Charles. 1t is
to me, at this great distance, still more
unaccountable how anybody, even during
moments of chagrin and anger, could be
come So reCkl less as to attack the character
of one of her most worthy sons-a man
whom the public has delighted To honor
and To speak well of. and whose purity of
character is so well known. Traducers of
this class always remind me Of the toad
whose instincts, il is said. prompt it to
eject his slime upon tie fairest flowers
Such creatures have no aspirations beyond
the procuring of dollar. or senSibilities
and tastes above those OF hog.
We have just passed through the excite
ment attending our State and county cleo
tions. The Democrats have won the bat
tie with 4 more satisfactory success than
they anticipated. They have elected their
whole county ticket with but one eNcep-
tion-thc Treasurer-aud they could have
elected him, but preferred to carry out
their old principle of rotation in office
hence concluded not to elect man four
times 10 the same office-thought three
times would do. You see how strictly we
adhere To our political creed. We have
completely annjhilated the Independents
in this State Where the self-deluded crea-
lures will betake themselves now we can't
predict with any satisfaction to ourselves
Most Of them will. we presume, sneaking-
~ slide into the Republican ranks where
y
able ambition will likely seek admission
into our fold which we will grant, proyid
cd they will subduc their official aspira-
t!ons, provision which. we think, will be
very hard to accept. After they learn how
to obey We will Let them try their fitness
for ruling.
y panic has at last overtaken us which
has surprised some of the very knowing
ones who asserted that our hard money
would shield US from any disaster in our
commercial affairs. The failure If the
Bank of California has completely demon
allied trade in san Francisco, and the
storm has even reached our town, as ex-
hibited by the closing Of two al our banks.
Tor thirty days At least, during which time
business must in measure stand still.
" hist it is asserted that the present en-
barrassment is but temporary we can't de-
pend entirely upon the statements Of bank
directors who will not open their vaults
until II Is their interest 10 do So. There
seems, 10 uninteTested observers, 10 cause
for alarm as tn the ability of our banks TO
pay their Indebtedness. The apparent
cause of closing their doors is attributable
10 the excitement among call depositors
who were rushing in to withdraw their
funds. which our banks were unprepared
for. Hence they concluded TO suspend
general business until confidence is more
firmly established. This step seems to
have been n wise one, and is meeting the
approval OF all.
perceive that the suicidal frenzy has
made its appearance in your midst. II is
sa common on this coast that il rarely at
tracts notice. Il is not hard to account
for, when we consider the vast number Of
hazardous schemes of speculation indulg
ed in by people representing every variety
of temperament. Despair. resulting from
unsuccessful efforts, and the Sudden loss
of means of support are the two most com
mon causes of its existence Love and
domestic mistortunes claim their victims
too. No matter from what source this
deed of self-murier may originate, the one
who seeks that desperate remedy for the
trials of this life, deserves pity rather than
censure. for how seldom is the blame Who'll
~ on one side. The living are too fire.
quently painfully and conspicuouslv re-
sponsible, and how often would a kind,
encouraging word alleviate the anguish of
an aching heart, or infuse hope into a
mind sinking into hopeless despair; there
by averting u doom which never overtakes
any but those in the most need of such
consolation, and who, whatever may be
said of their lack of fortitude and resigna-
ton, always possess many noble traits of
character. do not appear as an apollo
gist for suicide, but do in a great measure,
agree with famous author. whose name
do not remember just now, who said that
those who commit suicide stand nearest in
perfection to the gods. As this is sub
ject in which few feel any interest, and as
still fewer share my opinions in this mat
ter, and as have spoiled enough paper,
me for taking so much space in your pa
per rs this is the first time | have written
,lrr, Ia,