The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-09-30
j. MORRISON HARRIS.

The Republican and Reform parties have
again united, and have presented to the
people of this District as Congressional
candidate the gentleman whose name stands
at the head of this article. That gentle
man needs no introduction at our hands to
our citizens. The memory of the brilliant
contest he waged one year ago against
fraud and peculation and violence is too
fresh, the recollection of the battle which
he successfully fought for honesty and good
government is too green to require any
further mention of his merits, his sterling
integrity and the unquestioned purity of
his motives. He stands to-day before the
people as he stood one year ago. He re-
mains the exponent and the champion of
the same principles for which he so ably
contended in the last campaign. Deprived
then, as he was, of the enjoyment of the
fruits of success by means which were a
disgrace to our civilization, prevented from
occupying the Gubernatorial chair by force
of "pudden tickets" and system of most
outrageous dabolism he still is willing to
renew the battle in the face of such opposi-
ton. Democratic ruffianism and Demo
cratic mob law are not sufficient to quell
the independence of the man.
OF the ablitycf Mr.. Harris there can be
no question. He is just such gentleman
as any intelligent citizen should take pleas
ure in voting for. He is so UNNECESSARILY
superior to his competitor, Mr.. Roberts,
a comparison between them. Against Mr.
Roberts character we have nothing to say.
So far as we are advised he is very polite
and affable gentleman, and we have been
informed that he stands very well in the
community in which he lives and that he is
a pleasant, genial companion, possessing
second-rate abilities as a claim collecting
lawyer. But an examination of his record
as public man concusively shows that
for capacity to deal with or grasp questions
of great public interest, or for fitness in
any way for the responsible and important
position which he now fills he simply
amounts to cipher. Nature has not
blessed him with a bountiful supply of
brains. He is, therefore, not responsible
for the very small figure he cuts. He can
vote as frequently as any other member of
our National Legislature, he can bend "the
supple hinges of the knee" quite as readily
as any at the commands of leaders, he can
understand without difficulty the require
ments of party against which he never
dares rebel, but when that much is said
all is said. And when said it is not much
to his credit. In accordance with the
usage of his party he has been renomi-
mated. 1t rests with the people to say
whether they will endure further. infic-
ton of his incapacity. Against him has
been placed in nomination gentleman who
ranks among the first minds of the State,
who is above mere partisan action, who is
willing and able to protect and promote the
interests of the people whom he will repre-
sent, and whose career in the position to
which he will be called will reflect honor
not only upon himself but also upon the
citizens who embrace his constituency.
Men of the Second Congressional Dis
trict, we ask you if, after the insane CAB
bling of Stevenson Archer and the miser-
able mediocrity of Charles B. Roberts, you
are not satisfied to place in our representa-
tive chair the brains Of j. Morrison Harris.