The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-10-13
AN OPEN LETTER.

To THE EDITOR OF The CECIL WING
Dear Sir:-As the recent Editor of Tile
Cecil Democrat, | cannot accept, without
qualification, the compliment you are pleas
ed to pay me in your issue of the 29th of
September.
1t is true, | did deuounce "the Ring"
and its work, and | have not word to re-
tract of all | said at that time. AS q life
long Democrat, | opposed the action of
set of men, who, in my opinion, were seri-
ously damaging that glorious old party,
you too once loved SO well. and whose
course of action would, | felt convinced,
lead In the end to its overthrow and to the
re-estabishment of Radical misrule in Mary
land. | therefore fought them with what
ever of ability and energy possessed, and
| have the satisfaction of knowing that my
labors were not altogether i'll vain. You
are mistaken, however, in supposing that
my course was so obnoxious to the leaders
OF the Democratic party in Cecil that | was
driven from the editorial chair. On the
contrary, whilst | doubtless gave offense TO
few, the great body of the leaders, AS well
as the masses, heartily sustained me. As
L dld not deem 1t necessary at the time of
my Withdrawal from The Democrat to as
! sign my reasons for so doing, neither do
now feel called upon 6 to rise and explain"
Suffice it to say, | neither bowed to the
behests of Rings. nor wavered for an in
slant III my convictions Of the Importance
of maintaining Democratic supremacy in
/ Maryland. II is true, | both saw and ex-
posed corruption in the Democratic party,
but l did SO in the firm belief that there
was within the party a remedy for its dis
eases, and was not mistaken. The good
seed then scattered broadcast among the
people, by the independent Democratic
press, has yielded fruit and the Ring no
/ longer dominates SO obnoXiouSly over the
! Democracy of Maryland That it still
lives is true; but it lives Il more discreet, ;f
not more virtuous life, and il it makes
| our nominations it takes care to make good
/ ones
But permit me to say, in all sincerity,
that whilst | value the good opinions of my
fellow citizens, without regard to their poll
tics, owe true allegiance to that party
/ which has ever held to written Constitu-
ton the supreme law of the land and
ever looked to the trainers OF that instru-
ment as the just interpreters of its mean
ing. 1t would not then be possible for me
to suffer Il few Self-seeking politicians to
| drive me from ''mine ancient heritage "
| (and yours, good sir. or even to make me
! luke warm i'll my defense of her battle
| ments.
| stand to-day where stood a third Of
century ago, believing as firmly as ever iii
! American Democracy rs the true upholdclS
and defenders of COnStit tut ional liberty
! And in this year of grace rejoice to see
! good Democratic doctlne practically illus
trated by Republican President The
Southern policy" of Mr.. Hayes is one Of
| the cardinal principles of Democracy, and
his adoption of it is. indeed, not the trl.
umph of the South but the victory of Just
| princi pies of government over party expedi
ents, The doctrine OF States Rights, re
viled as it has been, is, in fact the funda-
mental basis of our National Government
the creature Of the States. You see | am
Bourbon still. Then there is no place for
me but in the ranks of the Democratic
party. If it suffers from the arts of pro-
fesslonal politicians so does the Republi-
can party, and in a far greater degree; for
this is the fate of all long dominant parties.
/ They attract to them the selfish aud I'M
| scsupulous. ! must then, perforce, hold
fast to my ancient faith, and follow the
well trodden path of my political fathers,
| else | find myself lost in the wild iunmles
of RadicaliSm, without star or compass, or
blaZed road out Of it.
| like neither the name nor the sound of
| Rings; but the worst Ring that ever cursed
the Democratic party was purity itself
compared to the Rings that made Mr..
| Hayes President of the United States OF
course you view these matters from quite
another standpoint, but from my stand
point l heartily endorse the nominees of
the late Democratic Convention, and expect
to see them elected by good round major
ity They were placed upon our ticket by
the duly accredited representatives of the
| Democracy and are in every respect worthy
of the confidence of their fellow citizens
Yours respectfully, r. G. MACKALL.