The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-03-10
TRUTH BEFORE FAVOR"

If an anxious inquirer after truth
were to ask Gen. Grant to give, in one
short sentence, his experience of public
life during the past Ell ght years, he might
truthfullv reply, that the fable of the
sheep that leaves its fleece on the BRAN
BILE bush is an apt illustration Of the in
evtahlc fate of him who sees himself
stripped of his friendship and good maine
by the tenacious and thnrnv hold of
politics. No matter how elevated his
character, or unimpeachablc his integ-
ritv, detraction and misrepresentation
follow close at his heels. and pursue
him into every relation Of life. This
fate seems inevitable, anu no public
man can ever fully comprehend the doc
trine of total depravity until he has
been compelled to dispense limited
amount of official patronage among an
ualimited number Of political friends.
Eight wears ago, when President
Grant honored Maryland and Cecil
county by selecting one Of her pronIi-
nent citizens, in the person Of John A.
J. Crcswell. as a member Of his Cabi-
net, we believed that so far as the three
essential requisites of ability, honesty.
and fidelity were concerned. MARYLAND
had given to Gen Grants administra-
ton representative man. Mr. Crcs-
wells official career fully justified the
expectations of his friends. If, how
ever, the statements of the leading Re
publican paper of this State are enti-
tied to credit, instead of the respected
cx-Cabinet officer, Mr. Creswell is the
chief OF a disreputable ring of Wash
ington politicians, the mead center of a
cahal OF scheming traders, whose moral
deformitv is heightened by contrast with
the immaculate purity Of its cditor-in
chief, who sits enthroned, rigid and cold
Ike Virtue among the Epicurcans
1t seems almost unnecessary to com
ment upon the palpable motive of this
attempt to maIgn the character Of
gentleman so generally known and re-
spectrd. Does a gentleman Of Mr. Full
tons intelligence seriously suppose that
t,ln hot Ia, IL
slant is an effective means of estop-
ping Mr. Creswcll in the exercise of his
prospective influence with the incoming
administration Does he credit Presi-
dent lIaves and his counselors with so
limited stock Of discrimination, as to
suppose they could not recognize the
personal motive that suggested it
Mr.. Fulton seems anxious that Mr.
CrcsWell's real character should be
known eorly at Washington. We ask
him frankly whether he thinks he has
taken the best method to accomplish his
purpose, Does abuse, or do abusive
methods generally succeed-wc mean
among gentlemen of character stand
ing: DO they not generally prove boone
rangs, that rcbounding, strike back their
throwcrs?
My lords beware-by mounting oft my
name,
Unwisey you may damn me into fame
The unmistakablc disposition of the
proprietor of the American thus to
make his paper tie vehicle Of Il per
sonalism as offensive to non-partisan
Republicans as be insists Mr. CrcsweII
has been to him, can accomplish moth
ing in Mr. FuIton's favor SO far a.
the article in question is indicative
merely Of the personal feeling of the
American man towards Mr. Ores
well, We have no comment to make on
it. However desirable it would be to
have thoroughly cordial relations re-