The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-06-23
MR.. CREswELL AND HIS TRADUCERs.

With his habitual fondness for nnre-
liable authorities, the editor of ''Tne
Cecil Democrat in his issue of Satur-
day last. found in a stray telegram
to a sensational Philadelphia newspa-
per- the inspiration for thirty-one and a
half lines of silly personal diatribe, lev
eled at our fellow-townsman, Mr. Ores
we'll The life of the libel lies in the
malignant falsehOod that in his address
of the 18th instant, before the gradual
ing class of the Law Department Of
Columbian University, Mr. Creswell
violated the proprieties of the occasion
and grossly offended his audience by
the delivery of a partisan political
speech, and for which act-to repeat
the language of "The Democrat -
I" he got soundly Kissed" We have no
comment to make upon such impotent
attempts at personal detraction, except
to say that they fall fiat and meaning
less after reading of an address that
elected deservedly and unanimously
the most graceful encomums from as
representative and cultivated an audi
ence as can be assembled at the Ma
tional Capital AS the best evidence
with which to silence his traducers we
publish verbatim the only portion of
his address that contained any allusion
or reference to recent political events,
and leave every intelligent reader to
determine whether there is an idea or
sentiment in it that suggests the suspi-
cion even Of partisanship. 1t is enough,
however, for Mr. Creswell and his friends
to know that the most eminent law
yers of national regulations recognize
his ability and praised his performance.
If there must be an exception to these,
we know no legal gentleman better quail
fled by his inordinate professional van
ity, to raise dissenting voice, than the
talented editor of "The Cecil Demo
crat." For his benefit however, as well
as for the reputation of his newspaper,
we commend him to the language of
Mr.. Creswell's address, "To ELEVATE
land PURIFY ITS ADMINISTRATIONS Be
"YoND EVERY PRETEXT OF DETRAC-
"TIoN." We merely bespeak for the
following extract careful reading as a
complete refutation of the latest sug-
gestion of political maignitv:
EXTRACT FROM AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
JOHN A. ]. CREswELL BEFORE THE GRADU
ATING CLASS OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT OF
COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY, ON THE EVEN
ING OF JUNE 18TH, 1877.
Two signal illustrations of the growing
Difference for the law have recently been
given which demand something more than
passing notice. One of them was alto
gether American. When the contingency
of disputed presidential election, so long
feared, at last happened under circum-
stances competent to excite the liveliest
apprehensons, it was found that the love
of law and order had become so widely dis
seminated and grown so powerful, that it
stilled the storm of passion and enforced
as detiuitive the decision of the commits
sion. to whom the contested points had
been submitted by competent authority.
| The victory was not in the success of this
man, or that man, this president or that
president, this party or that party; but it
consisted in the fact that the ascendency of
the law was maintained throughout. The
page of history, on which is recorded the
triumph of the law loving and law-abiding
people of the United States in the fierce
contest of 1867, will grow brighter in the
| eyes of coming generations, when they read
how the men of this age trampled party and
passion under foot, and resolved that they
would preserve their liberties in peace,
Better thousand times and I, who am a
republican say it,-better thousand times,
if the votes Of the disputed States had been
decided in Mr.. Tilden's favor by the com
mission of fifteen, that he should be Presi-
dent, than that civil war should be waged
for one week, or even one day, over presi-
dental succession, or that the country
should be agonized by vacancy in the
office of its chief magistrate. The whole
world were eager spectators of the contro-
versy and its adjustment, and the whole
world applauded the result as new vindi-
cation Of popular government. Let honor
be given to whomsoever due. If true, that
some of our Southern brethren resisted the
tempter, and stood mp manfully for the
right, let civic crowns be placed upon their
brows, and let the just act be accompanied
by the universal plaudits of their country
men.
The other illustration of the potency of
law and justice is international. You read
lily recall the Geneva Tribunal, which sat
great peoples of different continents and
which was presided over by arbitrators,
each of whom was the representative of a
foreign nation. Not soldier was present,
not bayonet was invoked. The case was
tried according to the forms and usages OF
courts. Both sides were heard, and in pro-
per time and after due deliberation, deci-
sion was arrived at, an award entered, and
the Tribunal adjourned. The proud spirit
of Great Britain, which more than once
had deted the world in arms, bowed itself
before the moral power of a righteous award
and made restitution to the uttermost Earth.
ing in obedience to its mandate History
delights to narrate how the nations have
been entertained by grand and imposing
spectacles. Conquerors, upon whom the
names of continents have heen bestowed
by their grateful countrymen to indicate
the extent of their achievements, have
rolled onward in their triumphal chariots
at the head of their victorious armies. the