The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-01-12
LET THE STRONGER MAN WIN.

That Judge Stump is really a senatorial
candidate, is no longer matter of doubt;
his friends prominent among them Mr..
Constable of this county, have taken the
field in person, and report credits them as
pushing his candidacy with an effect very
weakening to Mr.. Groome in his county
delegation. On the other hand, the can
didacy of the latter is regarded as assum-
ing formidable proportions, notwithstand-
ing what the newspapers report as the
fire in the rear We are frank enough to
confess that, esteemng Judge Stump as
we do personally. we regret his conclusion
to allow his name to 60 before the Legisia-
ture, in what is termed ga fire in the rear
candidacy. And that for obvious reasons.
However unacceptable Mr.. Groome may
have been at the outset of the contest to a
majority of the Democrats of the county,
on account of past political acts and party
affiliations distasteful to them, the impress
sion has recently become very general that
the present determined opposition to him
in his own county, is inspired solely by
personal feeling, in the intensity of which
local party interests are being wholly over
looked. This impression has been mate
rally strengthened by the apparent hope
lessness of Judge Stump's candidacy. If
he have any possible prospect of success,
the people cannot see it. They do see,
however, Mr.. Constable actively at work;
they read his letters in the newspapers and
comprehend fully the motive of his activ-
ity. They know him to be the open, frank
and avowed personal enemy of Mr.. Groome.
They know further that he has the right,
which no one dare question, to assume
whatever attitude in this contest he pleases.
1t is his own personal and political CON
Germ. His work then is that of recog-
nized personal opponent, and has due
margin allowed it in view of the motive
that inspires it. With him the issue has
long since ceased to be personal one. To
a certain extent also-barring its personal
features-the indirect opposition of the
Cecil Democrat, growing out of conflicting
individual interests, is to be expected. SO
character, is not too aggressive, and is
limited in it's scope to what its editor sees
fit to consider the prudential area" it
can be readily understood. But why Judge
Stump's real friends, who recognize his
acknow lodged influence in his party, and
would not see it impaired by having an
unjust imputation cast upon the motive of
his candidacy, should desire him to antago-
uize Mr.. Groome, simply for the gratitica-
ton of doing so, is not so easily under
stood. And yet, although this may not be
the case, still the fact is identical, that this
is the view of his candidacy entertained
| largely by disnterested people. Not, in
deed, by any act or assertion of his own,
but as reasonable conclusion from the
inordinate personal hostility of certain of
his friends to the ex Governor. Now, how
ever, politicians may delight in gouging
each other, the people like fair play, and
are very likely to condemn an appearance
of unfairness. In fact the idea has been
gaining ground very rapidly in Cecil county
| for a fortnight past, that the personal
| opponents of Mr.. Groome are determined
to defeat him at all hazards and by any
means. This feeling has reacted in his
favor, it has excited sympathy in his be-
half, and men who were a few days ago at
| least Indifferent as to the result, are now
his supporters. They regard this attempt
to weaken him at home and to destroy the
| prestige of his cause in other sections of the
| State as somewhat akin to the "If | can't,
then you shan't" policy. We confess that
we, in common with many others neither
| personally or politically interested in the
| final result. share somewhat this feeling,
and should like to see the ex- Governor,
being the stronger candidate, untrammeled
at home, win, if possible, another political
victory for Cecil county. Were their places
reversed, we might even more cordially
congratulate Judge Stump in the und
vided support Of his county. Why not
then, in view of all the conditions of the
contest, give him the complimentary vote
of the county, and when the tug of war
comes unite, if you please, on the next
best Cecil county man? In any event, let
one man have the solid vote of the county
when the test vote is taken. If Mr.. Groome
is the stronger man, Judge Stump should
not be in his way.