The daily gazette., 1878-07-13
Letter From SeafOrd.
For the Dela,oare Gazette.

of Mars this evening, the "Guard" as
sembled at the barracks to consider the
renewed attack made by the common foe
In the Evening" of the 9th inst. Private
"a" raised question of order upo n
the number of soldiers present The Cor
poral decided the point we'll taken. Pri-
vate "B" spoke at length upon the ap-
parent anomaly of styling this organiza-
ton "a Corporals Guard" when full
company was present and desired to
participate in the proceedings. Private
sc" very forcibly and eloquently defend
ed the title and in complimentary lam
guage spoke Of the company present as
honorable recruits. Private I'D" was op-
posed to accepting at the hands of the
common foe even a name, not that he
considered there was any danger of hav-
Ing anything rendered us except insults
and opprobrium, and he moved that the
title be changed to that of the "Nanti
coke Guards" Carried unanimously.
After the work of enrolling the names
OF new members was completed, in re-
sponse to mild suggestion meekly put
that new election of officers be held to
meet the apparent demands Of the new
situation, the Corporal raised his sword
/ in guard and decided that the suggestion
could not be entertained, as the action
taken was a mere change Of name and
not OF organization. The wisdom of thfs
decision was loudly applauded by all the
officers.
The order Of business being called, the
corresponding secretary read an account
of the attack as published on the 9th
inst, in the private and personal organ
of the enemy, to wit, the Every EUea
ing.
He then drew cartridge from the am
munition belt. The charge was found
wrapped in paper wadding, which,
upon being carefully spread out and the
wrinkles and creases all smoothud, was
read as follows:
A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, MARTIAL AND
PHILOSOPHICAL.
Public sentiment Is a capricjous mao.
In some respects, especially POLITICAL it Is
a good deal like flea. When you feel
1t bite and when you wet your finger and
put 1t on 1t, as you think, il is not there,
IL there is any one thing more than an
other which will make philosopher of a
man and set him to thinking, it Is the un-
successful endeavor to catch a flea. The
error consists in the time lost in wetting
the finger.
Public sentiment may be developed,
but rarely can it be created. That il can
be created Is the very common error
which besets the mere politician whose
egotism and ambition dwarf his sensi bill
ties TO the narro rowlineofselfishness Uncon
scious personal anxiety causes him to
Imagine ghost in every shadow, q foe
in every shade, and an enemy lurking in
every bush.
Mere personal ambition for self-ag-
grandiZement has ever been esteemed, in
all honorable communities, an ignoble
passion. 1t has no staying qualities, and
must have an ignominious end. But that
ambition which would elevate self by
falsely representing ones neighbor Is the
most ignoble of all.
These maXims may be considered mere
platitudes by Commissioner Martin, to
whom they are especially recommended
for personal application.
That the principal is responsible for
the acts of his agent is a legal axiom
which even lawyer Martin will not dis
pute.
When candidate for a congressional
nomination at the hands of the Democ-
racy, employs known Republican trav-
elling correspondent to write HIM into
public notice, he, the principal, cannot
evade responsibility tor the utterances
of his agent. In the old times of Democ-
racy, when this guard" was in its infan-
cy, the political atfihation of such incon-
guous elements would have been consid-
cred of doubtful propriety and a candi-
date, or even party man, found giving
away the condolences Of his party to a
pronounced political opponent, would
have been looked upon with suspicion,
and his party featy would have been
brought in question. In these more de-
generate days, more latitude may be al
lowed. 1t SO, permission has yet to be
gwen. The Democracy of Sussex has
yet to be accused of progressive action in
this direction.
But, returning to the text, it seems to
have been the party tactics of Commis-
sioner Martin to create public senti- |
ment abroad, by the aid of his Republi- |
can coadujutor, that he, the commission
er, was the big man, the high cock-a-lor-
um of the Democratic party of Sussex,
So long as the labored efforts were limit |
ed To the Accomplishment of this evident |
purpose, the Democracy of Sussex could |
but enjoy the huge joke, and the inspir- |
ed fuiminations were considered COED
"Guard." But when this Commissioner |
(by his agent, remember) like political |
Falstatf, not content with eulogizing |
himself, accompanied by his companion, |
Pistol, goes out upon the highway to at
tackan aninnocentwayfarer thathemay boast |
of his martial exploits when he de- |
parts so far from this principle of honor |
which recognizes courtesy between gen.
tleman, as to attack and wrongly repre- |
sent the action of a brother Dem crat, |
whose sole offense consists in having |
been named in connection with the same |
position to which he aspires, it may be |
that, when boasting of lis martial pow
eres, he may be confronted, like Falstaff |
was, with a Henry to confound his brag-
gadocio to shame and when he, without |
provocation and with malice prepense,
publishes an unmerited attack ON the in |
tegrity, character and influence of this
Guard, he VIII find that it Is prepared to
meet all attacks by a call TO arms all
along the lines.
The Democracy of Sussex has ever
been generous in recognizing talent aud
merit wherever found. Oftentimes this
has been done to its own sacrifice. That
Sussex county has cause TO appeal to the |