The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-03-09
THE RECORDS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS
PUBLIC PROPERTY.

week to the unwelcome discovery of the
dereliction of county officer has been
made the subject of adverse criticism
by the local Democracy. We svmpa-
thize sincerely with the sensitiveness
that takes such serious exception to a
bare reference to the official Shortcom-
ing of one of the faithful. but beg to
assure the local managers that. Will.
we value their personal consideration.
we shall, no less OH that account, claim
and exercise, at all times, the right to
comment in proper and becoming Ian
guage upon the official acts of those to
whom are intrusted the monetary and
other interests and concerns of the tax
PAYERS of the county. Nor in doing so,
are we making any ridiculous assump-
ton of rights that do not legitimaielv
belong to us, or asserting any presump-
tuous claim to a doughty champion
ship of the people. Nor will we be
deferred from the performance of plain
| duty by fear of mourning the displeasurr
of the Ring managers. Has it come to
, this pass in the Democratic administra-
ton of the affairs of the county. that
the opposition are to be denied the right
of comment, discussion or, if the facts
warrant it, of censure of their rulers
Is every voice alike to swell the grand
chorus of Democratic hallelujahs, in
shouting the praises of our political
masters? Since when did the Demo
cratic ot1ice-holders of Cecil county
cease to be the servants of tie people,
and to whom they are answerable at
the bar Of public opinion, if needs be
at the bar of justice, for all the sins
done in the official body? And how
long, pray, since these same Democratic
leaders became so sensitive upon the
right of public discussion of the pub
lies servants? Since 1861, probably
the happy year in which they rid them
selves the disabilities of the minority
and assumed the rights and RESPONSE
b!lit;es Of the ma orlv party in Cecil
Very plainly it matters much with these
gentlemen, when bulls are believing
whose OK is being gored When a
Republican administration oppressed tie
people of Cecil what ana,hemas We're
hurled at the oppressors' heads. In
those days, were the Democratic minor
i1v leaders choice in their language of
denunciation or of censure of Republic
can officials. But two wrongs never
make a right, and this is a question
purely of the latter For we claim
that the tax PAYERS of Cecil county are
entitled to the fullest information as to
the personal character and official acts
and records of those who, by virtue of
the will of the majority, have been in
u uSh'u w ili 'ilNtSoi l'i'ht vi II uSi
If a tax collector, or any other county
officer into whose hands come the pub
lie moneys, he short in cash, or long in
accounting for the same, the people
have Il right to know it. The legal re-
sponsibility of defaulting officer may
be fully covered by the solvency of his
sureties, and the people be amply indem-
niticd against loss. But the moral re-
sponsibility attaching to the appoint
ment of faithless officer. extends be-
yond the surety, and fixes itself upon
the appointing power. And ust there
lies the sore spot with "the managers
1t hurts the party. 1t shakes the pub
lie confidence in the immaculate purity
of modern Democracy CLEARLY in their
minds there is pressing necessity for Il
thousand industrious Glovers at Wash
ington, where Republican filth has de-
filed the departments for years; but
where the Bourbon ruleth, there purity
and plenty reign. But unfortunately
for Democracy, as we'll as for every
other form Of modern godliness, defal-
cations-which, in plain Anglu-Saxon,
are nothing mere nor less than stealing.
and that in its worse forms, because
done usually behind himsv hulwark
of good charactcr-are growing alarm
ingly frequent. Respectable men seem
to have a monopoly of this branch of
the business. The ordinary rogue is
no where You now look for the high
est type of business criminals, behind
the counters of banks, of insurance
companies, and saving institutions, and
in public Offices of trust and RESPONSE
biIity. They bring great churches into
disrepnte, they disgrace heretofore IN
furnished names, they blast innocent
lives, and break tender hearts 10 the
violated privacy of home, they deaden
and tarnlsh every thing except Democ-
racv, for against that even the gates of
the theological hell shall not prevail, !
since it hath survived the trinity Of rs |
-Tilden Tweed and Tammany. We
have, indeed, fallen upon evil business
and political times The moral obliga-
ton &C be honest, seems to rest lightly |
on men, both in public and private !
positions. The moral estimate Ct crime,
seems to be measured in a reverse ratio |
to the amount embezzled a petty thief
merits contempt as well as condign
punishment, while the public officer
doeth admirably well in the end. steal
he but enough. This being the too
general tendency in this era of loose
moral obligations in business as well