The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-19
SATURDAY, JAN. 10, 1878.

SATURDAY., JAN. 10, 1878.
Judge Motter must understand
that though Judge of this judicial
circuit, and entitled (howsoever des-
servingl to its rights, honOrs and
emoluments, he has no right or shad-
ow of right to perpetrate an outrage
or the people of Garrett county, by
inflicting upon them officers to adj
minister their school affairs whose
incOmpetency has been fully demon.
strated, and whose continuance in
Office is against the wishes of the cit
liens of the county. The peril with
which our best interests are now jeop-
ardlzed, is too grave and imminent
to waste any strength in mere per-
sonalcontroversies, and if he supposes
that political preferences have any
thing to do with the discomfort he
has been grossly misinformed, and it
would be we'll for his character for
fairness if he would at an early day
reconsider the grounds OF the evil
dence upon which he declined to
make the change proposed by Judge
Pearre. Our people are not over par
ticular in this matter. They see
clearly what the present emergency
needs, and they k1lO'0 that the gen.
tlemen named are not com petent for
the work that must be accomplished,
and they demand that the Judge
shall not put his personal jpSe dira
against this aScertained sentiment.
The statements that come from
them over "Your Committee" are
received, though probably true, in
that half doubling feeling that neu-
tralizes any possibility for good that
they seek to accomplish, and unques-
tionabIy the feeling is rapidly grow
ing throughout the county, that if
there can be no change there ought
to be no schools as an excuse for fur
Their personal and financial compiler
tions, errors and abuses. What
guarantee, they ask, except in clear
ing the whole establishment out,
have we that this year will but re-
peat the experience of last, with its
disgraceful personal squabbles, finan-
cial disaster and universal distrust.
1t is somewhat presum ptuous in
your Committee" certainly in a
Judge, to suppose that any people
will sit quietly down under such
abuses, and he mistakes the character
of this constituency if he supposes
that they have yet reached this ''lev-
ell" FARTHER than submit to it we
are free to say they will, with COM
placency, consent to the closing of
every school in the county and see
them closed until change can be
effected. and they will not be slow to
test the merits of the question, which
one of the Judges so seriously enter
tains, as to the constitutional author
ity of any or all of the three Judges
to make any appointments under the
present reading of the law. If the
power to appoint is inadequate, then
the appointees have no authority I'M
der the law, and the power to build
houses, employ teachers, contract
debts, etc., is a fiction, and cannot
bind the county or the tax payers. If
in no other way the people can get at
their rights, they will avail of this,
and test the right Of these people to
exercise the duties of School Commits
sioners under an appointment Of
doubtful authority.
We trust no such contingency may
arise, and that these gentlemen, ac-
knowledging the general complaint,
may gracefully retire, and leave to
others to at least attempt better ad-
ministration. Failing in this Judge
Motter ought, in Difference to his par
ty demands, (if all other considera-
lions fail, y reconsider his previous re-
fusal, and if dissatisfied with names
already presented, name Others him
self, and so satisfy the not unreason-
able demands that are now pressed
upon his attention.