The daily gazette., 1879-01-20
Spirit Of the Peninsula Press.
Drift Of Editorial Discussion During
the Week.

the Week.
Dela,cdredn With the revenues of |
the State undisturbed, or but slightly
modified, our State debt will be paid off
In a few years, and we shall have the
satisfaction of being out Of debt. The
Democratic party created the State debt
principally to relieve our citizens from
draft during the war, and provided, by a
wise system of revenue, measures which
have borne but lightly upon the people,
the means to pay the interest on the debt
and sink gradually the principal. Our
enemies predicted that the debt would
| never be paid, and now say that we are
paying il too fast; but 1t is our duty to
60 on liquidating the deb, until IL is ex-
ting,iished. Once the debt is paid, we
can, without the least embarrassment to
any, from revenue derived fiom license
for special privileges granted, build up a
complete educational system throughout
the State. But our first duty is to pay
the debt. Let nothing divert us from it.
Cecil Democrat With the peculiar
merits Of the personal quarrel which Mr..
lConkling is bent on thrusting on Mr..
Hayes, the public have little interest.
The very reasonable supposi tion would
he that as the Executive Is responsible
for the conduct of his subordinates, he
should be best judge of their fitness hut,
when a great Senator sits quiet while
mighty fraud on the country is IN course
of perpetration, uttering not note of
rebuke when rebuke might have proven
effective, and by his daily course there
after shows that he was cognizant of the
fraud, yet fancies that bes and jeers at
the subject OF 1t will EN- balm his lost in
ltegrity, and repossess him Of 1t, political
ethics receives a shock that the public
-. a
ignore.
| Middietown Transcript :--Whenever
country publishers will quit giving their
most valuable space to frea puff" of
concerns that never spend dollar with
them In legitimate advertising, just be-
cause the "puffs" are sandwiched with a
rehash of stale "news" and offer some
thing convenient with which TO MI up.
then country journalism will be better
appreciated both by readers and adver-
tisers.
II Dover Sentinel The Smyrna Times
seems TO think the contemplated remov-
al of Fiske Townsend "a spasm of virtue.
Bless your iHnocent soul, ii IN only a
move on the political chequer board.
Townsend's habits were as well known
at the time Of his appointment by the
tGovernor, as now.
| Cut down the expenses These are
hard times and the Legislature should by
practical measures cut down our county
expenses. 1t costs at least $1,000 to col
lect the taxes of this county il could be
more thoroughly done for $1,000,
Lewes sLight:-Governor-e Hall, in
selecting James Walcott, Esq, of Dover,
az his Secretary Of State, has made an
excellent choice. Mr.. Walcott is ris-
ing young lawyer, prominent in his par
ty and well known throughout the State,
and is eminently qualified to discharge
| the duties of the office 20 which he will
soon be called. The commonwealth has
long had able men in the Secretary's
eff ce, and Mr.. Walcott will we are sure,
, prove no exception to this rule. Hon.
n. Is. Smith-rs, one OF the abiest of our
lawyers, once held the office, as did also
). NJ. Harrington, now deceased.
Milford Chronicle The details of the
! hanging of Hunter, the Camden muir
, derer, on Thursday of last week are h0r-
r BILE and revolving in the extreme. Snch
Exhibitions are disgrace to "A civilized
= country, and are strong arguments for a
I more humane method of capital punish
ment. Asphyxiation In close cell 10y
, me ans OF a deadly gas, has been recon-
: mended by some, while the guillotine
: would be sure and expeditions method
of sending the unfortunates into .terni-
u ty. Bv all means let us have u reform In
this matter.
| ptdIOTu HueI--l ue vi bu'
, General Assembly this week have beer
marked by more than ordinary interest
a inasmuch as the involve a question OF
v the gravest import-the removal from
Office OF w. Fisk Townsend, the presen
Clerk of the Peace for Sussex county
> The charge preferred against Mr.. Town
seld is a serious one, the petition setting
forth that h@ has been guilty of imnor
> atty and neglect of duty. II has been al
:. open secret for long time that the un
IL fortunate habit Of inioXication had rem
Ii dered Mr.. Townsend absolutely incapa
n Bile of faithfully discharging the duties o
the office, but from considerations o
sympathy he has been retained lnihis po
)l sition. Ali sorts of rumors are preva
Iient, but none sufficiently creditably a
to Justify newspaper ventilation, conse
N quently we suspend comment until tn,
facts in the case shall have been fully de
veloped at the trial.
e Cecil Whig:-Those who believe capi
II tai punishment the appropriate an,
,r equitable penalty, when murderer ha
been duly convicted, have right to de
IL mand that it shall be decently and hu
u namely inflicted, and that no ono shal
d be executed except in accordance will
n tho law Neglect and clumsiness are 81
many arguments furnished to the oppo
nents of the death penalty; and we ma,
!, be pretty sure that they will be industii
ously and effectively employed.
q