The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-04-12
PRESS OPINIONS.
THE ENLARGED WHIG-k SKETCH
OF IT'S HISTORY.
Its Establishment by Palmer c. Ricketts,,
in IS4I.
What It's Contemporaries Think of It.

some of whom we have never had the
pleasure of meeting personally. These
evidences of appreciation are peculiarly
gratifying to us, in view of our short
editorial experience. We accept them.
however. as incentives to renewed indus
try and enterprise. by which alone the
high standard of THE WuIG can be main
tanned. We think this a proper occasion
to give the dol sch of the history of
THE WIG ~ a county newspaper.
At the urgent solicitation of a number of the
active Why- of Cecil county. prominent amoi
whom was DIR. Amos \. Evans father of the Hon.
Alexander Evans both of whom Were devoted adj
mircrs of Henry Clay. Palmer G. Ricketts, began
the publication of TIE CECIL WING, on the It'll
day of August. 1871. The failure of several pre-
vous attempts to establish Il newspaper devoted
to the interests of the Wing party in Cecil county
was not calculated to inspire Young Il man rs
Mr. Rickett>-he being but twenty three years of
a@c-wth any iiattcrng prospect of immediate
success. DR.. Evans and his associates. however
had not mistaken either the ability OF the zeal OF
the man upon whom was vested the editorial re-
slonSihilty of the new journalistic enterprise
Entering into the spirit of it with all the vim nd
enthusiasm with which his devotion to Wing prin-
cipeS inspired him. The WIG. under his man
a.emcnt commanded attention and respect from
the very outset of its career. Cecil county has
possibly never produced man the superior of
Palmer C. Ricketts, Us Il clcar-hcaded tar-sccng
and systematic organizer. Although not what is
termed Il claS>icnlly educated man. yet lie pos
ScSsed a rarely vigorous mind, backed by an ui-
usually rctcntvc memory which his naturally
stulious habits fortified and strengthened. He
was Il natural mathematician. endowed with II
strong analytical turn of mind. lie could easily
have mastered any of the exact sciences. He
thought vigorously expressed himself either orally
with the pen clearly. concscly and to the point.
As Il writer he never redundant: as Il talkcr,
sharp and inesiyc. Nj. Ricketts, had no superior
in his day as Il controversial political writer His
editorials indicate keen wit and >cathin" sarcasm.
the bclicSt imvecivc and powerful resources n II
political debatcr. Although eNccl!iG@ r"lcmc
writer, he possessed fine imaginative and poetic
power. He waS no mere poctaSter. who limited
his sphere to the rhymSter's conner gt a country
newspaper. but IL man possessed of nice diScrimi-
native and critical powers aS II poet. As Il com
panon. he was genial; as friend. true as steel.
twill he thus seen that the youthful EditGr whom
some of the ariStocratic political prctendcrS .! his
. times affected to despise, had no such word rs
fail in the bright lexicon of his editorial ambition
As Mercury sprang full born into existence. 50
Palmer G. Rickct,. ,.."k al bound the political
leadership OF his party in Cecil county,. He he
came at once the ableSt newspaper exponent OF
Wing principles in Maryland. and his name the
synonym of IL fearless and aggressive Editor.
! 1t i, not our purpose. however. to follow him in
the varying fort c. If his party. hut to indicate
in a limited space. the character o stamped upon
The WING. 1t was not prctentiouS journal at
the outset. On the contrary. it was Il very modest
siX-colunn HeWSpaper-luSt onc-half its present
size No one was more aware ii,nn its Editor then
that it to win its way 10 public favor and in
/ iiuc,cc by the pure force of brains and manage
mcnt 1t was published in the Old Lo" Cabin. in
the Hpl,"a.' y locality rich in "reminiscences OF
old Wing days. Arvua ln.i Gent crrevoivcd THE
Wing machinery and through its columns spoke
! the nraccS of the party. For thirteen years. Mr..
Rickctt. devoted 10 the original WING his energy
and ability 1io hal made il a Political influence
! in the politics of his Siat., and an admirable
medium for the business Interests OF ,G c.G..is
! the incrcaSin" demands upon its columns com
! Dclng its enlargement in January. 1854. 1t then
( became sGyea-column newspaper In the yeal
! following the ne,' t's"IL WHIG Building was
erected on North street, u which - publication
/ Office was removed. The prosperity of THE WING
vas unprecedented in the history of Maryland
/ (caunty) newspapers. In the following year 1855
/ the sentiment of the old Whi"S-thcir party organ
izaton having been Northumberland the
! American party to which 1lr. Tickets gave his
allegiance and the support Of The WING, and
] which he maintained until his untimcly death
/ which occurred on the sth of March. 1850.
/ For short period of eleven months. after Mr.
/ Ricketts, lccease. Til. J., ZIG edited by Mr.
James :. Crawford. In the memorable month OF
April. 1851. Mr.. Z. Z. Ewing became its and
7 Editor. No paper in Maryland or elsewhere CAV,
the Government staunchcr or more uncquvoca
support. As under Mr.. Ricketts, it had been tht
faithful exponent of true Viii" principles :,
under Mr.. Ewing il maintained its integrity and
! devotion to the Government. the protection %
+ whose flag it shared Ever the Jealous defender
of the Union soldier in the iicid it, columns
polluted with no faint of treason. nor ti>"raccl by
any uncertain allegiance to it, Government.
( Under SIR. Ewing it enjoyed increased prosperity
On the sth of August. 1865. il was again enlarged
! to an eight column newspaper
, Fascinated by the business inducements and the
, unieyei"i!c1 opportunities of the Great West il
/ January. 1876 Mr.. Ewin" was induced 10 part
/ with his interest in THE WING. IL business and
/ editorial management then fell into their present
! hands. How they haze tar d. we leave 10 the ties
tilnony Of columns the best witnesses OF til,
fidelity with which il present owner has dis
charged hit trust tn his patrons. and to the accu
mulative cvidenc" his contemporaries
+ From the Philad IL ia Times
3 Henry k. I""Dert. owner and editor OF TIE
! CECIL WIG las enlarged that spri%htly paper t,
hity-two colrInnS and presents the last issue Il
/ model ri Il country newspaper which it certainly
~ alike In the matter il contains and the manner
Of editorial and t!posfapi!irai treatment.
. From tn, Baltimore Sua.
The CECIL WHIG Elkton. Md has been en-
lar" ID to a thirty-SiX column newspaper, and ap
pears in an entirely new outfit. 1t is an excellent
weekly. and giIeS evidence OF deserved prosperity
. From TIE FAHadeIphia Ledqcr.
THE CECIL WING. Elkton. Md. which was cs
tablishcd in 1871 has recently been enlarged to Il
thirty-SiS column newspaper. and on Saturday
" From the Baltimore Bpiiet!n
THE tECII. WING. following the uxitiiilsts al
ral Of its contemporaries in other counties cuc-
To IL this week in II much enlarged and inor,' nj
tractivc "rn II is now thrty-siX column paper
printed with type agreeable 10 the eye Cc;:I
white rni!a:. The Will: i - standard Mary land
> paper, AMI is "..st faithful cpiiome "t events
md local Interests in cecil besides bcin. uni
( 'ormly courteous and conservative lii editorial
! lone
{ From The baltimore !i0rniag ii'fGH
II gives u pleasure 70 note the increased PROS
rrrity q: one ri our NOT acceptable" exchanges
: rHE CECIL WHIG. published nj E!ktnn Md.. by
Mr. Henry k. rnrbcrt. Including the supplement
d, last issue. it enlarged 10 iiity-tw" column
newspaper. with II complete Sprn" outfit ut new
md handsome type THE VINO; in the uldrn tim.
3 IT the laEicntcd Ricketts, standard authority
in all Huti-Dcmyviatic matters. and these who
nave had subsequent r''nil 81 its columns have
'ollowcL in The same political cirsc, always
+ consistent in its principles il has grown in dimcn
! sionE and popularity. maintaining its vantage
ground one Of the leading: journals Of Maryland
! rHE Y HE is conducted with c"nSummaic ability
! md wish for il the abundant success it emf
/ lcntly dcSefpeo.
! From The Wilmington Epriy E"rhiRg.
TIE tEt II WING comes 10 us enlarged to Il
/ thirty-siX column newspaper. with sfxicGn col
INN supplement- and II NEW d rcsS throughout. IT.
geographical appearance always gnnd. has been
much improved. and the original and selected
:cading matter covering some thirty columns. il
] IF Il character that Will amply repay pcrusal
;hcrc Is not sentence that the average reader will
! -! constrained +" skip ~ dull or embarrassing
The Improvement si,ehas well i"r the enterprise "i
| The publisher Mr.. II. tx. ifprbGri. If Ekton. and
shows that hn knows how I" run Newspaper sue
! ccsstu!ly.
! From the Smyrnd Times
/ THE CEcII. WING. II. II. Turhcrt Publisher. Elk
( on. Md. comes to us enlarged to n thiry-SiN col
| ,inas with sixteen column supplement, all in
| lrw type. IKE WING is conducted with ahilit!
! mi deserves the patronage ii is receiving.
| From he Htfaingf5l RcpnbIicaa.
/ I'VE CECIL WING gives evidence of being on
thc highway II prosperity. 1t nn.. u.im"> to ILL.,
enlarged t" thiry-siX columns and printed iint
bcaEy paper. Its typography j. neat. its editorials
! art and pun%ent and its locals written up il
racy. chatty style. Its miscellaneous matter i
selected with great care. Its publisher, II. Il
rorbcrt. Esq. should BE- proud of such enter
! prise, and the citizens OF Elkt,in specially and
.."cil county in general should api'tnaiaie. ar
| C"rhcrt's enterprise and give The WnrG that -up