The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-10-18
THE PLAIN ENGLISH OF 1T.

defeat OF the Democratic party. 1t is
not surprising, therefore, that the editor
of The Cecil Democrat, realizing the proba-
ole effect upon non-partisan voters, of the
honest and unequivocal action of the Re
publicans in meeting the issue of Local
Option fairly and squarcly, should make
a vain attempt to obscure the issue by
throwing over it the glamor of Specious
argument, incongruous metaphor, and
redundant language, editorial accesso-
ries, which our contemporary knows so
well how to employ. That the Demo-
cratic party of Cecil county sAirhed the
question of Local Option, by the shall
lowest pretense Of non-partisan action, is
4 fact that no impartial man will deny.
For weeks previous to the assembling of
their recent Convention, the Democratic
problem had been, not how to meet the
issue by method best calculated to dc
velop sentiment in favor of Local Option,
but how, under the pretended advocacy
of the measure, Democracy could be
most benefited, or least injured. When
the issue was at last thurst upon them
by the pure force Of public sentiment in
Cecil county, what course did the "pear-
ty' leaders deem it most advisable to
adopt, in view of the possible contin-
gency Of party disaster? They resolved
to beg the question, and commit the
"pearty" to neither one thing nor an
other. This course the editor of Tie
Dcmocrot falsely represents, when he
says, that "bya consent almost universal,
sit was understood that the conventions
" of the two opposing parties would agree
ION this matter and arrange for a non
$ partisan (9) vote on bipartisan ques-
"tion.' We defy any man in Cecil coun-
t.. outside of the editorial sanctum. in
which such palpable vagaricS have their
birth, to produce the shadow of any such
agreement. An agreement between the
Republicans and Democrats of Cecil coun-
ty to fix up some mutual plan of action:
some preconcerted arrangement by which
temperance Democrats could relieve their
consciences and fulfill their "pearty .
obligations at the same time. BY some
such specious argument as this for i'll
stance, and for which our contemporary
possesses SO prolific a brain. 9 | am III
favor of Local Option, that is in the alb
stract. But practically, | am Demo-
crat. My first obligation is due my party;
Gttcrw"rds religion, morality, temperance.
If some method can be devised by which
other Democrats not so advanced CD as
myself need not have violence done their
opinions, | should openly advocate Local
Option. but not otherwise To meet
just such temporizers, the Democratic
managers adopted a policy of action for
their Fall campaign that would afford
common ground for all Democrats to
stand on. Therefore, they announced the
" For" or Against scheme. And vet
in the very face of their hue and cry
about partisan trickery upon the part Of
the Republicans as evidenced in their re-
fusal to adopt such 4 make shift. is it
not apparent to the mcanest understand
ing, that the Democrats adopted this
very course simply from partisan motives
to secure partisan votes, and to attain
partisan results? viz, the election of
4 Democratic delegation at Annapolis
who would 90 there rs Democrats and
not as the friends. much less the advo-
Gates, of Local Option legislation If
this be not 50, why select Massrs. McCul-
Tough. Touchstone and Steele. They
were selected as partisan Democrats,
who, in tho event of 4 majority of
votes being cast for" Local Option,
were to spring, Mercury like, full grown
into no"-p0rti<d" local optionists. Else
what would the expressed will of ma
,jority in favor of Local Option legislation
amount to? We would present in Cecil
county the very anomalous attitude of
representing Local Option sentiment by
anti-Local Option representatives. For
certainly if the people desire any special
form Of legislation 10y would select, as
their legisl::.s..7~NfSs'. .ttivcs, friends.
not g - proposed legisla,
ton. Or, how will 4 general or even
special Local Option bill for Cecil county
ever be secured, except by the election
of those favorable to such legislation .
Yet, pursue the non-partisan(?) course
that The Cecil Democrat advocates. and
you can never know your representative.
This is the exact position in which
Cecil county now are. In two Districts
of Cecil county, the Fifth and Seventh,
the utmost dissatisfaction followed the
Democratic legislative nominations for
the reason named. They knew then.
and they know nov, that Local Option
can have no certain advocate Ia al
least two of the Democratic candidates
for the House of Delegates, and that
the third is at least-an unknown guam
tity. To ascertain, if possible, the status
of these candidates, an address was pre-
pared, asking them To define their posi-
ton on tho issue upon which the canvass
was being conducted. The paper was
prepared and printed. 1t reads a. follows:
To lion. Hiram NcCuIough, Jdncs
". T0HchstoHe dnd JoScyh H. Steele:
We, the undersigned Democratic temper
ance voters of Cecil county, Md, believing
in the right of the people to work reforms
through The nai,ot-t,on, and also believing
hat Il majority OF tho pcoplo arc favorable
to the passage of Il bill by the next I.egislas
lure of tho State of Maryland submitting
The question of license or no license for the
sale of SpirituouS liquors, etc, hereby re-
'pectfully ask that each of You define pub
icly your exact position on this question
VIII Won, if elected, labor ami vote for Il
general i.osa. Option bill for the whole
State? Failing in this, vii! you l2hor and
fote for special Local Option bill Tor Cecil
county, similar to the one in Kent county,
Maryland
But ,i4e act was too partisan, and the
PAPER was suppressed by The advice of
such nan partisan gentlemen as the editor
If Tie Cecil Democrot AT Port Deposit. |
he temperance organization, composed