Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-04-21
At Cross. Purposes.

We have had ample time IN winch
20 read the letter Of Governor Hamil-
ION and as we'll, the comments made
ny the press and by in 1lviinals and
are enabled to see three things, we
think, very distinctly. First, that the
Governor has had no idea. or intention
TO make, Of this answer to an inquiry
addressed to him by certain business
.oen, a political manifesto.
Second, that his enemies discounted
it in advance, as such, and thus placed
MIN between the two horns Ok the d.
lemma; either to make it such an in
strulnent, and become personal and
offensive, or not to make it such an in
strument when there would follow dis
appointment on the part Of those WIN
had been led to expect it.
Third. That bis friends have done
him more injury in endeavorins to
make OF the letter, that which it is not,
nor was intended to be. thar his enc
mics can ever do, by calling him cow
ariiy and unlign'Ged. To ground US
IA our belief in the correctness Of our
fret proposition we rave the Cover
.nor's own words for it, that he dis
claims vii intention TO be considered
personal, and as his letter deals with
facts and no. with theory, with acts
that are on record, not with declara'
tons Of party or political principles
as hia letter is businssa-l'ke answer
70 plain and pointed questions, and
further, inasmuch as he knew, long
before be wrote that letter, just what
the people Of the State had heen led
70 expect, We have sadly mitjudged
the pluck Of Governor Hamilton, if we
are to believe, that he, seeingjnst wLA,
kind of declaration OF war the people
had been given to expect, would, had
lie ever intended to 'ssne manifesto,
ahen been more than careful TO strike
what be hit at, and tc leave q mark
There would have been ~ Rims" in
", that he did no, inpart to purel!!
business document.
That the document was discounted
in advance with no good Will or n.en-
lions towards ither it, or its author.
one has only TO recall what was writ
zen and valid, in order 70 believe il
that IL WAS done TO goa1 him into say
:ne something impolitic and lndlscreet,
or, believing that no p,onnnclamento
was intended, pnrposely led the PEG
pic estray in their expectations and
thus charged their minds with belief,
shat he was wanting in courage to
square,y lace the Issue, WAS the evl
,lent purpose Of all that Was said and
written before the appearance Of the
letter. Had his friends accepted the
letter as It was and for what it was in
tended to be and not endeavored to
make it st the niche prepared Tor 1t
by his enemies and which they had no
desire that it should fit; bad they al.
lowed it to be plain statement Of
disputed facts, instead of forcing npen
tia political significance that the style,
,nbject matter and declsre' intent Of
the letter refused to snbstantiate, they
would not have forced the letter and
IT'S author into the false position, that
they have; for as we read and under
stand that letter and the one to which
!. is an answer, it dsavows all inte"-
t,on 10 do other than state facts wi ,bont
pretending or expecting, that it sh III
be political text upon which to base
sermons to republicans, democrats, or
any wing Or faction Of the latter.
As we have already said, we have
placed a different estimate upon the
capacity Of MIR Hamilton to act in the
aggressive. when so determined, from
that which would Justify us in the &C
ceptance Of this letter, az the full meas
ure Of his courage to declare war
against the Maryland Ring Deuocra-
oY
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