Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-08

Eds. Independent:

Eds. Independent:
In his paper of last week the edi-
tor of the Herald raises the question
of veracity as to my statement of
the facts in our little unpleasant
ness. | cannot condescend to dis
pute with him, nor will | handy
epithets, direct or by inuendo (his fa-
voritemode) which / consider always
foreign to a gentleman. Hence | am
content to rest the question of facts
with the public.
1t has been rule of my life. when
conscious of having wronged any
one to repair the same, and | now
frankly acknowledge having done
Mr.. Reilly injustice. First. | plead
guilty to his charge of "ungentle-
manly and unscholarly conduct" in
not saying italics my own in quot
ing him, but | hope it will be con-
sidered some amelioration of the
offence, when I state that | really
forgot it, and meant no malice, but
still it was wrong. Now l have
atoned for it and / trust the repara-
tion will be accepted in the spirit in
which it is given, though | feel
more than compensated by the fact
that the readers of the Herald and
indeed the whole community have
been enlightened by the editor hav-
ing secured (italicS my own a lucid
definition of that very obscure word
in our language, from very high au-
thority, with all Difference to Web
ster) viz: the Principals of a major
ity of all the public schools of Mar
tants Here l must be allowed to
say | think it unfair that only one
of the ladies of the teachers should
be allowed to share in the honor OF
settling so important question. l
hope / will be pardoned for remind
ing one of the principals, that un-
less he was unfortunate in wording
his certificate, that his comprehen-
sion of the question was about as
cloudy as that of the editor, for he
says: 1.-The word secured italics my
own) was correctly used by the edi-
tor of the Herald, as expressing the
idea that Mr.. Gettinger secured
/, signers, one of whom was myself, to
a petition in favor of head or poll
tax, for as such / understood it. +"
Now, L did suppose by this time,
every one, including the principals
of The schools and even the editor of
the Herald knew the petition was
not IN favor of q head tao but simp-
ly asking that the head tax (already
existing) should be paid before vot-
ing. Ii they cannot understand 1t
now, it certainly is not nty fault.
Reparation second. l find, careful
as was not to charge the editor with
malice, until after the second issue
of his paper referred to in my card of
last week, that / haze done him an
injustice in so charging, and am
ready as before, to acknowledge 1t,
and prove from his own words that
he was guilty only of inexcusable ig-
ception last week to my saying he
did not understand the question he
was discussing. Well, we will see
if he yet understands it. In an edi-
torial in his last issue, in speaking
of the amendment and the efforts of
Mr.. Evans in having secured its pas
sage, he enlightens the people like a
true herald should) by telling them
| it is left to the decision of the voters
of Martlnsburg, "whether we shall
or shallnot have head tax in the fu-
teUe." (italics my own. 1t may be
a question whether ignorance such
as this, should not be called invinci'
BILE. One thing more [ think is due
the people from the editor-a solemn
opinion of the principals, and assis-
tants of all the schools of Martins
burg, with that of State Superinten-
| dent Butcher, explaining just how it
is that any gentleman actuated by a
proper code of morals, can hold an
other in the highest esteem as a citi-
zen, and at the same time have for
him personally supreme contempt.
now take leave of Mr.. Editor, with
the hope that as he grows older, he
may grow wiser and when he again
undertakes TO enlighten the people,
upon any public question he may
first be able to comprehend the
same
| cannot forbear coDgratulating
my Republican friends upon having
secured (italics my OWN so logical,
able and truthful an exponent of the
principles of the party, and doubt
not it may result in adding to their
strength, lest, perchance, the pesky
Democrats again nominate Hancock
which might, in all probability
mould Judging from the past) have
a demoralizing effect on the editors
of the organ.
Very Respectfully,
j. Ell. GETTINGER.