Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-11-29
Verging iowa d u Scandal.


Cards. Reports" Corrections" ed
itorials, replies, rejoinders, insinuations,
recriminations, charges, facts accom-
plished, facts contradicted, figures, de-
auctions and assertions; we little more
than breathe, a great deal more than
doubt and do not at all understand the
main question.
We made guess some time ago and
are disposed, even yet, to stand by it..
At that time we ventured to assert our
belief that there could have been no
trouble in the PUBLIC SCHOOL affairs
Of this county, had the matter been
kept as absolutely divorced from PAR
TlsAN PoLIT1cs, as are the primers, ge-
ographies and grammars used as text
books in the schools.
And who is prepared to say that
such should not be the case?
There could be bnt one reason why
the two political parties of to-day
should, as such, ever mention the PUB
Lie SCHOOLS, in Frederick County and
that reason certainly does not exist.
Did either PARTY favor, while the
other condemned PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
openly making it a PLANK of their
POLITICAL PLATFORM, then and then
only might we nationally expect the
question to be legitimate one between
the two parties.
Not only is such not the case, but in
no CONVENTION Of either PARTY for
years has there been voice raised to
note even difference of opinion as to
their existence, support or manage
ment; in word, the people of Fred
erick County are friends of the public
schools, are willing to pay for them
and are not kindly disposed towards
such, as are willing to sum up long
columns of figures, representing taxes
paid to educate the children, but used
as political bludgeons, with which to
fight an election, or mud balls with
which to soil the immaculate bosom Of
some ambitious politician.
Have we stated an impossible case,
or mythical one, in the light of re-
cent and current events ?
There is not one welLinformed per
son in Frederick County, who does not
know that the controversy between
the two Boards of Commissioners, now
going on, and that began before the
election, is grounded absolutely upon Il
political basis; that holding closed the
school house doors during the first two
months of the scholastic year was ne
cessity begotten of a desire to make po'
litical capital, for which either the
School Commissioners are directly re-
sponsible on the one hand, or for
which the County Commissioners be-
came responsible by withholding the
necessary funds with a like view Of
making political capital out of the ii
nancial management of the school au-'
thorities.
And that brings US to that part OF
our subject of greatest present inter
est, of enhancing interest, because of
the INVESTIGATION that we begin to I'M
dergo as soon as we approach the sub
ject.
In the documentary discharge to
which we refer in the outset of this ar
ticle, there is SO much inconsistency
and point blank contradiction that
there is decided danger of the "vltal
point forever remaining a mystery; a
secret watched over by the ancient
Griffon, or an enigma, which once an
swered, will be followed instantly BY
destruction, as when the Sphinx pro-
posed to Gdipus and he answered the
famous enigma.
We are all we'll satisfied, gentlemen,
both of the partisan press and the ofh-
ces in question, and so are all thinking
people, that Frederick County need BE-
at no time, pinched for money Tor any
purpose, no more to keep our schools
running than to pay unjust, enormous
ly unjust, constable, sheriff and mag
lstrate's accounts; and the dust you
are raising, besides interfering with a
lear insight into the matter, may set
fupon and tarnish the fair name OF
he County, for which we and others
Pre- 6lre, than we do to have placed
y Sility for an egregious error
lI@ 45iss xs s"s .t. ot the me