Frostburg mining journal., 1883-07-14

true, as we nave mad delRhtiul
change since Saturday last. Cumber-
land, outside Of the chuI ches, failed
altogether TO take any perceptible
notice of he Fourth of July, and it
passed off as quietly as Puritan
Sattath in a New England village
If George Washington could have
stepped forth and peered across the
beautiful spot where he drilled his
troops preparatory to his military ca
reer in the great Revolution, he would
have been dissatisfied with the be-
havior of the city named after the
great duke of Cumb erland, and which
seemed to have lost Its patriotism.
The weather was fine as could be
wished, yet the solemn stiffness, more
than Sabbsthlike, which brooded over
the "Queen City" was more depress-
ing than the coldest rain could have
been. If this is the result of IRA.
tional" mode Of celebrating Inde-
pendence Day patriotic persons will
pray that the community may lose
its reason again before another year
shall pass. We cannot afford to
have the life crushed out Of our ma
tional festival in this way. A few
more years of such repression and
the Fourth Of July will lose its place
altogether in the thoughts of the
people. We ought to do something
to preserve the one day of all others
that has served to fan the fires of
patriotism for generations of Ameri-
cans. If the municipality insists upon
absolute stiffness it should give the
people some sort of entertainment as
a substitute for the interdicted noise
of the fire-cracker and pistol. No
matter what it be-speeches, music or
parade-anything to give the Amer
ican Eagle chance, or a: least to
remind the present and future citi-
zen of Cumberland that the Fourth
Of July stands for something, worth
remembering, worth caring for, worth
making fuss about, and, if need be,
worth fighting for. With two mill
tary companies belonging to the
Maryland National Graid," armed
and equipped by the State for mill.
tary duty, and yet mot even parade !
Governor Hamilton has as yet
made no appointment of associate
Judge, although he told Cumber-
land lawyer few weeks ago he in
tended to make one. The mantle
will fall upon Hon. Josiah H. Gordon,
the oldest practitioner in Allegany
county, though not the oldest in years.
James Schley is the oldest resident
lawyer in Cumberland. lie was ad-
mitted in 1850, two years after Hon.
Henry W. Hoffman. MIR. Gordon
was admitted to this lar in 1914, and
in 1850 was elected State's Attorney.
In 1859 he was elected to the House
of Delegates, and in 1861 was arrest
ed along with the other Democratic
members Of the Legislature and im-
prisoned in Fort Warren. He was
elected delegate to the convention
which nominated John Lee Carroll
for Governor and made an able speech
in behalf of Hon. VIM. T. Hamilton,
who failed to get the nomination.
Whether Mr.. Gordon will be a can
didate before the people in case he is
appointed Judge remains TO be seen.
The appointment would naturally
strengthen him in case he wss willing
to accept the nomination.
Hon. Henry W. Hoffman seems to
have but little opposition for the Re-
publican nomination, and, if we are
are to have Republican Judge, he
would suit the Democrats as well as
any other Republican in the circuit.
Mr.. Hoffman's reputation as a Grim
inal lawyer commenced in 1850, dur
ing the trial of Thomas Mclaughlin
fer the murder of his wife. Hoffman
assisted John M. Brewer, the States
Attorney, in the prosecution OF the
man, who was convicted and after
ward hung He was elected to Con.
gress in 1855 by 1872 majority over
Hon. VIM. 7. Hamilton, en- =; after
wards held the positions of sergeant.
at arma Of the House of Rel rentatives
and Collector of the Po,t of Balti.
more.
With Alvey, Syester end Gordon
or Hoffman, the bench Of Western
Mary land, which for seventy years
and more has been distinguished for