The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-16
VINDICTIVE POLITICS.

One wear ago, when the editor of Tie
Cecil Wig felt it to be his duty, in the
interests of the people of Cecil county,
to protest against the attempt of MIR.
Constable and his political associates to
drag down to the level of pitiable par
sisan squabble the question of an election
of Judge in this county, and while the
crusade of malignity and detraction
against Judge Stump was at its height.
Mr. Constable took occasion, upon the
streets of Elkton, to threaten the editor
of this paper with the withdrawal of the
county patronage, through the use of his
influence with the two Democratic men,
bers of the Board of County Commits
sioners. The threat then made by Con-
stable was carried out, on Wednesday
last, and two hundred and fifty dollars
year is the reward paid the Cecil County
Ne,cs for the use of its columns in that
campaign as a medium of attack upon
Judge Stump.
The weakness of the Democratic ma
IoIlIy vi Illc llCoo hhNt
Gillespie-in allowing such unworthy
partisan considerations and appeals to
influence their action in the matter of
public printing, by awarding all the
county patronage to the two Democratic
papers of Elkton, the Democrat and the
Ne,cs, is an act that ought to be resented
by every non-partisan taxpayer in the
county. 1t is long step backwards in
the history of the progress of Cecil coun-
ty, to find, petty, partisan politics ac-
lively at work in the business office of
the people. Although elected by ma
iority, yet the Commissioners equally
represent ALL the tax payers and people
of the county, and the interest of every
class should be equally regarded by them.
No one man should be allowed to set up
his authority in that office, to dictate and
control the distribution and disbursement
of the monies Of the people, even indi-
rectly in his interest. This is the most
and against which the people are every
where revolving.
1t is true that this is not the first time
that the Hole in-the-Wal has witnessed
such dictation but it is the first instance
in years. in which purely personal ap-
peals have been successfully made to men
too weak to act upon their own convic-
tions of right and justice. Ever since
the Democratic party has been in the as
tendency i'll this county, the bulk of the
county printing has, as a matter of pa
tronage, been given to the party ''organ,"
the Cecil Democrat. Conceding the fact,
however, that about one-half or more of
the taxpayers of the county were Re-
pubicans, and that they lad right to
know, through the medium of their own
party newspaper, how their money was
being spent by their servants, tile County
Commissioners, each succeeding board
has awarded to the only Republican
newspaper in the county, the Cecil Wig,
portion of such public printing as was
of the character of adyertising-the an
nual levy list, sheep awards, notices of
meetings, and other purely business no.
tees. This right of the Republican tax
payers of the county has never been ques
toned by any recent Board of Commits
sioners until the present, and it was not
till the corrupting influence of Albert
Constable became potent there, and men
Subservent enough to become his instru-
ments were unfortunately elected to this
responsible business position, that this
right has been disregarded.
What matters it to Messrs. Hess and
Gillespie, in carrying out Constable's
political plans, whether the express pro
visions of law be disregarded or not?
We put the question to every intelligent
Taxpayer in the county: Isn't the spec
tacle an unwelc0me one, i'll this year of
grace, to see the business Office of the
county. under the dctation and control
of one political BOSS % The monies
of the people being awarded to his toad /
les, and his henchmeu being preferred,
his personal adherents given the places |
of honor, because, forsooth, the two |
Democratic members constituting the /
majority of the Board, owe their election
TO him, and for that service are to repay |