Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-02-14
We "Spcak Out

We 'Spcak Out
With the exception Of one measure
that has been proposed in the present
reform movement, we cannot possibly
be considered as having any direct in.
terest, the sole exception being the pro-
posal to discontinue the publication of
the County Statement By all the coun-
ty newspapers and as we spoke last
week in no uncertain terms in reference
to that matter, we are free to assert
our thorough independence, both of
selfish or other influence in the matter
claiming present attention in Frederick
county.
First, then, in our consent to speak
out, we ask, can the Examiner or the
Citizen say as much, after rejecting
npon the various statements that have
appeared in those two papers?
Is it possible for any intelligent read
or to assume that only the public good
is Being considered by those two expo
nents Of reform, in their apparently an
tagonistic, but really concerted move.
ments for a change in the different
laws, whereby the taxpayers have
been so efectually mulcted?
No, gentlemen, you have learned,
first, that through the Independent
Press, the people would require that a
searching reform be made and like
philosophers, you accepted the sitna-
ton and in your role as "organs' has
tened to assert your prerogatlves, the
assumption that you lead public opin-.
ion, when in reality you were driven to
the course by public opinion.
Next we find one willing to defend
the Sheriff s Office, but anxious to have
the Magistrates fees lessened; the 9TH
or prints column after column in expo
sition Of the viciousness of the former
but never allows himself to be driven
to take note of the latter; the one lays
before it's readers the total in dollars
gone into the Sherif's pocket, from
the other we learn the totals paid over
to the magistrates and what is remark
able about it, considering the fact that
ian honest reform is being sought, is,
that by mere accident Of course, the re-
publican "organ' offers excuses for, and
explains away and protects the repub-
lican sheriff snd makes very patent the
Magistrates' evil, while by another re-
markable freak Of chance, we find the
democratic "organ' assailing the repub-
lcan sheriff and utterly ignoring the
charges against the magistrates, but we
find its editor placing his seal Of COM
mendation upon their acts by endorsing
their re.appointment, acting in capac-
ity disconnected from his paper.
We note another suspicious circum-
stance in this matter, viz: that the En-
an,iner preserves an ominous silence on
the subject of the proposition to take
the printing of the County Statement
out of the hands of the county press,
when it cannot fail to feel an interest
therein, while from the Citizen comes
the generous hearted and very reform
atory suggestion that the "Commission-
ers should select two papers of opposite
political parties for the publication of
their statement and general notices, or
select four, or have the statement pub
lished in pamphlet form; y the upper
most idea in the mind Of the writer be-
ing the passage Of law that would
keep all the money in Frederick in any
event, unless as pointed out by US last
week, the law required the pamphlets
to be placed out for bid and estimate.
As to the number of magistrates ap
pointed for Frederick district, we have
no concern. 1t is aohat they shall be per-
united 10 do that does concern us, and
if they are required to do only the le-
ultimate business that comes to them,
their name may be legion for aught We
care.
AS to acho they may be, concerns us
but very little more, for, while the law
permits such charges to be made by
those under its special favor, we can
have but little hope that any one would
be content with little while much was
attainable, just as is now the case with
those same magistrates, or with the
Citizen and Examiner in their charges
for publishing the Registration Notices
and other advertising Of which the law
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