The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-03-16
TAXATION AND MIR. LYLE.

We are happy to acknowledge
the receipt of Capt. Lyle's answer
to our article, and defense Of his
letter to the Los Angeles Califor-
Man. That letter stated: In this
part Of Florida no regard is paid to
the value of the grove. i: : =
The assessors books will plainly
show the politics of nine-tenths of
the taxpayers here. : * We
are cleaned out by county commits
sioners." The gentleman's distinct
Reputation Of any value or interest
to be set on opinion, compels US to
say nothing as to Col. Codrington
and taffy, but we shall troat his
logic and facts with all the care the
importance of the issue requires.
When the charge Of political favor
itism was made against the board,
and statements and figures fully
given, as Mr.. Lyle says, Judge
Harrison was acting clerk Of the
board, and heard the charges. There
were also some half dozen other cit
liens present. But when was it re
ceived as orthodox that a citizen
discharged his full duty when the
criminal is personally addressed"
and even 'facts and figures" given !?
1t seems to us, with all due defer
ence to Mr.. Lyle, that a citizen is
bound to expose and PUNISH corrup-
ton or maladministration. We
said, "But for Col. Codrirgton's
thoughtful regard for our good
name, not one citizen would have
known of the accusation" If Mr..
Lyle can give any reason based on
grammer or rhetoric why this Ian
guage in this connection can be ia
ken as making reference TO anything
except the letter quoted at the head
of our article, we will acknowledge
ourselves careless in the use of our
language, not as making an asser-
ton which we know to be false"
The statement was made, most per-
sonally and Extensively, but we
made no reference to Mr.. LyIe's
conduct before the board. 1t is no
claim on the gratitude of the public
when charges are exposed only to
tina wrong-doers.
We have no anxiety to see Mr..
Lyle figure as a short-tailed fox. 1t
is not a question as to whether a
man shall lose his dignity, but
whether or not public jastice shall
be done. The gentleman is kindly
anxious to know our personal expe-
rience in such matters. Inasmuch
as our opinion is not considered of
the least consequence, we shall sim
ply say that our hand is still at the
pillow, as every man knows, and we
have no intention of removing it
therefrom till justice is done, or we
can exactly place the responsibility
for the failure. We can saw in adj
dition that we have nevar ventured
so far as to give Mr. Lyle advice.
1t is principle Of eternal justice
that he who conceals crime abets
the evil-doer. The gentleman claims
to have mearthed ample evidence
of maladministration; it is his duty
as 8 citizen to expose and aid in the
punishment of the public offender,
and we submit that this IS not well
done when the charge is made across
the breadth of a continent, where
the publication can do the most
harm and least good.
The fact that one grand Jury is
remiss in the discharge of its duty is
no excuse for a citizens failure to
do his part. If Mr.. Lyle will quote
the law making the governor re-
sponsible for the acts of any county
official, or giving him power to re
move the offending party, we will
then join him in his attack on Gov.
Bloxham; if he will give the basis
for his charge of political favoritism
shown by the action of our board,
we promise to express clearly our
honest opinion for what it IS worth,
but he has made the charges, and
he must stand or fall with their
truth or falsity. He cannot, with