The Press., 1885-04-30
LOCAL TopIes-PEss,D AND ssIssesED.

LOCAL TOPICS -PENE'B AND SCIssORED. Hartford Times: MT. Hawley, of Staf- ford, was perhaps the best general de- batter (and level-headed one) on the re- publican side. ..s,.., .,s--..s
 ROCKVILLE.
 Inspector Simonds of Stafford Springs is to pay Burpee Post, G. A. R., an off cial visit on Wednesday evening, May 6.
 Rockville Journal Rev. J.H James will commence his work hefe Sunday. The Methodists are pleased with his ap pointment. He will be welcomed by mem bers of the other churches and by the com munity as well, for he is describedsa as a genial man to meet and of good ability in the pulpit. Strenuous efforts are to be made to raise the debt with which the church has been so long encumbered, and 1t is believed that by persistent effort it can be done. The debt is $22, 900. of which White & Corbin offer to bear one- half. s iallQ Bl
 The Press greeting to the again resur rected Wilmington Home Messenger. was not kindly taken. Our bost evidence of this is, rather than the Messenger $ edito- ria, which was not clear to our ssblockhead earnestness, the pains the editor was ct to verbally explain in this village that he had punished us, and how reluctant he had been to abopt such severe measures. 8, we must think that he had us in mind when shedding from his pen point the phrases "malicio,isly, 'idiot, etc. When he says 1.-The Press and tlG Devil" we know the coupling has deep meaning, but, fearing to know the worst, we ask no explanation. And he says that an s'intelli. gent gentleman" year or so ago, picked up Messenger "that he saw flying around the streets at the Springs, and declared it to be the ONLY PAPER published there" We'll, MT. M., that person has before and since making that remark done and said things quite inconsistent herewith
 And even the good, the true, and the beau tiful are not above detraction. Within the week we have heard several intelligent gentlemen from Wilmington say that but no matter. Let our mutual sufferings be a bond of union between us, consoling ourselves with the reflection that its a mighty poor paper anyway that don't make some enemies for itself.
 But-your allusion to the Temple of Honor Has the anti-secret society party lost a champion {? +e - (Sunday HepuDlcan)
 sTAFFoRD's MUawUMPs.-A sPUNKY vu.- LACE IN THE wILDs OF EASTERN CON- NECTICUT.
 Eastern Connecticut generally, like many other sections removed from great centers of industry, has tendency to become hide bound in religious and political creeds and dogmas, and likes to live in ruts that deepen as time passes. The old spirit that formulated the blue laws and persecution lives yet in lots of places, only in more ex- quisite forms. So the independent poIiti- cal movement of last fall fell on stony ground when it struck this section-in all save one spot, one of the most fertile in the state for such a growth Stafford Springs, village as proudly independent in opinion as it is isolated in position. It ] IS said, and with truth, that there are grouped in this spot more men in propor- | tion to population who think and act for | themselves, regardless of drawn lines than can be found elsewhere. Several minis ters, who had occasion to go away in times past, have testified to the kicking pro- pensities of this stiff-necked people, md several mad mill-owners, who whispered gilded words of good things to come with Blaine, are convinced that the village holds the biggest and meanest crowd of politi cal scoundrels in all the world. InFsuch soil there was a rank growth of mugwumps Epreportionately greater by far than in an, other town in the state. As result, DO Iitical lines are all broken up. Opinions refuse to crystallize. and party phases pre- sent curious conditions, The grand old party has had the wind taken. completely out ofits sails and seems in hopeless mi nority. One good-sized bunch of voters left its ranks and lodged themselves in the prohibition camp. They have the'bitter est hate for the old party, and most O. them will never go back. But the uniqu. and interesting group that kicked of the party traces last fall are the amugwumps who pat themselves for wise voting, say they would do it again 10 times quicker and are generally so we'll pleased witt themselves that they propose to sit on tn, fence for while. These .fugitiyes care nothing for office and have precious little love to waste on the "old party" It ii doubtful if they ever go back. Among them may be mentioned J. s. Merriam, aI original mugwump; Charles Warren, and Alvarado Howard, adopts in, the. art o concocting strange doctrines ;. NIB. Fisk g hard working rebel; F., w.. Pattep, An drew Whiton and John Brown, politica "dreamers'' but practical vpters.- All vii watch with interest the future adiustmen these many factions will assume as new lquestiOns come up. Nn rp4 ,gslss .r.--