Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-01-16
Reply to the Advocate.

| must confess to some surprise upon
reading the editorial Ia the last issue Of the
Montgomery ddgocato. hGd always Thought,
and believed that the Courts Of J0stice were
open for the reduss Of grievances ASA that
1t was their high prerogative TO protect the
individual and public alike from wrong and
imposition. | was impressed with the further
belief that one of the first and highest duties
of public journal was to defend the public
interests, and to sustain and uphold the legal
authorities in the discharge of their duties.
If the editorial in the ADVOCATE be correct,
then must unlearn what | believed to be
the great, sound and safe principles of gov.
eminent, and the purposes of public Jour
nal, adopt new departure and be taught
to believe that Courts were created for the
chosen few, and public journals must take
the place of patent medicine pamphlets, es-
pousing and advocating solely individual
interests.
Il the Advocate is DESTROYS of occupying
the position Of combining itself to the one OBJ.
ject of selfish, personal, family support, as
against the public veal and interest, GER
tainly have no right TO object. If by ira
ducing me, even TO the extent of disregard
ing decency and veracity, it can further its
interest, so long as it keeps within the limits
of the law. II only exercises national priv-
lege, that Of free press.
Furthermore, II II is willing to advertise
itself as judicial astrologer, capable of Civ
ing reliable Information concerning the hid
den past or of revealing future events of life,
certainly should not object, for the daily
papers give such personal advertisements,
and doubtless they are well paid by the ig.
norant, the credulous and the superstitious.
ha -, Ill k.
pie of Montgomery county what were the
motives which aciuated me in bringing this
suit. its judicial astrology was greatly at
fault, Oh. d was derelict in its duty as pub.
lie journal In is capaoityof astrologer and
diyinator, as sentinel upon the watch
tower, as an advocate of the peoples rights,
il should have fbeen thefirst and foremost
to espouse this cause and prevent the pay
ment Of this illegal claim for indexing the
land records of the county. The great griev
ance OF tue Adc3cate seems 10 be that the
Court decided THO putsic must not pay this
claim.
Regardless of my motives, regardless of
technicalities, if the advocate came up to the
high standard Of public journal, it would
have congratulated the public upon the de.
clsion ofthe highest Court in our State, where.
as u comments the letter of Mr. Il. B. Pretty.
man IN extravagant terms and seeks To de-
grade the opinion Of the Court of Appeals
10 the rank of legal technicaity.
II the advocate by its editorial and the
letter Of Mr.. L. B. Prettyman can convince
the people Of Montgomery county that the
Court OF Appeals was entirely wrong and
Mr.. Prettyman and itself alone right, then
by all means advise II 10 press with more
vsor the calling Of astrologer, for surely
then our people are more ignorant, credulous
and superstitious than can or am willing 10
believe
When the Adoocate speaks of my knitting
Mr. Prettyman before and after the prima.
ries, ii might have spared my tender feelings
so harsh term. ! do not like TO be cassed
with assassins, but | am charitable even
toward astrologers, and doubtless when the
Advocate drew It's horoscope and well con.
sidered the twelve signs, il beheld in the
decision OF the Court of Appeals bloody
knife and saw its terrible work, by some
mistake, 4 placed that knife 10 my hands,
and unwilling y accredited me with is use.
II is To be regretted that an astrologer should
make mistake, for il Injuries the repnta.
ton of the fraternity, but | am sure the
public can afford to throw the veil OF charity
over this one error
II is said an honest confession is good for
the soul. ! was once guilty of great sin
against the junior editor of the Adcocate.-
While | was a member of the Senate of
Marylan he appealed TO me 70 use my
vote tokcep up the pay 10 the newspapers
for the publication Of the laws, and because
| failed 10 yield 70 his powers Of persuasion
he was greatly angered, and his wrath TO
this day has not been appeased, however
trust that this confession may act like oil
upoa the troubled waters
] When brought the suit 10 prevent the
payment of this money By tho pu6io, Ihon. /
astly believed was right so framed the |
Dill as TO make IL one for the public. / pros.
,cuted the cause even, as thought, against |
iarsh treatment in the lower Court ap-
)ealed TO the highest Court in our State, and
here, generously aided by Mr.. Francis
iiller, from sense OF public duty, without
e or reward, and my son, from sense of
lial duty, the law has been fully announced
n all the points in the case. The decision