Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-10-24
CORRESPONDENTS.
The Canal an Issue.

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the light, of the process of intrigue and
political shuttle for final possession of
the remains of the old canal, but |
havc not changed my opinion that the
time to fight the battle was fifteen
years ago. | predicted the present
disastrous condition of that great work
more than fifteen years ago, but be-
cause the wrecking process proceeded
slowly and cautiously under the adroit
management of the expert manip-
ulators of the scheme. the people were
not only incredulous, but finally stoned
and fired the prophet.
Some powerful influences that
were then hand-in glove with the
powers that guided the canal to ruin
a"d bankruptcy now heartily wish
they hadn't done it." Truly time
works some wonderful changes and
transformations. and the spectacle of
Il great corporation spending its money
like water to rebuild and save that
which its own purblind political folly
placed in the utmost danger, would be
amusing if it were not fraught with so
much sellous consequence to the people
Of the Georges Creek region.
Perhaps 1t is too late to talk of these
mistakes now. but there are thousands
of people in Maryland who will never
view them with any degree of leniency,
or allow that there was the least pos
slble excuse for them, and the votes of
those people may count at the coming
election. They constitute an element
of doubt they belong to that always
disagreeable class of people who say Il
told YOU so. and from whom you meyer
need expect any comfort.
In those days Frostburg with YOU
among them, Mr.. JoURNAL.) Iona
coming and Barton always turned the
tide of battle in favor of the very
people whom you now more than Sus-
pect of a design to rob you. Time and
again have the people of Cumberland
downed those people in the democratic
primaries upon these very issues. only
to have them re-instated in power by
the votes Of the mining region in CON
ventlon.
1t would be unjust, perhaps, to say
you knew you were sowing the wind'
i'll those DAYS. but it is sound logic
even though cold and unpalatable-to
assume that you are threatened with
cyclonic crop Of your own folly. And
the man who stands on the street
corner in Cumberland with Il granite
like grin upon his countenance and
greets yOnr lamentation over the un-
natural treason of your old allies with
"A cynical ~ told you So" may be a
Jobs comforter, but he is the legit-
innate handiwork OF your own creation.
You democrats Of the mining region
YOU of the old democratic ripp-are
Justly responsible for every evil that
befel the canal. and if it is stolen and
given to a rival coal region, the blame
should rest where 1t properly belongs
upon the heads of YOU and yours.
Mr.. JOURNAL.
At last YOU are right upon this
question. At last the mist is cleared
away, and YOU see the horns. hoof and
tail of the devil you lately worshipped.
But isn't it Il little too late? Where
are YOU to look for aid in this emer-
gency /? Your old allies are the men
whom YOU are called upon to FIGHT.
Do YOU think YOU can appeal with any
chance of success to the remnant of
the old anti-canal faction which YOU
helped to crush and eXterminate ? 1t
could not help you if it would. and
would not if it could.
Now, if YOU could divert the atten-
ton of the people from their evidently
well-settled purpose of up-rootinp the
Court House ring. YOU might possibly
defeat the democratic legislative ticket.
a portion of which YOU suspect of being
allied with those who have DESIGNS
upon the canal. But unfortunately
the time is not propitious. Republican
attention is centered more upon party
purpation than ANYTHING else at this
time, and it is too late to raise an issue
that Won helped to settle against YOUR
own interest nearly twenty Years ago,
Oh , nv friend, it is too late-ever-
lastingly too late. You were on the
wrong side at the crisis of the battle
and YOU didn't know it. You belped
TO trample ont every spark of opnosi-
ton TO the program that now tlreatens
Won with irretrievable disaster. and
Succeeded in throttlinp every move
ment that has for ifs object the over
throw of the men now bent upou
sacrificing YOUR prosperity TO their
own personal profit. And if quite a
numerous array of old antl.capal
voters are now found in rather close
nolitical nroximitv to their old anta~-
aonists of the ring. is if anv more
stranoe than the nos;,ion Won now ex-
meet Dr., Price TO talLe-and will knife
him if he don't take? DR.. Price is an