Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1892-02-20
Lrtt.rs From TiL. P.upIe.

OF y {. u. i dISOuS. DUu At@n'
ten enough to show that this writer
is not a safe guide in matters OF taxa
ton, any more than he is in matters
of religion. Some years ago through
the columns of the late Eastern Vlr-
gilman, he charged upon the christian
church, but he broke his lance with
out leaving a scratch upon the shin
ing shield of Christianity" Without
admitting the truth of this state
ment, l wal first say that when II
writer goes outside Of the legitimate
and proper line of argument, ina dis
cussion of any question of public
character, and drugs in matters that
have no relation whatever to the ques-
ton at issue, and altogether personal
in its nature, it is not only a serious
bre .ch of the proprieties and recog-
nized rules of debate, but is also at
once, an evidence eitherof the weak
ness of the individual, or OF the cause
he represents. can discover no re-
lation whatever, between roads and
religion, unless good roads help one
to keep it, and that bad roads may
materially assist one to lose it. Thus
far religion and good roads may go
hand in hand, and bad roads. be the
Devils hearty co.worker. This latter
fact may explain the antagonism eX-
hibited by certain talented lndl-
viduals toward the proposed road re-
form-who knows? These personal
encounters in the newspaper, no
matter what they may be about. can,
hardly serve any good purpose. The
public may be amused awhile, at
tho expense of the participants. This
is about all. No profit will result
thercfrom, either to the individuals
Immediately concerned. or to the
public generally. And it is from the
fear onlv, that individuals unac-
ouainted with my character, or
make up", might misconstrue my
silence. that | pay any attention
whatever to the Elk Honorable's lit
tie fling in your issue of the
3Nth OF course the man s
object in making it, is apparent to
every one From tho Injustice of the
nositi ri no assumed in the rond dis
cussion, and from the inherent weak
moss of the cau,a he advocated in
eytr.ne ii ,sr, ration. he was prompt
ed 70 adopt this H.ethod in order to
dive the attention of the public
from tho fairness Of the propositions
advocated by me, and to break it
possible, the force of tile arguments
set forth in my circular letter in be-
half of the taxpayers of the county.
In other words, he sought to injure
the cause by making an attack of a
personal character upon the advo-
cate. What elFn..t this attack has
had upon the fate of the road law is
clearly shown nv the vote of the del
egates. If the Elk Honorable's moral
character will not allow him to APP
preciate sincerity and honesty of
purpose in an opponent and II his
intelligence will not permit him to
discern the difference between a
principle and the individual, or be-
tween the advocate and his cause, Or
between roads and religion, he has
but to refer tn the verdict OF the del
cgates recorded in the road meeting
at Drnmmnndtown. on the 3D. of Jan
! uary last. There he will find instruc-
ton and safe guidance, if no COM
fort, for his weary soul.
We will now refer to his charges,
and consider them scriatim. Wewill
arain shake tho ol | bag that has
already given us che dnlnet tones and
wonderful gifts in a late issue. /
shake, "You are not safe guide in
taxation Matters it mntters. Com
PARSONS are odious. it has been said,
and | reckon the Elk Hon. can for
once at least, appreciate the force OF
that saying. He started out with
the idea Of bonding the county for
/. $4,000. Upon my motion in the first
meeting OF The roat, committee, this
bonding clause was stricken out.
When his pet scheme thus failed, he
waved hot. became red end white by
turns, made a PLUNGE for his coat and
hat, and shot ont of the room, de-
clar;ng that road reform was dead.
And he has been working like a
beaver since by methods that
will nrohrbly secure the fulfillment
of his dire prophecy. Again, he
started out with the proposition that
/ property should bear the burden OF
road reform, save the insignificant
sum Of 50 cents, head road tax-my
proposition was, and is, that every
man being benefited by good roads,
should contribute thereto, accord
ing to his means. and benefits de-
rived. The Elk. Hon. may reckon
himself safe guide and so may he
be esteemed byhis strong contingent,
in these matters, but reckon the
tax payers of the land have shown
that they think differently, unless
their actions belle their thoughts. l
shake the old bag again. This time
it says, "you are not q safe guide in
matters of religion This is rather
strange talk to come out of this par
ticular bag. If this bag had been
washed in the Jordan and blessed by
st. Peter himself, il would even then
be rather irrelevant and improper
talk, considering the circumstances.
But when we consider that this bag
is of the earth, earthly, and of the
world, worldly. and that it's CONVEX
sations heretofore smack strongly
of un5elief itself, we are forced to
conclude that it has lost it's mental
equilibrium, or else it is playing the
part of hypocrite, and has totally
forgotten the well known law of
physics, that missile when thrown,
striking an object, may return and
strike the one that threw it.
As in matters of religion, the man
is probably for once at least, right.
I have never attempted nor aspired
to guide men in their religious con-
victions. And here we might make
ano her of the odious comparisons.
How stands the Elk Hon. in this
matter? A man should be sure that
he is we'll grounded in. the faith him
self, before he ventures to attack a
lack of faith in another. Is he a
| guide in these things, that he pre-
sumes to assail the course of othersi
First cast the beam out of thine own
eye, that thou may'st more clearly
see the mote that is in thy brothers.
The next shake of this interesting
and loquacious old bag, reveals the
assertion that you made charge
| vanrc ann imam tho oh riSfi v,