Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-02-27
Hatters From tho People.

>
MR.. EDIToR-When writing the ar.
ticle signed "Countymann in q late
issue of your paper, it never occurred
to me, that you would turn loose
upon your scribe circus clown in
the shape of a so called "city coon.n
My questions were, 1 thought, perth
nent at this time. l did not antici
pate that any gentleman, who would
aspire TO represent Accomack in the
Legislature, would hesitate to ex-
press himself upon any question of
Importance, and it is plain that my
Judgment was correct upon this
point. Drs. LeCato and Smith and
Mr.. Matthews have certainly spoken
out and informed the people as to
their views. No harm has been done.
1t is not, therefore understood, why
"Citymann is so very sensitive upon
this point. We presume his inten-
ton was to inform "Countyman" in
particular and the public generally
that it was not now "cityfied'' to ask
a representative of the people how
he stood upon any important ques-
ion; that a representative of the
present day must represent himself,
his own individual views, sentiments
and whims and disregard public
opinion. If that is the idea intended
to be conveyed by "Cityman," then
we beg to suggest that such ideas
and notions may be "citified," but
they have not yet reached the coun-
try; the country people believe that
n representative must reflect the
wishes of the people regardless of his
own views and prejudices. What
right has representative to say,
know better than my constituents do,
what they need. such laws as are
good for them. I will provide, such
as are not, however anxious they
may be for them, will protect them
against. To arrive at such q conclu
sion one must feel that the masses of
the people are not intelligent enough
to know what is for their own well
fare; and yet, without this intelli-
gence, are wise enough and sufficient
ly discreet, to select their guardian.
l venture the assertion that neither
Senator LeCato nor Representatives
Smith or Matthews would subscribe
to such doctrines as this ''smoke dried
coon" would thrust upon US. Mr..
Coon evidently is not Mckinley
lite, possibly not a Hannacrat, but
about half-and- half; gold before the
convention and silver soon after
gold as long as Mr.. Cleveland was
possibly in the saddle and then for
silver as long as Mr.. Bryan had a
show of winning. If democrat he
must be an ofIiceholder, because in
late years none of our country
coonsn have been able to try city life
unless some good fat office came their
way. Oh no, we fancy Mr.. Coon, u
that the good people of Accomack, |
mean the law abiding citizens, are
unwilling that several chapters in
our criminal code should be violated
daily and with impunity, and then
be Knocked by such vioators with
the exclamation, prevent if you can
or, why don't you break up such
violations Of the law-so many men
are violating the law, we hear, that
the business is becoming unprofit-
able. In all earnestness Mr.. City
man. would it not be far better to
repeal such laws as are expensive to
enforce, than to have them on the
statute book and provide such COM
plicated machinery for their enforce
ment, that it is rarely possible to in
augurate q prosecution? Are these
not questions worthy of the consid-
Grafton of our best intellects2 Are
they fit subjects for the jester, though
he may be clever? Certainly Drs.
LeCato and Smith and Mr.. Matthews
are not disposed to treat the INSIDE
meanor act as q jest. They have e1'
pressed themselves as willing to give
the matter mature considera tion.
Why should you, Mr.. "Cityman, y
treat the matter with less respects
Surely you have not been violating
even so simple a law as the game law
To be sure you did not hunt haref
and cartridges out of season.
Don't be alarmed "Cityman" about
"Countyman's" record. Ithas never
suffered from any of the prevailing
''isms" from the days of readjuster.
ism to the present; and not being a
local optionist, it cannot be claimed
that he has in view the violation Of
the local option law especially
"Countyman" believes in democracy
pure and simple.
CoUNTYMAN.
ED1rop ENTERpRIsE .-nCitvman,