The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-01-03

To make matters plain to the editor
of the Journal we will give HIM an
opportunity to define some of the
words used in that paper rejecting
upon the character of the editor of
THE REPUBLICAN in open court when
it meets in Oakland at no distant
day. as intimated in our issue of a
few weeks ago. Harsher methods
may be necessary, Mr.. Hamill before
that time arrives, but we shall make
an effort to forbear.
In your issue of December Goth you
again applied the term vulgar and
idioticn to us. If you can afford to
use such language in your paper, Mr..
Hamill, we are sure we are able to
stand it, as no doubt the people of
the county are perfectly aware that
such epithets can injure only those
who apply them. We are quite sure,
Mr.. Hamill, that by this time the
public has formed its unbiased opin-
ion of both of us We are not aware
of an act committed by us of which
we are ashamed unless it is of having
at one time lent a helping hand to
you when you were unable to help
yourself, but we are not quite sure
of being ashamed OF that, as the laws
of humanity teach us to help those
who cannot help themselves. We
leave it to the sober judgment of our
readers as well as yours, Mr.. Hamill,
that we have treated you as cOnsid
erately as we well could during this
last "break''-or since you so unfairly
made an attack upon the teachers
institute. 1t has been said by a prom
inent Baltimore educator that unjust
criticism upon any educational meet
ing usually comes from an enemy OF
education. We would be sorry in
deed, Mr.. Hamill, to class you as an
enemy of education, looking back as
we do over the great (?) efforts put
forth by you both as an official and
as an editor to advance the educa-
tional interests of the children of
Garrett county, not taking into con-
sideration the fact that you were
member of the School Board the year
the Oakland school building was
erected and the children of the county
given an opportunity to attend ses
sion of t1centy-niHe days the entire
scholastic year. Not two months,
Mr.. Hamill, as you state in your pa
per of December Goth, but just taOenty
nine days. If you were not equally
responsible for the erection of the
Oakland school building with the
other members of the School Board,
Mr.. Hamill, yon were certainly lax in
your obligations as a public official.
You are terribly afraid, Mr.. Hamill,
to have your actions as an official of
the county brought before the people.
1t seems to put you on pins and
needles to mention any act on your
part as member of the School
Board May we enquire why this is
thus? Are you still afraid of public
opinion So far as we are concerned
we were heartily in favor of the cree
ton of the Oakland school building,
but after the bonding measure was
defeated, Mr.. Hamill, you cannot
truthfully assert that you or any
other member of the School Board
was importuned by us to erect the
building for we knew it would result
in the children of the county losing a
years schooling.
Now, Mr.. Hamill, we have dealt
with you as lieniently as we well
could under the circumstances. You
endeayor to draw other members OF
our family into this controversy and
more than hint at dishonest act
committed by some one with whom
we are connected. We give you
leave, Mr.. Hamill, to tell all you know
in fact we demand that you make
your meaning plain. But we war;
/, Mr.. Hamill, that should yor
make any statement which cannot b'
borne out by the truth it will be {
sorry day for you, sir. We may ceas'
to forbear in that event.