Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-04-01

SOUTH HANCOCK. March 30. 10,

GObIH HANCOCK, March 3u, lYU3,
To the Editor Of The American:
Ii seems that when / wrote that little
open letter to the smaa-fruit growers of
our State, published frat in the Lewiston
journal, | stirred up human hornets
uest. | cannot say, in truth, that this
vas wholly unexpected on my part, In
fact, 1t was just what | anticipated, just
hat wished for, just what | philoso-
phized was necessary as a matter OF
course TO forward that human equity
upon which the progress OF civilization
so very largely depends.
| wish from this very start tall that
have ever written before on this subject
has simply been as a little skirmish-an
advance agent OF real facts) to make the
tee and fun confession that, rs to point
OF numbers, rs far as this State Is con-
cerned at the present time, am greatly
in the minority.
realize that fact now no more than at
any time heretofore; but it has always
been, and probably always Will be as long
~ live, my criterion that a minority
truth should never be kept silent, or
allowed to be siIenced; and it has always
| given me far more satisfaction to be found
| in the right wit even the single minority,
than with the overwhelming majority in
the wrong.
by this 1t would appear that l have no
doubt bat what upon this matter In ques-
tion am in the right, and so | wish it to
he understood. do not claim, as N. V.
! Tibbetts in his letter to THE AMERICAN
| would have 1t appear, that | am the
"Only" man in America who has "the
only knowledge upon the su bject wort b
mentioning, bat do claim TO have in
| tinitey more knowledge, and to have had
far better opportunity to obtain that
knowledge, than any OF my critics whose
| writings have appeared 10 THE AMERI
CAN, and shall hold to that claim till
proof Is brought forth to the contrary.
| When man enters this field OF con-
troversy against me showing credentials
OF practical experience, at least, equaling
that Of mine, then, and not till then, Is
the argument placed on an equal footing.
NV reserve forces of facts aud truths will
then be called out, and will then be better
seen and appreciated by the general public.
1t cannot be reasonably expected by the
most intelligent readers OF THE AMERI-
CAN that would take valuable time to
write reply or misuse valuable space in
this psper, by taking more than a passing
| glance at such senseless comparisons as
- 80 arfi oh D.,
the great errors be has made in charging
me with a wish to exterminate, or even to
kill, the "soug- birds" on my own land,
| much less a desire to visit the property OF
Others for that purpose; and for the
inference that / was by nature very
hard hearted, cruel man, and that ITO take
away that life cannot give" afforded me
the greatest pleasure.
The very opposite in the extreme, rarely
TO be found i'll man (thst generally re-
garded by man as manly weakness OF
sufficient cause for reproachl and often
causing me great conference.-the the
truth.
In fact. | am such a tender hearted,
sentimental man that the lash OF COM
mon sense is constantly being applied to
keep me up to the point OF actual life
necessity. Even while writing now 1t Is
being severely applied, 10 keep rne from
showing the white feather to this very
much deluded people.
Charge this spirit OF egotism TO Mr.
Tibbslts by the reflections OF the second
paragraph in his article. H. W. w.