The
Cortland Democrat, Friday,
March 16, 1888.
Page
Two/Editorials.
We believe we speak the truth when we say that almost every citizen in
town had a notion that the old water question had been settled for some time to
come, and in consequence everybody felt relieved if not entirely resigned. The
few obstructionists and one-idea men who were at the head of the fight on the
water question, are still in hopes of keeping up the row and they have bobbed
up in the Monitor [Prohibitionist
newspaper which was published at the Hitchcock Wagon Company—CC editor] this week.
The old notion which they advanced more than a year ago of buying the Water
Works’ plant is again put forward. The village is not paying as much for water
as most towns of the same size and the supply is abundant. There is no
necessity for the village to assume an indebtedness of $150,000 or $200,000,
when it can rent 120 hydrants for the sum which they are now paying [approx.
$33.34/hydrant/year—CC editor.] The village needs the water and it would be
well to get out of debt before assuming another obligation of such magnitude.
So long as the Water Company are willing to carry the load, why not let them?
If the village were to own the works, political jobs would be innumerable and
the people would have to pay the bills.
Some
one contributes an article which was published in the Cortland Standard of March 1st, headed "A Public
Nuisance" and signed "Citizen." The article charges that cigars were given to voters in exchange for
votes at the last Town Meeting held in Taylor Hall, and that in consequence
parties blessed or cursed with weak stomachs were deterred from voting. This is
arrant nonsense, besides being wide of the truth. Cigars were given to some of
the voters, by the advocates of license, after they had voted, and could no
more be considered in the light of a bribe than could the action of the ladies
two or three years ago in furnishing coffee and lunch to voters . Voters did not
know at the last Town Meeting that they were to have a cigar until after they had
cast their votes, but when the ladies furnished coffee and lunch in exchange
for votes, the fact was previously announced in the papers and every voter knew
exactly what he could receive for his vote. The practice of furnishing
refreshments or delicacies of any sort at the polls is not to be commended, but
so long as the ladies set the example, they should not be the first to find
fault with those who have simply followed the pernicious practice adopted by them.
The furnishing of coffee and lunches, was considered a master stroke of
political policy upon the part of the ladies when it was in vogue, but the same
tactics upon the part of the enemy is regarded as a crime. Doubtless "Citizen's"
effeminate stomach was cheered by the pernicious coffee, and yet he sees no
reason why his neighbor should enjoy the pleasures of the seductive cigar. "Citizen"
also threatens to become an advocate of female suffrage, if cigars are to be
permitted at the polls. His better-half may have a stronger stomach and be
better calculated to wade through tobacco smoke than her aesthetic consort, in
which case "Citizen" could mind the babies, while his wife casts her
ballot in person, instead of by proxy as she is now evidently obliged to do.
Snow Ten Feet Deep.
Railroad Traffic Entirely Abandoned in Many Sections
of Pennnsylvania.
SCRANTON,
Pa , March 12, 1888. —The storm of Sunday night continued all day to-day with furious
and damaging results. Every colliery in this valley but a few were obliged to
suspend operations. Some continued work until noon. Cars would not run, machinery
failed to run properly and the fast gales of wind carrying snow with them was more
than the average employees could endure.
Traffic
in the city was completely suspended. A most deplorable situation existed on
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad. There was a general
suspension of traffic with southern points. The storm on the Pocono mountain
continued all day without a moments cessation. Freight, coal and passenger
trains were tied up. No train attempted to cross the mountain coming north and
none was dispatched south. Two trains arrived from Binghamton and only two went
in that direction from this city. The trains on the Bloomsburg division were
not blockaded and were generally on time. Until late last night no southern
trains had arrived. They were unable to cross the Pocono mountain.
In the
early morning a train of shop employees in heavy marching order was dispatched
to the mountain as a shovel brigade. They commenced the task of removing the
snow from the cut. They were unable to stand the fury of the elements and
sought shelter. Late in the afternoon nothing was heard from them. Fears were
entertained that the storm had snowed them in somewhere. A second train was
then sent out and late in the evening all had arrived here.
All
attempts to remove the snow from the tracks were utterly useless. One drift
followed another in quick succession and the snow in many places is 10 feet
deep.
Away With the War Tariff.
(Commercial Advertiser)
There
is no public necessity whatever for continuing the burdensome and inequitable war
tariff. It enriches the few at the expense of the many, and not only does the Government
not need the revenue which it produces but that revenue is a positive inconvenience
and danger to the Government and the country. The Treasury is glutted to the bursting
point with an annual surplus of more than one hundred million dollars, which is
the same as stealing out of the pockets of the citizens, and which is not only
useless but constitutes also a constant temptation to extravagance in the shape
of Blair educational bills, and public building bills. And river and harbor
bills, and so forth.
HE CLEARED THE HOUSE.
The Wild Course of a Runaway Horse in Ithaca.
ITHACA,
N. Y., March 10.—The horse of Highway Commissioner L. F. Colegrove, terrorized
to-day at the approach of one of the cars on the electric street railway on State
street, threw the Commissioner upon the pavement breaking his collar bone and bruising
his head in five places. He is still unconscious and his recovery is doubtful.
Rushing
madly a block away the horse dashed through the front door of a small house on
Meadow street leaving the carriage at the portal. The family (named Wright)
were at breakfast. The horse cleared the table in fine shape, turned the cook
stove bottom side up, and plunged through a chamber door upon the sick bed of a
13 year-old girl, very ill with scarlet fever. Crawling between the prancing
legs of the thoroughly frenzied animal, she managed to reach the street in her
night dress unharmed. She was quickly blanketed and taken to a neighbor's. The
interior of the house attacked looks as though it had been visited by a
cyclone.
TRUXTON.
The
third case of death by measles occurred here last Thursday, and Patrick Wallace was this time the victim. About two
months since he was married to Miss Lizzie Kerrigan, at Solon. He had recently
rented a farm, and on the Saturday previous to his death moved into his new
home, and began housekeeping on Monday. He went to the village to make some
purchases, and on Thursday was dead. His unexpected death is deeply regretted,
and his much afflicted young wife has the heartfelt sympathy of her many
friends.
Truxton, March 12, 1888.
To
the Editor of the Democrat:
There
appeared in the Homer Republican, of
last week, an article headed: "A Native American Democrat Heard From," in which the bigoted Philistine by whom it was
written accounted for the
defeat of the Democratic ticket
by saying that the native American
wing of the party bolted the ticket
because the caucus was run by a ring composed
chiefly of Irish.
In
the first place, the before
mentioned article was not written
by a Democrat, but by an old Republican -----, sided no doubt by his promising son.
In the
second place, I, as a native
American Democrat, who have attended every
caucus of the party held since I
became of age, say that the statement made
in that article with respect to the caucus is a lie; and I say further, that the sentiment expressed in that letter is not in
accord with the feeling of the
native American wing of the
Democratic party. On the contrary,
we hold, and have always held our
Irish American brethren in the highest
esteem. We hold, and have always held, that when an Irish American name appears on our ticket for any office, that the nominee deserves our support.
The
article mentioned is too plausibly a Republican ruse to need further comment. The
writer no doubt hopes that by insulting the Irish under a fictitious title, to
draw them from the support of the party with whom their interests have always
been identified.
But
perhaps the reader will ask how I account for the defeat of the Democratic nominees.
I will say that the opportunity makes the man. I think that the charges of
fraud made are a trifle rank, but that they were justified by the loose manner in
which the work of the board was performed. When men who, by virtue of their office
are supposed to at least act in a disinterested manner, so far forget
themselves as to show by every word and every act how much they desired the
defeat of the Democratic nominees. What reason, tell me, had the Democrats to
expect fair play at their hands?
JUST.
Truxton, March 13, 1888.
EDITOR
CORTLAND DEMOCRAT:—In the last week's issue of the Homer Republican, an article
appeared, over the signature of "A Native American Democrat," in
which it was charged that the defeat of the Democrats at the recent town
meeting, was due to the fact that American Democrats were determined to break
up the Irish Democratic Ring, which has run the caucuses for years past, and
for that reason voted with the Republicans for their candidates.
If
the charges in the article referred to had been supported by sufficient proof,
it might have been at least entitled to some respectful consideration. As it
is, however, it is simply a slur on the nationality of some of the most worthy
citizens of the town, and should be treated with the contempt, which it and its
author so richly deserve. It is from beginning to end a base fabrication, which
could only have been engendered in the brain of some Republican fanatic, who
thinks by such contemptible means, to sow the seeds of dissension between the
two races, hoping that they may in the future, bear the harvests of easy
Republican victory.
Among
respectable, thinking men such means always fall short of accomplishing the end
designed, and the case in hand will prove no exception to the rule. The result
of this last attack has been to harmonize more closely the Irish and American
voters, and in the battles to be fought in the near future, they will stand hand
to hand and shoulder to shoulder, for the preservation and unfettered exercise
of their dearest rights.
* *
* [signature]
Editor of the Democrat: —Permit me to extend to you my sincere
thanks for the kindness and courtesy you have extended to me in printing the
statement I sent to you for publication, relative to our town meeting. I have
since seen in some of our county papers, articles purporting to have been
written by some individual or individuals residing here, and I regret to say
that there is in this town a being so void of decency, as to express himself in
such a manner. And I feel that such language should be answered with silent
contempt, for a man who is foolish enough to engage in a hand to hand encounter
with a skunk, adds but little value either to his clothes or his reputation.
As to
the class of individuals who, in one of the above mentioned articles, are requested
"not to apply," I believe they have never asked nor expected many
favors from such a source, and are not very likely to in the future. Sound men
do not expect courtesies from animals that grow bristles.
Sane
men do not delve in dung piles for diamonds. Christians do not seek spiritual advice
or assistance from devils. In my article to your paper I stated the facts as I saw
them and as they were and do not desire to add to or retract what I have said, and
when men so degrade themselves as to resort to the language used in at least
two of those articles, I am happy to confess that such filth will never come
from an
HONEST REPUBLICAN.
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