Peninsula Enterprise, May 14, 1887

Accomack's Son Abroad.

Professionals -- Mariners

Among the published arrivals of vessels to this port (Baltimore) last week, was that of the three-masted schooner, "City of Baltimore" Capt. Len Taws. The "Baltimore" is running in consort with the "City of Jacksonville" -- the two vessels forming a popular packet line to Jacksonville, Florida. Capt. Len Taws to whom is largely due the special popularity of his vessel, is an Accomackian having been born hear Pungoteague. He left home when but a boy, engaging in the seafaring business, and while scarcely yet in the prime of life, stands at the head of his profession. Lately he received from the owners of the vessels, a medal for his successful defeat of his consort, in a round trip race to Jacksonville. The race was duly chronicled in our daily papers -- creating considerable excitement and comment. The termination was specially gratifying to us "Eastern Shoremen," who, of course bet on our man. Captain Taws adds another name to the list of Accomac's sons who by their own exertions and native ability, have made themselves popular and worthy the respect of all good men in the locations they have, (at least for a while,) made their homes, and of whom the people of Accomac may well feel proud. L. T. L. Balto., May 10th, 1887.

Untitled

Moral -- Alcohol

MR. EDITOR -- Please allow the writer a short space to reply to an article in last week's issue, from Chincoteague Island, over the signature of Resident, concerning what had been written in regard to the late local option celebration on that island.

Visitor forwarded to you for publication in the ENTERPRISE of April 30th a communication, meant to convey his impressions as derived from what he had seen and from data gathered from eye witnesses on the occasion of the celebration on Chincoteague Island, at which it seems umbrage has been taken by one of the would be lords of creation, who, in last week's issue presumed to make an unprovoked attack on Visitor over the signature of Resident. In responding to the communication of Resident, the writer proposes to violate none of the amenities that obtain among gentlemen, while he proposes to be brief and yet at the same time very explicit.

In the first place he will say that, he, Visitor, did not know at the time he prepared the 'offensive' article that any person connected with the occasion had an 'axe to grind,' nor had he the remotest idea that the correspondent on Chincoteague, writing to your paper of same date over the signature of Jonidab wished the privilege of blowing his own trumpet. He did not know of these facts, how could he have known anything of the kind? Being ignorant of Jonidab's intentions, Visitor tried to give a short account as best he could of the happenings on the occasion, and lo and behold, he finds that a writer in the ENTERPRISE from Chincoteague, who signs himself Resident, has become very angry at Visitor, so much so that he has condescended to write and have published in the ENTERPRISE of last week's date, an unprovoked, and unwarrantable, and vile attack, upon the veracity and character of Visitor. -- Resident said, "The enemies of local option die hard. Its success with us is an established fact, endorsed, supported and believed in by nine-tenths of our people, yet, notwithstanding all this, the representatives of the closed saloons, and their henchman, are actively engaged in vilifying all who dare raise their voice against the traffic, and a misrepresentation of the facts of any movement that has for its object the advancement of the temperance cause." Read the letter of Resident of last week &c. Now Visitor wishes Resident and all others to understand that he is now and ever has been a friend to temperance, and that he is no enemy to the enforcement of the local option law, believing it better that all laws should be executed, as the most certain and speedy way to get rid of any law that is obnoxious to a majority of the people, and that for the same reason, he is favorable to the enforcement of good laws, that the people may see, feel and realize their beneficial qualities. But Resident's pet law, local option, does not prohibit the use of intoxicating drinks, and well does he, (Resident) know the fact. All that can be said about the matter is, that intoxicants in certain sections, are not now sold by authority of the State. Make the law prohibitory and show the people of the county it does prohibit, and you will then find you are gaining forces. How can it be expected for the cause to make any headway, when fully one half of the local option element, not only on your Island, but every where use, and some of them use, buy and sell liquors, of all grades and of nearly every kind. Referring to what was said by Visitor in his article of the 30th ult., published in the ENTERPRISE of that date, he has only to say that, if he is not given any thanks for what he mentioned in regard to the conservatism of the M. E. minister on Chincoteague, is certainly not a disappointment to him, as he did not make any charge for simply expressing his own views of the case, yet, Visitor cannot understand why Resident should desire to become the mouthpiece of a gentleman whom, if we judge correctly, is better able to take care of himself than Resident is to take care of the minister in any way. Visitor feels quite sure of the fact of being able to show Resident where the shoe pinches, but as he is powerless and cannot of himself heal the wound, will not at present attempt to enlighten him in regard to the particular location of the hurt, yet he will say that it was not to give all the credit of the occasion to Resident's particular friends nor to the society to which it is suspected he is a member, others having equal rights which Visitor was not prepared to ignore that demanded consideration at his hands. This 'rule or ruin' way of wishing to do business is to say the least of it, very objectionable and certainly not likely to be given favor by the people of the county, however persistently the course may be pursued by Resident. From the ring of Resident's late effusion he certainly leaves room for the public to suppose him the same correspondent from Chincoteague who more than a year ago made some extravagant assertions through the columns of the ENTERPRISE claiming certain nine-tenths majorities, etc., which drew forth a communication from another correspondent of the same paper in reply, that silenced the question, and it has laid buried ever since until the presumption which seems uncontrollable in Resident, brought the matter again before the public by his dastardly assault upon a free citizen of this Commonwealth, hoping to stifle free speech and muzzle the public press by attempting to intimidate correspondents in the proper performance of their duties. But Visitor comes now to deal directly with the author of the article published in last week's issue from a Chincoteague correspondent writing over the signature of Resident. The author of the communication referred to, charges Visitor, 1st, with being the representative of the closed saloons. 2nd, with being their henchman. 3rd, with being actively engaged in vilifying all who dare raise their voice against the traffic, and a misrepresentation of the facts of any movement that has for its object the advancement of the temperance cause. To all of these charges Visitor pleads not guilty and pronounces them all false.

Visitor.

Untitled

Transportation -- Road - Maintenance

MR. EDITOR. -- As your correspondents, especially "X" and "Pocomoke" appear to have succumbed to "Modoc's" letter of a few issues ago -- the writer asks space to reply to "Modoc," that the good cause of improved roads may follow. "Modoc" is one of the satisfied kind, and has made up his mind that so long as life goes easy with him, it matters not who suffers or how unjust the road law is, or who bears the burden, or how much the business interests of the people are injured.

It is a useless effort to plead for the present system, there are many objections to it, the greatest of all is that it is a failure -- does no good -- gives us only miserable roads, impedes business, causes great wear and tear to vehicles and teams, and loss of time, and is getting very expensive without adequate return. It cannot be otherwise if all alike are indifferent to this work; the officers, grand jurors, overseers, legislators, board of supervisors and laborers, all turn their backs on this neglected and despised business. It cannot be efficient under such circumstances. It must be put on a different footing if any good is to come from it. It must be made the sole business of some one or more individuals to secure systematic and thoughtful work. It will not require very much money to keep the public highways in good order, if it is made the duty of some body to do it, one who wants the work, viz: a contractor.

This work ought to be done at once, why put it off? The work on the roads should either be abandoned, or done properly; if it is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well. Life is too short to stop by the wayside and loiter and dream as "Modoc" is doing. Why should he wish to stand in the way of his more progressive neighbors, and because they want to move faster than he does to oppose their progress? "Modoc" got off the old threadbare maxim "All change is not progress," and might have added many more such as "a rolling stone gathers no moss," "let well enough alone" and "there is no need of jumping from the frying pan into the fire," and such like old saws, the carrying out of which would stop all progress; he would set the hands of time at the beginning of day and bid the clock to cease running.

"Modoc's" mind is not capable of receiving new ideas, his brain has become crystalized, with all the impressions of bygone days fully stamped upon it. A sad commentary on his mental condition and those who think with him -- Alas, we have many such! They are veterans who glory in being known "as conservatives and quite respectable" and remain in the fault finder's ruts and declare that while everything is about as bad as it can be it is liable to be a "leetle wus" for a change, and that "them 'new ideas' is very dangerous." The efforts of those, whose brains have not already crystalized is the only hope of getting rid of old fogy ideas, and this will be done by thinkers and business men, who have hope of better times, and while making the best of the present are desirous of keeping in line with the onward march of events. "Modoc" with his frozen mind, and those in his condition will ever have a baneful influence on all public spirited enterprise.

Work and secure the new road law, Mr. Editor, even if the Modoc's do yell. It must come sooner or later.

A TAX PAYER.