WHAT ONE MAN MAY DO.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 157, 13 February 1869, Page 4

WHAT ONE MAN MAY DO.

the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir,— Although the question of the Spring Creek School has been brought before your readers ad nauseum, I would beg to say a few words on the subject, as an outsider. Whatever may have been the origin of what has now become a shamefully acrimonious discussion ; it has long been evident that no amount of letter-writing could heal the breach among neighbors, engendered by some thoughtless act, and therefore, when you suggested a face-to-face meeting, I thought, with others, that was certainly the wisest plan. Had you adhered to your determination to publish no more letters on the subject, perhaps it would have been aiding that plan. But from some wish to give the prime cause an hearing, I suppose you saw fit to give way a little. I am not aware of what has, during this time, been said or done in private, but while three letters have been written on the one side by persons making general charges, five others have appeared (exclusive of one refused insertion) upon the other, none of which satisfy my mind as to the incorrectness of the first named, while they do make gross personal attacks upon several persons. No one who has read the whole of this correspondence can fail to have noticed in two letters published in the Weirs upon the subject, sneering attacks upon yourself. In the first, for congratulating the School Committee in having succeeded in engaging ME._Porriff> a well-known and very efficient teacher; and anint was thrown out which made it appear that the income attached to the school would not exceed £35 a year. In the second, a still grosser error appears. The writer takes advantage of a recent circumstance to raise a sneer at your determination to hold and maintain the freedom of your correspondence column against the attacks of both great and little—a most invaluable privilege—to maintain which will cost you many hard fights, but ought at least to be appreciated by every person who possesses any attachment to liberty. A general examination of the whole of these five letters leads me to the belief that four are the production of one person—two of the number are confessedly so—but under different signatures ! Surely this is exercising an undue influence, and betokens an arbitrary desire of one person, who seeks to con trol all the rest, and in so doing, cares not for what consequences may follow to himself or others. I will here conclude, and in so doing, draw my moral. The persevering spirit of the one man has brought forth fruit abundantly—numerous hard feelings and much bitterness have been engendered among neighbors, which may never be healed ; an untruthful attack made publicly on the press, our greatest safeguard of liberty which—if not disheartening to yourself, and tending to a disposition to rescind your determination to keep it free to all comers who know how to use it properly—will afford quiet gratification to those little minds who would control all around them. Lastly, the school remains without a teach £iv.|or Faffi c reel i W jHinf orme cl that tHeTealfy' "estimable gentleman before alluded to, whose services would have been a godsend to the neighbourhood, having read the whole of the correspondence, very wisely declines to take the school, especially since the assured salary is so small as stated. The result will be, that when they do get a schoolmaster they will appreciate him better, but that they are likely to be successful is very questionable, since there is a demand elsewhere for what they esteem so lightly. I am, ifec.. The Country, Feb. 9. An Outsider.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express.

Sir, —Having noticed in your papers some philantrophic remarks in regard of one Jewish gentleman in Chatham having given some£7oootowards building a synagogue at that place, and another Jewish gentleman is building and endowing a synagogue in Rochester, I am very glad we have Jewish residents here who can lay claim of relationship to such generous donors. Considering the great pliilantrophy shown by the great American philantrophist, Mr. George Peabody, who has given £IOO,OOO towards the poor of all denominations of a strange country, I do not consider my demands are extravagant, when I ask those Jewish residents here, who can lay claim to such wealthy and benevolent relations in England, to write to them, and kindly ask them to do something for this place, in the shape of building a synagogue for them and others belonging to their creed. Now, sir, my demands are not large, but rich people that can afford to give £7OOO, I am happy to say to such a good purpose, will really not miss £SOO to benefit others here, who, I believe cannot afford to build a place of worship themselves at present. I would certainly suggest to the party that was so anxious to let the public of Blenheim know of the existing relationship, to ask for my demands, and should his uncle refuse, and plead this is to him a strange place, to ask his uncle to take Mr. Peabody for his excelsior. I am &c., . A Friend to all Denominations.