Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-26
Elections by the People.

Gec0onS Dy the People.
Now is the time to agitate for our much
needed city reforms. Among them all no
one is more important than the election
of all executive officers directly by the
voters.
In Metropolis like this, where the
people are, in great measure, dependent
on the national legislature, it is of the first
Importance that public opinion should be
brought to bear directly on all the admin
istrators of our municipal affairs. The
influence of the intelligent voters of this
community should be made to tell as
nearly as possible on all who make and
execute our laws.
1t is not our purpose to stop here to
specify what particular officers those are
to which we refer. They will all be emu
merated, in due time. But we are firmly
convinced that the period has arrived when
Washington shall set an example to the
other cities of the Republic in this re-
spect.
Beside this, our own local interests de-
mand this reform. It is very clear that
the people at large are the best Judges as
to the fitness or unftness of the men who
aspire to the honor of ruling over them,
and to whom they are to confde, to
certain extent, the protection of their lives
and their property. The nearer you bring
all your officers to the people, the more
strictly you hold them to account for the
administration of the Offices they hold, the
better it will be for the good order, safety
and prosperity of the city. The corrupt
influence of rowdyis1n may control a
clique of officials but it cannot control
the great body of the people. I
We are aware that much has been
written and published with regard to this
salutary reform, and that several candi-
dates for municipal Offices have repeated
ly made large promises on the subject,
which they have as repeatedly broken.
But this does not by any means discour-
age US from doing our duty. If our pub
lie servants have in any particular proved
faithless to their trusts, it is no reason
why others may not be found who will
prove faithful. At the same time that
there was Benedict Arnold at West
Point, there was George Washington at
another post on the banks of the Hudson.
Bear this in mind, voters and cast
about you for the best men, without re-
gard to the restrictions of mere party de-
Chalmers. In such city as this party
questions should not and must not be
allowed to control our municipal elections.
Ii we were to vote for President of the
United States, or for delegate to Con-
gress, the case would be different. But
lnasmuch as the national representatives
meeting here are members of different
parties, it is of great consequence to us,
as well-wishers to the Metropolis, that we
keep our local matters out of the voters of
politis. Gentlemen on the District COM
mittees in Congress will utterly refuse to
grant Us the business facilities we need.
ifthey are assured by our course that we
are to expend them in partizan conten-
tons.
Bear this in mind, also, citizens: and
while as individuals you maintain and
express your political principles, while
you may use what influence you posses,
to give triumph to those principles in the
several States where Presidential and
Congressional elections legitimately be-
long, here in Washington let us unite as
metropolitans should for the common
welfare and glory of the city that is called
by the name Of the Father of our whole
country.
U Miss Milburn's Islasd School was
visited on the Oath instant by Messrs.
Byington, Pearson, Randolph, Walsh,