The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-11-10

OSSSNA Va -
We know not enough of him or his course to
form any opinion. The citizens of Evansville
who have watched him for eighteen years, are
competent to decide for themselves. We can
liable energy, untiring laborious industry, ca
pacity and capital make him-if he be honest
and right-worth an hundred-nay, thous-
and-ordinary men to any community. that
can enlist him in their service. With sin
cere devotion to the public good, and with his
means, habits, and capacity, we had rather
have the durable honors which Willard Car
penter can lay up for himself in the hearts of
his fellow-citizens, than all the political hon.
ors the State or the Union has to bestow. If
he be upright to permit him to be ostracized
by envy, jealousy, rivalry, or hatred, is ruin
GUS and suicidal to the community. We de-
fend him only as far as he is worthy of de-
fence.
We have no desire to draw a contrast with
Judge Foster of our knowledge of the true
interests of the city, or of our devotion to its
welfare, or Of the stake, we have in it. 1t is
not he who has always lived at one point,
that understands best the general interests of
all communities. And in this fast age expe-
rience has lost its value the world is no Ion
ger governed by precedents. 1t is not he who
can look farthest back into the past, but he
who can see farthest forward into the future,
that now should take the reins and drive the
team that is whrling us forward. Old age
must be content to repose on the back seat,
and give the horses up to the boys. 1t will
be well for elderly gentlemen to note this
change in the worlds progress.
And this brings us to the consideration of
They have shurked their legitimate response
bility, and thrown the decision upon the peo-
pie, which is nullity of itself The decision
Of the question by popular vote, settles moth
the contract;-it can impose no new obliga-
tons on the Council to abide by the city's con-
tracts, nor release them from the moral and le-
gal duty to fulfill them. If the whole city, to
a man, should vote to repudiate the contract
an hOnost Councilman, feeling proper sense
Of duty to do right, would still vote for the
city to perform her duty to all with whom
she deals. The purpose of deliberative body,
clothed with Legislative power, is TO oppose
popular opinion when wrong, and not yield to
the prejudices and passion of the masses when
misled by interest or error.
But there is another part Of the proceed
ings involving an erroneous principle. The
matter is referred exclusively to the tax pay
ers for their decision. Tax payers alone do
not govern this city-nor is the interests of
property alone involved in this question La
Dor and wages have quite as deep-and little
deeper-concern in this subject than proper
| ty And the man who relies alone on his own
brawny arm-who has not one copper in his
pocket-ior the support of loving wife and
sweet--though ragged and dirty babes--haS
as great stake in this question--as he who
owns hundred houses and lots, and relies on
his rent role to support his fashionable house
hold;- and he has right to be heard in it,
and the rule that excludes his voice from the
decision, is an anti-democratic-aristoc
an exclusive and an old fogy principle, that
should not be tolerated by people that know
their rights.
| And again, it is not he who has the most
property, but he who has the longest lease of
life, that is most deeply concerned in the issue
Of this discussion. Old men whose career in
life is drawing to a close: who have acted their
part, and found their fixed station in life
whose hopes have faded--who have tried the
range Of their powers, and got the stamp Of
the worlds estimate Of their worth fixed upon
them; and had the wings of their ambition
clipped; and whose desires are limited to the
wish to enjoy what they have got in undis-
turbed repose, and hate this fast jolting, age,
don't like to be troubled about matters they
may never live to enjoy.
But the young whose whole riches are in
their hopes, and the bright and expanding
visions Of the future-whose interests are
wrapped up in the distant growth and fair
fame oftheir native or adopted city; who have
united and pledged to her destines all thew
hope for in life; all that shall make home hap
py-ail that shall give them a pride to ac-
knowledge her, and speak her name without
a blush among the proudest abroad in the
world; and who, looking at the effects of pres
ent acts in the long train of consequences, read
their own destinies in the destiny of their city,
are the ones to see this question decided
Alright. And to the young men we appeal to
save the city from dishonor, and to continue
| the noble enternriSnS in which she iS nnoa.rnd