The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-07-08

We hope oar frleaa. In the couniry township will h.
vel represented neat saturday let them seq 10 4
that they have full d~legstioaa
The Democrats Opinion-The Main Stree, Dis
cussion.
Ycstcrday's Democras concluded an article
in favor VI the extension Of Main street
through the College grounds, with an in,inu-
alton better characteristic Of IL, particular
style of discussion with the Gt,,,,s. than II
a proper appreciation Of editorial courtesy.
II is for the p,'llic To decide, whether an
editor in calmly discussing question Of gen
eral interest as We have been doing, j, ,.ar-
.a.g the side which he advocates. The mere
assertion Of an opponent to thi, cilecs, while
il may prove he is deficient in proper cour-
tesy, proves nothing else. The Democrat d.
rcctly charges, that in one case, our adyoca-
~ OF = particular position, will make the
City Council assume q different one when il
acts on the qucstion-and that in this Main
street business, the fact that the Gazette OPP
poses the extension Of said street through
the College grounds, will have the effect TO
make the Council persist the more strenu-
ou>ly in securing such extension. Our read
ers can decide for themselves whether or not
this is compliment 10 the Council--or
whether any public body Of respectable men
should not feel iasGised by the charge, that
the course Of newspaper in calmly re,non-
strAting against particular policy and as
calmly advancing arguments to substantiatc
its position, that this action Of an organ Of
the people they represent, is al they desire
TO know, to secure their determined support
OF the same measure. In other words, thai
they will throw aside their obligations to Tho
people, their own convictions Of right, AM
their duty and decency q men and as pub
lie servants, just to spite newspaper or il,
publishers. Such Is the direct charge made
BY the official organ Of the City Council Il
there Is any truth in this charge, We should
like to know il, and the people would like
70 know it, We would desire 10 understand
at once whether il be true that the present
City Council has no higher motive of public
action, than to spite the Gazette, or il reason
and arguments because found in the columns
81 Ms paper, arc 10 have no force with the
members Of Council
The Quote Is not the organ Of the several
individuals who control its columns As edit.
ors. II Is the organ Of the people, and >,
lar rs its influence may extend, il Is th,
guardian Of their interests. Acting in thu,
capacity, il claims the right, and most EN-
phaticallyt intends to exercise the right, ID
closely scrutinixing the course Of the CITY
Council in oil its measures Of public interest.
Its members are public servants, and not the
masters Of the public A. some Aldermen ap-
pear % think, Whose dicsa the people them
selves dare not question. When the Ga.e,t,
has an exclusive monopoly Of all the printing
of the City Council, this aay have the effect
20 make il tue suppliant organ, the cringing
tool, the willing instrument Of that body,
ready to roll up il, eyes in holy horror at
any other paper which presumcs 10 question
that Aldermen are nm " immaculate .o.,cer-
ton" oi the people, and their acts above all
criticism'and beyond the influence Of all re-
lnonssrance. We only say this nag be the
effect, simply because such seems 10 10 the
elect with men who in all other thing,
are probably Is independent Is ourselves.
We have candidly and honestly stated our
opinions on the subject of the extension 81
Main street, aud do not know that we have
any thing more to add n present. In what
We have advanced in defence Of permitting
the College grounds to remain - they now
are, the Gassti< has not been the mere organ
u its editors, but the voice Of public senti-
ment in our midst, which may probably bc
stronger than the Council or its organ would
like 70 believe. So strong is the sentiment.
that We ore well convinced il il tue public
feeling, while that opposite is but the desire
Of Sew individuals. In our last article, we
said We hsd understood that the property
holdsrs on Main street below these grounds
have no disposition 60 extend such street
through ths College property. Our author
ity for this Was . property holder on the
street., who said Ill his neighbors residing on
the sids q the blufi did not care about the
street being extended further than Seventh
or than 70 tLs College ground. For these
alons We intended 70 speak. II mag be tie
"rhapsodies Of romantic youth /" to insist
against the extension of street for the bene-
d Of . few individuals, when such extension
may drive from among us literary and scien-
tic Institutions Of nc Lculabls value, destroy
the hsauty Of the finest plat Of public
grounds about Davenport, and smother the
only breatking place VI crowded city we
now have an opportunity Of securing-anc il
'say b plain common ssnse, or keen judg-
ment wisely calculating Cor the future a the
city, instead Of being willing to sacrifice i'm
portant interests in ths future to the selfish
demands Of the present, or Of . few who
claim % represent the present interests OF
Davenport in this matter.