The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-30
PARTY FIDEIITY THE CrTY.-ITs INTERESTS
AND IT'S REPUTATION.

AND ITS REPUTATION
Ths oourse of an evening contemporary, processing
to be of the democratic faith, in relation 10 inc APP
preaching municipal election, demands Of us a mo-
ment . consideration
In strctness there 10 but one party nomination iof
the mayoralty in the feld-the democratic and anti
knownothing nominee, James G. Berret who, al
though professedly and notoriously democrat and
openly nominated as such, has his nomination open
ly concurred in, ia openly advocated, and will be
as openly voted for by every person, Of whatever
party or creed who is opposed to the know-nothing
creed and organization. Though Mr. Berret Is
strictly democrat, and the democratic nominee, we
think we hazard nothing in saying that he viii COM
mand tho vote of svery voter in Washington except
those Of know-nothisg principles, and those VINO
think him less qualified for the Office than either Of
his opponents for, while Mr.. Berret is universally
admitted to be- in every respect fitted for the ofce
of mayor, he ia man who may be said to have no
personal enemies-
While Mr. b. is the candidate of all outside the
democratic party who are opposed to the prevalence
of native American principles, and is the regularly
nominated candidate of the democratic party, we hold
that it is the duty Of every democrat fogetfu of all
merely personal difficulties, to give him his support
unless upon the ground that he is untitled for the Of
fee With conceded equal qualifications with his OPP
ponent we say it is the duty OF every democrat to
give him his support. If this be the duty of m
dividual democrat, and simply in reference to one
VOTE how much stronger is the obligation Of the
dnctor Of party paper, who may be supposed to
have an influence over many votes!
But WHILE az party men, sincere believers in, and
rm upholders Of the democratic faith, and as equal
ly cordial enemies of the detestable doctrines and
rufian rule of native-Amercansm we believe such to
be the duty of democrat we have sufficient charity
for maynard brother who, from the ties of kim
dred with an opposing candidate,or from reasons Of
gratitude for ayors received from him, had resolved
to ground his arms and remain neutral in the contest
And this was alleged by the contemporary to whom
we have alluded to be his condition at the opening
of the canvass Believing this statement to be true
and that, for the reasons given-which if true, we
were disposed to regard with leniency-our cotem-
porary would simply occupy merely negative and
aeiyal position contented to leave the decision OF
the issue to those whose party habits and political
instincts not qualified by any Of the weaknesses
of sentimentaism, we have been silent, and have
been willing to regard his condition Of neutrality
dictated by sincere, if not iusthable, excess Of
amiability.
Recent numbers of his paper, however, do not
evince in our judgment, fair neutrality. We would
not exercise a harsh judgment upon our cotem-
porary, nor hold its editor responsible for every
thing published therein. II is usually considered
that the editorial columns indicate the political bias
of public journal but this rule can by no means
be regarded as universal in its application and we
clear that our contemporary is most notable ex
ception--for it's columns are devoted to the advo-
cacy Of the know-nothng candidate for mayor while
we are not aware that it has presented anything
ON the other side. We quote:
.aOn the first Monday in June next there will devoye
the of this metropolis the duty of electng
two years their chief magistrate. Look well to it, you
who most interested in the welfare happiness and
prosperity Of this city, that you do not give vote which
win you ryra when the opportunity to remedy it
will be wholly beyond your reach If had voice that
could be heard from extremity of this metropolis to
the other would ring it in the Of every nhabitan
thereof to wholly discard pocs In the approaching cleo
ton, to vote not for that who has been brought for
ward by packed convention Of locoocos from the city
of Baltimore
We present this as fair specimen of the kind of
neutrality with which our contemporary is conducting
the present city canvass It is to be observed--and
commend this fact to the journal in question and
to every democrat and every patriotic citizen OF
Washngtontha the republican organization of this
city, headed by the chairman Of their national COM
mittee, in accordance with the general work Of
construction, bringing republicans and know-noth.
ings into union, have openly espoused the of
the American candidate for mayor in opposition to
Col. Berret.
Indeed the slightest observation of the character
of the parties in the field their candidates and ad
vocates, is enough to convince us and the whole
country that tho contest for mayor of Washington
is struggle between the republicans and know
nothings combined and the democratic party and
those who hate the coalition. We go 80 far az to
say that there will be no occasion throughout the
country by which democrat can be tested and his
fidelity to bis party shown certain than at the
coming election on the vote for against Colonel
Berret
We speak for ourselves and we speak for every
democrat in and ont of Office, when we say that that
test should be regarded conclusive of the inten-
ton of every voter to sustain tho cause of the dem
ooratic party, or, on the other hand to surrender
that cause into the hands of the enemy
We are certain that the administration are and
every prominent member of the government are