New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-06-17
cREEnEY ON PARTISAN MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.

cfkEELEY ON PARTISAN MUNICIPAL.
GOVERNMENTS.
The New York Tribnne occasionally gets off . good
thing, when Il treats Of topics not connected with
abotionism, which. nafotnnately s not very often
the case IT, like great many other Journals NORTH
Of all shades OF political complexion, has evidently
lost confidence in the system BY which the govern
ments d large cities are created, and thinks that
change must come sooner or later and the sooner the
better. In Its issue Of the 8th inst. 1t says:
one thing has been settled by the experience Of
he last twenty years. and that Il the moral mposs
biity Of good municipal rule under the sway Of any
political patty. Either the citizens who mainly pay
the taxes must come together and resolve TO unite
without distinction OF party in the support Of honest
capable men for responsible places in the munic-
paiy or they must submit to be ruled by peculators
and shsrpeTs leagued with miscreants and rufiians.
There is just this choice open to them. True we
might urge that none Of the great cities, Chicago
alone excepted. have yet been ruled by the Republic
cans as party and that they ought to be tried be-
fore party municipal government is decisiyely pro
nouneed failure but it is wiser to rest on the
other parties Years ago. we were satisfied that no
party which bad President to support or elect
could govern great city wisely, efficiently or
economically We have for the last four or i've
years supported and opposed candidates for Munci-
pal stations regardless Of their politics, and mean %
do so evermore.
The Tribune is behind the times. Once character,
fitness and capacity, we're the tests by which candi-
dates for public office were measured. Times have
since changed wonderfully PartisaDship rules SUI
preme in nominations from Chief Justice down to
Constable and the men who are most efficient in
stocking primary meetings generally carry of the
prize That Is the description Of talent which wins
nowa-days-
We should be pleased to see different rule pre-
vail. We should be gratided II municipal officers
could be chosen with exclusive reference to their
worthiness, experience and efficiency. We should
be rejoiced If Judicial officers were selected solely
account Of their learning, sound Judgment, honesty
and capacity. We would hail with unalloyed delight
the opening Of the new era if ii only could be opened,
Of which we see neither prospect nor probability.
Parties have possession Of the country. Parties will
retain possession Of the country and be is poor
reader Of the past poor judger of the present. and
poor interpreter of the future, who imagnes that
parties will release their hold upon the country until
they have brought so near the margin OF the gulf
Of destruction that danger will stimulate the masses
Of the people to instantaneous action. Then much
needed and sautary reform my be effected, but not
before. Is idle to rope for it sooner and, conse-
quent!y, we viii rot discuss an idle question.
The union of the q citizens who mainly pay the
taxes" as suggested by the Tribune II it could be
enected, would accomplish but temporary relief
would amount to only brief amelioaton Of public
affairs, even il it succeeded. The unionists might
triumph in single election only to be defeated the
uext ,roapxa yartvzr ,gopld he almost c.,,s;r ~
81 40
defeat Them on second tfia ana then matters would
be worse than before. No. The disease lies too deep
To be cured by the remedy proposed. The SHINE Of
~ s,ss,,, i 5,sasss4 "a ,,,;, NJ i
Wy = s'.- '-,', ~ ef.0
neea not 1908 TOT compieie puohc nea'tn-
But we are wandering off somewhat from the Tri-
bune's q good thiucr It will be seen that Chicago
ia excepted-it being under the SWAY of the Black
Republican partyi From this fact the Tribune init
mates that the. Rack Repablicans might rae larue
cities better than either Of the other parties This
il rich. rare. racv and redoeut with inpudence If
we are not much mistaken. Chicago. according to the
papers published there il the worst governed CITY in
The Union. Pecuations. public and pryate robleres
buraIaries assaults and all other crimes are of COM
mo, occurrence and the first men of the town are