, 1859-02-26
,PRESS.sAND}~ TRIBUNE,


z1.AG10nka 7A4 4&.<A4a3A4.49&}ik41 415
SATURDAY MORNING, FEB. &c, 1859.
What the Republicans Lave done for
the foef OF Chicago.
In prosperous timca il u An ca y thing 10
ba Mayor; but in hard times The Office is no
sinecure, or bed Of roses. It was more Diff
cult to carry on an administration during
the year 1858, than half dozen at the time
Boone or Dyer was 4ayor. In those -yesrs
money was plenty aud easily obtained, credit
'~s cheap, business. hriak, taxcs we're cheer
naid, and work .was abundant, Tor all
= ', villing to labor The laboring class
\. ,1pport themselves without call.
ing -. '>'ic authorities for help, or
upon the :. the benevolent for sus-
tcnance.
In the days o1 :nasty an admin
fstration had little -. ~ to create
debts for its Successors ~etrench-
ment was not In order; pinc1- :, erty aud
haggard want never stared the L.. and jolly
officials in the face, or disturbed their delight
full schemes Of pllfer or peculation.
But the winter Of 1876 brought double
chill upon its wings; hard times came with
the fall Of the mercury; bankruptcy and snow
storms appeared together. Public and pri-
vase Improvements came to stand.stil1. The
employer stopped his works; tue merchant
ceased to bui1d or buy; the manufacturer shut
OF the eteau and discharged hls Lands md
oil enterprise and adventure were at m end.
Settlement dny had come and every man said
to his debtor, 'spay me what thoa oweat."
Retrenchment and economy we're the order
OF the day. Thousands Of laborers and
mechanics were thrown entirely ont of
employment, destitute Of food, tuel, or the
comforts of life- Large numbers called On
Wcntworth-then Mayor, for help in their
hour of need and tribulation; but be told
them he could do nothing-that he had
neither money nor employment at his COM
msnd. Many thought be vas ncedlessly harsh
in his repulse Of the workless poor, and gnve
himself little trouble to find or devise EN-
ploymeat for them.
But the hands Of those abba to givo were
moi closed A Relief Society WIS established
to which donations in money and necessaries
we're freely made, and thousands Of 1nmi-
lies we're helped through the winter by this
and other private means. Nine tenths of the
charitable contributions came from Rcpubli-
eau pockots and larders, though four tiflhs Of
the recipients were Democrats.
Thnt hard winter at last wore away. and
spring came, and with it the administration
OF Mayor Haiucs. a change Of policy to-
ward the laboring CLASSES was resolved upon
by the Republicans. It was resolved to close
up the soup-houses" and substitute cmpley-
meut 10 give mon work instead Of checks
npon the Relief Society to offer each able
bodied man chance to earn hfs bread rather
than to beg it. To make him support himself
rather than be burden upon others.
With this object in view, the Republicans
commenced emitting out work in tbeir indi-
ridual rs we'll az purity capacity. Labor and
materials were cheap q little money would
so good ways not only in improving prop.
erty but in purchasing the wants of lIfe-two
birds could be killed with one stone. Valua-
BILE public aud private improvements could lie
chcaply made, and the money expended there
for would enable great numbers Of the work.
ing elasa to support themselves aud families.
The wisdom OF this policy is seen in the
comparatively little destitution and suffering
that prevails this winter as compared with
last. It is also seen in the Immense extent
OF street sewerage and other valuable iul-
4rovements that havs been effected during
the past year.
We have been making an estimate of The
amount Of money paid out to mechanics und
laborers by the public authority during
Haines' Administration, for buildings. bridc-
es, grading, filling, paving, planking, and Tor
other public uEes, and find that the sum docs
not fall far short Of one million Of dollars.
viz:
Ror l.bo! and msteriai ou Eewerase. .t2,oooo |
Fes street inproyemcata By speda! as:e:aaeoss
For labor se sces snd n:;e IL ior iii pupo;ss 'eo'
out Of the general city fuuds................4 4a5oQQ
0ss expenditure. .t9l5 QUO
Luis large FUN Was distributed amopg |
multitude Of persons. Suppose that thoEe |
"lo received q part averaged $500
piece, it would make the number Of recipi-
ents over three thousand. TIE are confident
snat that many more have been helped in tue
disbursement OF this money. When tue num-
ber ol persons who have supplied lumber,
brick, stone and fuel il calculated, aud ad-
ded to the long array Of teamstcrs, the hun-
drcds Of mechanics employed in building ard
requiring, and the regiments Of laborers armed
with shovel, pick or hod, and to these are added
tie humber official employees, such as bridee.
tenders, bell-ringere, t1remcn and patrolmen,
our estimates will not be considered over.
stated.
We assumc, then, as fact suscentib1e OF
demonstration, that the city government dur
ing tue administration Of Mayor naines has
materially contributed to the support of auec
h10a*and families, which also had The iupor-
tant effect Of removing d vast amount Of com
petition from tue oyerstocked labor na1tet
aud enabling The others to find tolerably
steady employment at fair wages, tlc, ehv {
oenehtting all the industrial classes, alleyi-
atlng and preventing sad amount Of desti. t
tuition and suffering that otherwilc von1d 3
have afflicted our people. II
And herein is the secrct of the popu,oritv
Of this Republican administration with the
masses-a popularity that is founded not oplv q
upon the rightfulness Of its principles. lie
Of its dealings, but upon the humanity a
Of Its actions. The result OF tie sufrrayes of f
Inc masses next Tuesday will testify their ap- =
pFec'atlon and pronounce The vcrdict-wrl1
lone good and faithful servants, continue far !:
ano'hcf season In thc vineyard Of your mas .
Ecre, the people. o
il
'oudY, Of Fulton, and his Fai,n,es 4
While We rcjoice with the Republican mi. a.
1orlty Of the Illinois Legislature orcr their Q
many victories, achieved in as many haud in y y
l"t1d contests with lhe Sham Democrocv IN u
'an pat eympathise with thc rank md fin ot u