The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-08-01
EVANSVILLE, IND.
MONDAY MORN1NG.-......-......-...... AUGUST j
pa 1t requires more wisdom and tact

elect it. Many honest men are SO earnest
in their coed intentions that they disregard
the proper means, and best way OF doing
good, and defeat their purposes by the I'M
fortunate manner they adopt to accom-
plish them. II is far more important for
this city to secure tOlerably good govern
ment for the judieious administration of her
affairs for ten years to come, than to have
great reform for one year, and then relapse
into a state of Affairs worse than the most
wretehed administration she has ever had
The value of good public officer depends
upon the moral influence with which he
clothes himself, more than on the authority
which the law confers. The good will of
PEOPLE imparts more power of doing
an tile statutes. t,ftry-Vi-,r ni,ggs-
t.src who - sincerely devoted to The public
good Sill cherish his popularity with the
people IS the chief element OF MS power to
do good.
1t will be unfortunate for this city-worse
than no change at ALL in its administration
if after one year of efficient reform, by
some injudiciOus steps, or an unfortunate
manner of proceeding, the popular ill-will
should be excited against reform and
its agents, and the next year a council
of destructives be elected by a combin-
alton of all the lowest elements of society.
In this way the best magistrate may entail
abe greatest injury on the future welfare
OF the city.
In spite of the reckless assertions of an
organ that would have been the bitterest in
its foundations of measures it now APP
proves, were it not for small consideration
it has obtained, every citizen is convinced
that the city government, Notwithstanding
all its disinterested labors, and its sincere
attempts At reform and economy, could not
come within hundreds Of votes of an cleo
ton tomorrow, IL the people were called
upon to give their suffrage, and It is very
doubtful if, under any circumstance, it
can redeem its popularity. This may
he matter OF total Indifference to the
members of the city government, indi-
vidually, who render gratuitous services,
or are poorly paid, either in money or hon
ors; but it is very important matter to
the city, as body polite, that the rule of
its affairs should not-by the folly or mis-
takes of its present magistrates thrown
next year into very incompetent and inju-
diciOus hands.
By some error in the manner Of conduct
ing the business, the fire department has
been completely disorganzed, and here is
city of nearly 10000 people, built of COM
bustibe materials, without any organized
force to protect it from the rayages of a &c
structive coghagration, which may break
out upon Us at any moment. Three or four
hundred voters and active scanyassers, at
every election, have been changed from
friends to opponents of the reform admins
tration. Tie strength OF popular sympathy
with the fireman is indicated by the evident
reluctance among the citizens, generally, to
come forward and ill theil places.
Some measures ought to be adopted with
out delay, by a spontaneous movement of
the peOple-if nothing can be done by the
Council-to emedy this state of affairs.
Every mans house is in jeopardy the rates
of insurance must be advanced if things are
permitted to remain as they are. \ dimin-
utiye fire, in compact part of the town,
like the last one over the canal, under like
circumstances, would become a sweeping
conflagratiOn, that would destroy more in
one hour than the amount of the city reve-
nues for ten years 10 come. Ii is a matter
of too vital consequence to be longer neg
lected by the citizens themselves.
An ordinance has been passed. ailixing q
heavy tax upon billiard tables and bowling
alleys. All young men are forbidden to en-
ter the rooms where they are kept. In them
selves these are instruments of harmless
amusement, and Il most healthful and invig-
Grating exercise. With our busy, laborious
American habits, we need more and more
sources OF harmless amusements and invig-
Grating sports. Many judicious parents, in
stead of restraining him, would head Il son,
just coming into the gristle of manhood, to
the bowling alley and the billiard table for
an hour daily. to dcvelope " these gently
exciting sports, the eNertions that develope
the muscles, the form, and movements of the
youth. Why tax AID iro=orIbe them, more
than the CHESS table They are more benc-
fcial IN their influences than the studious
habits induced by the latter. II is because
the billiard table and bowling alley are too
often associated with the bar-rOom and the
GROCERY. But why tax the harmless IN
strument of healthful amusement enormous
~, and let the vile nuisance OF rum-selling
60 frcel Why attempt TO suppress the
good, and encourage the evil thing2 If
public morals and health be the object, why
not encourage divorce? give to every one
who will keep a bowling alley and billiard