The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-01
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST !, 1860

If the optimist, in considering the moral gov
eminent of the world, usually finds universal
good in partial i'll, he may also discover on the
diverse of the medal that partial benefits often
arise out Of what appears TO be general evil.
To those who believe with us that the present I'M
fortunate disruption of the Democratic party is
ominous of coming trouble and agitation TO the
country, we suggest the consolation that in our
local affairs, at least, it presents no such aspect
but thatifrghtly improved, it promises city gov
eminent purged of all those miserable partisan ele-
ments, which, in the past, have brought such I'M
measured evils upon us. The President OF Tue
City Convention of the BRECKENRIDGE secuon, on
taking his seat. expressed his hope and belief that
the whole Marty would act as unit in the NUM-
cipal election ''for the purpose of restoring the
>~Gscitv government to honorable hands, If he
meant that Democratic nomination should be
made at this time. and supported as such, we re
ioice in the conviction that the scheme is as
impracticable as it would be pernicious. If,
on the contrary, he merely designed to in
innate that the Democratic party of Balti-
more should unite in ignoring party issues in
the municipal elections, his counsel was wise,
timely and feasible That two factons-we do
not know what else to term them without recog-
nizing such radical differences between them as to
render all future union impossible-that these two
factions, sections, wings, or whatever else,
without offence, they may be called,
which have not only disagreed but quarreled
and divided about everything else, will be
able to unite upon candidate for MAYOR is sim
ply impossible. The nominee must belong to the
one side or the other-but which? What arrange
ment can be made in advance about the division
of the spoils? What BRECKENRIDGE or DOUGLAS man
would trust the other? Which of the wings can
afford to forego the prestige and the profit of the
victory 1t is manifestly impossible, and all the
nostrums and 'ssweet oblivious antidotes'' of po-
lcal quacks will be exhibited, to botch up truce,
in vain. If one section dominates, the other will
follow suit. If both nominate and adhere to their
candidates the result of the contest in October
will he nominal triumph for the Union
party, but the real and substantial success OF
the existing city government, which, if it went
before the people for a verdict on the naked
issue Of approval disapprova of its acts, would
be repudiated by vote almost unanimous. 1t is
very well known that the odious American organ
izaton is yet in existence, humbled and crippled,
but only requiring some injudicous movement
on the part of its opponents to spring again into
the political arena with renewed and formidable
strength. Under any circumstances we frankly
confess ourselves opposed to partizan nominal
tons for municipal offices; yet if the Democratic
party were q unit here and everywhere else, the
temptation to seize upon such booty as the city
government would probably be too strong for party
virtue to resist, and the most that we could
hope would be the presentation of the best men
within the party pale But where no possible
party benefit can arise from making q party
contest, it is certainly not much to ask Dem
ocrats of both sides TO join with conserva-
tive citizens of every class in perfecting the
work of reform, so happily begun, in the man
agemeut of our city affairs. As the Democracy
cannot possibly unite on candidate, Of their
own, we invite them to compromise on Reformer,
pledged against partisan influences TO test for
the next two years the experiment of an admins
tration of the city government on the almost for
gotten platform of private and official integrity
and intelligent economy in all the departments,
with an eye single to the good of the whole COM
a.
general regret for the superseded partisan rule, we
may possibly be induced to join in the effort for
its restoration. 1t is, in fact, very dangerous
for one party to succeed another which has been |
stepped in corruption. So many precedents for
violation of official duty will be found, so many |
ready-made excuses will be on hand for every pos
sble abuse, that, with the best intentions,
the difficulties in the way of an honest discharge
of official duty will be multiplied beyond calcula-
ton. 1t is far better, under such circumstances,
to place untrameled honesty and intelligence at
the helm whose purposes embrace nothing be- |
yond the simple and impartial administration
of our corporation affairs. Even should such
an administration be ultimately succeeded by a
partisan one, the latter for long time will find it
impossible 10 overstep the new landmarks without
danger of immediate and runous disgrace. When
it is remembered that but for the exertions Of
of the Reformers, it would be just as impossi-
BILE for Democrat any other decent citizen OPP
posed to Club rule, to vote at the coming elections
as it was at any of the past-and when it is still
further apparent that, if the Democracy only make
to the bitter end quarrel among themselves,
they will just as surely give the triumph to the
Clubs as if the ballot box were still closed-we
are that the appeal we now make in behalf of
simple Reform will find equal response from the
gratitude and the good sense of the Party. We
address ourselves on this occasion specially to
Democrats We ask both sections to forego the |
doubtful pleasure of defeating each other, for the
benefit of destroying an organization |
which, in our municipal affairs, has proved itself |
the foe of all good government. We invite them |
seriously TO ponder the issue presented, and |
to adopt course by which the election of
''Plug" may be prevented, even if the election of
q Democrat may not be secured.