The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-03-27
Lansing Charter Election.

Lansing Charter Election.
The Annual Charter Election in this city is at
hand, and this is the last opportunity which will
be afforded to say a word to the readers OF the
Republican concerning it.
In view of its own merits and importance to
the progress and welfare OF this city, it now be-
comes the duty of Republicans to use energy
and work to carry the city.
For the reason that the present City Board IS
Republican, and must, Of course, sustain the
entire responsibility of all public acts and meas
ures adopted and put into practice during the
past year, and in view of the additional important
fact, that the entire work and organization OF a
system OF municipal measures and policy had to
be devised, begun and carried on by this Board, it
will create no surprise that fault-fnding and
complaint toward those public acts and measures
should exist, and that the officers of the Board,
and the party by which they were elected,
should come in for a share.
1t is no purpose of our own, nor is there any
desire on the part OF those officially connected
with the city government, to deprecate just CEN
sure, nor by any means to stay the closes: scru-
tiny into their acts. No one measure, having in
it the element Of locality, can please all men,
and the measures of the Common Council, now
about to retire in part, not exceptions to this
general principle. All that should justly be re-
quired at their hands ia, that they should have so
conducted the city affairs with reference to grades
streets, sewers, police aud public improvements,
as to subserve the greatest good OF all, having
no reference to the peculiar benefit or disadvan-
tase of persons, or of localities. This has been
done, and the most captious caviler can make no
charge to the contrary which cannot be retuted.
The commencement of a new city, IS reason
and observation teach, requires some degree of
enterprise. as well as Judgment and economy !;
and while a due regard should be had to the
stringencv of the times and while onerous liabil-
tiles should be avoided, there have been certain
things entailing more or less taxation, which
were to be done, and must be done, and which
were better done at the outset than later.
In respec. to measures and expenses, such
"a grading the principal thoroughfares, re-
pairing bridges, laying down sidewalks, and the
construction of necessary drains, it is believed
that the present Council have pursued aud en-
forced A neediul and healthy energy, always with
n due and vigilant regard for economy. While
these necessary measures have been prosecuted,
thew have not been made needlessly onerous 10
taxpayers.
No resident citizen of Lansing, who has
can all
bear witness to the fact, that the place has been
far more orderly, quiet and peaceful during the
past wear than before the adoption Of the char
Ter government. The fact is apparent, and fol
IL the Common Council should have their portion
Of the credit.
Notwithstanding tire benefits which have
flowed from healthy administration of city af
fairs. all have not been pleased. Improvement:
which were obviously for the common good
have not, in all cases, benefited individuals d
localities, and those not helped have complained
and still complain.
Private animosities exist, as they always hav'
done, and always will do, in all communities
and in all parties, but with these sources OF dis
satisfaction, whether springing from official &C
ton, or arising out of private ill-feeling, tn
members Of the Republican party have nothin!
to do. They have higher duty, and shoul'
have higher aim, than to help any man 4
crafty his malice A true Republican shoul
90 farther than this, and practice such measur
Of self.control as not to allow the bias of his owl
feelings to interfere with his political duties
The Republicans Of Chicago have just set befor
the country a noble example of this politics
virtue. 4 candidate was nominated for tn
Office Of Mayor Of that city who had been 70
many years a bitter political enemy of many o
them. He had lived long there, had made
fortune, and like all thorough, decided, talente'
and energetic men, be had made enemies, an,
not few of them in the Republican ranks; bu
these men nobly sunk their prcjudices, anu CAM
up to the struggle ike men, and worked for
man who was able and willing to work for him
self, admitting his capacity, his energy and fit
ness, his sound Repubcan;sm, and his entir'
fearlessuess, and merging their private feeling
in the duty which they owed to the good cause
They set this healthy example, and they tri
umphsd. Republicans OF Lansing, let Us do tn
same and victory awaits US.
Ii viii no, do to let it so abroad through tn
State that the citadel has ftllen-, will be So
Inauguration Of the campaign TO allow it to b
proclaimed by the pro-slxvery and disunio
party that the capital city has surrendered a
discretion, nor shall the party be called upon t
submit to such humiliation.
There are those in all parties who, when nc
pleased with nominations, or when PERSONAL
disappointed, viii bolt; that cannot be avoided
Let the,u 90, but lie, them go alone-let no RI
publican shoulder another mans quarrel, or see
10 crafty another mans revenge, at the expens
Of the common cause. The Republican part
was organized for no such purpose.
Our opponents are making sanguine calcul'
tons upon success-calculasions which al
doomed never to be realized, but by which the
are stimulated to work. They have alread
large number OF imported voters, who are
work for active partissns, who are able to Gu