, 1860-02-20
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a9rrajis & Griih1t1tt<
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, lseo.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
No man acquainted with municipal e!ectlcns
in Chicago needs to be told that in tho mall
ner Of choosing men for municipal honors'
there il something radically wrong At least,
no one needs to be told that tho work antece-
dent to m election is Of that kind which no
man Of sensibility, or Of conscience, ought to /
be asked to undertake. The unwiilingness Of |
ht candidates for municipal trusts to como for
ward aud do that which custom has made nc
csssitv, is yearly strengthened By the dirty
dancing, unlimited guzzlins, infinite lying
aod downright cheating which enter into every
canvass; md year alter year Cur city politics
will degenerate until nj last public safety and
tho public property will he wholly at the mer-
cyp pf tho men who arc tho most profoundly
skilled in the arts which demagogues practice.
There seems to be no good reason why popu-
larity should bo sought in tho grog~shops and
slums Of which the city has SO many; nor no
excuse for putting in play that system Of tac-
tics in politics, which, if adopted in business,
would send those who use it to the penitcntia-
~ as swindlcrs and cheats.
1t is vain to hops that one party will lay
down the advantages which rnay be gained BY
pursuing the policy that we condemn, as long
rs it Is kept up by tho other; and wc know
that it is equally vain to look for an union
among the better men Of all parties to put an
end to the yearly satu.nalia, by voting down
at the polls those who encourage it But it is
manifest that system SO rotten and corrupt can
not bear good fruit; and that as long as our ru-
lera must 10 obtain their places, minister to tho
ueancst passions and appetites Of that
portion Of the population that is the low
est in tue scale Of morals and intelligence,
their mower must be SO welded as to promote
tho growth Of that bY which they have
risen aud hope to rise higher. The candidate
who pays for aad helps drink whisky by the
harrel, before election, finds, when he has
gained that which ho sought, that he is incom-
potent 10 check tic liquor traffic no matter
how illegally pursued; and lie who uses
Sunday as the day in which his schemes may
he most successfully promoted in the dance
houses aud concert-rooms, need not be expect
ed TO be at al earnest to enforce the laws by
which all the year round that day is secured
to Christian men as a season Of quiet and rest.
The pimps vino hang about brothels, the GAM
blers who keep open deus for luriny The inno-
cent and young, the shou|dcr-hitters and fancy
,nen,-ii courted and lattered while canvass
is going on, expect no active interference with
their pursuits when tue canvass las come to
an end and the officers Of their choice are i'll
stalled.
These facts arc 50 notorious, aud tile dlsos-
der and insecurity arising from them so well
known, tint gcod men, welded by their prin.
cit!es to the broadest exercise Of the clcctiy.
franchise, havo long been casting abou'
them for remedy. We know not what
it will be. But that some change in The
manner Of choosing our municipal officers is
demanded, the history Of Every day in ever,
considerable city i'll the land, il conclusive
proof 1t has been suggested that system
by which the choice Of Mayor. for instance.
may be made to dcpeud upon lots, cast by hal
:: dozen candidates, would afford Il comparative
immunity from tho penalties which follow til
present plan. Suppose, for example, that tl1'
city charter were SO amended that every vote
was required to cast ballot Oil which werc H.
names Of six candidatee e. e'''
o.d 49, Six highest voted for, OH
SHOULD bs chosen by lot. Tho Republican,
would vote fur their man, tho Democrats fo1
shcirs, the organization Of parties would moi
l,c disturbed, and tho candidates would repre-,
sent principles: as now; but tho incentive t,
tic dlssrxta,itl1 lfanderlng to popular vices ant
i'nmoralitics to the profuso expenditure o
money for The corruption Of voters, and to the
pcrsoual cleciiu:cerlny, which now do so ,nucl
mischief, would be tlken away; becauso lit
man would hazard Ills reputation, lis sclfre.
spec. and his purse in 4 coLtlict i'll which l,e
lad but enc b!iud ci:aace, OIL Of ha1r a dozen
chances, for winning tie coveted prize. There
arc serious objections to Ibis plan; hut it is
the simplest and most feasible one that has
l'eeu get devised. Some few, forgetting that
irritating disorders arc the price Of great libcr.
ty, would limit the right Of voting by 4 proper
ty qualification III tic voter; but the day las
gone by in which the right Of solcsoyernn,ent
may bo taken away because it is no. accompa-
nicd b7 the possession Of certain amount Of
money; hence, until Republican ideas ol
equality are trampled out, that restriction car
never he adopted.
Whatever the kennedy, We point out the evil
to the candidates now in the field, entreat-
ing them for the success Of tho Administration
Of whicl. ono or the other Of them will be tin
head, to avoid the debasing aud dangerous ex
pcdients to which it has become tho habit 9
candidates to resort by aud by, when til,
present system works out its legitimate result
all parties, startled by tho daugcr to which
they will wake up, may be ready to adopt :
plan TINT will afford them immunity aus
relief.