Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-09
MONDAY. pEoussHER ., 1864.
THE CITY Election.


Our municipal election, to-day, will un
doubtedy draw out large vote. The cir
cumstances that have brought into the field
two "citizens" tickets, instead of one, have
reused an interes; in this election, which, a
week ago, was neither expected nor deemed
possible at the present time. party contest
in our city affairs. this year, was earnestly de
precated by nearly all the republicans with
whom we couvcrsed on the subject. They
preferred to have both parties unite III a citi'
zens' movement to designate candidates. In
defere nee to this general sentiment the repuO'
lican city committee voted not TO call party
caucus. We had less faith in this policy ana
less hope OF good result from it than most OF
our friends whose views we heard expressed.
We remembered that "citizeus' movements
had caused the republicans Of Worcester more
disturbance than any thing else; but we CON
sented to the policy, and signed the call Tor
such caucus as was desired. Everybody has
heard OF the proceedings at that caucus. Eve
rybody knows the result.
That movement failed entirely to secure
such a ''citizens' union" to elect municipal
officers as had been contemplated and every
body knows why it failed, 1t was not on
account Of personal AFFECTION to the nominees;
nor was ii on account OF the politics Of the
nominees Tor mayor and aldermen; for those
of us who went into the union movement
expected and desired to vote for democrats as
well as republicans. 1t has failed because
the proceedings Of that unfortunate caucus
have driven most OF the republicans into
opposition 10 ii. THAI fraudulent ballot
which tie caucus refused to cancel would
have made it failure if there had been
nothing else to do 50. Tor fraudulent voting is
one OF the very gravest offences against free
institutions, and should not be tolerated under
any circumstances. OF course the democrats
generally are net responsible for this foul vot-
ing It was confined to a few persons. But,
after the vote refusing to order another ballot
for clerk OF the police court, the responsibility
for it rested On tile caucus, and Tie consequen-
ces to the attempted citizens union movement
were inevitable.
The partisan strife that was SO earnestly de-
precated has been reused far beyond what
would have been the case, had each party pro
ceeded by itself and nominated its own candl-
dates. A parry caucus might have nominated
"union ticket by selecting its nominees
from both parties and certainly such policy
would have led 10 happier results, and would
have been more successful every way than the
late attempt to unite the two parties in sup
port OF one ticket. But it is now useless to
write speculations on what might have been
done. The matter now on hand is what we
have attempted and failed 10 accomplish. The
attempted union movement failed not through
any fault Of the republicans, but for reasons
to which we have referred Probably it never
was very feasible.
In the election to day we have what was so
much deprecated,--a warm partizan contest.
There will doubtless be some independent
voting, but, in realty, the two parties are ar
rayed against each other without their organ
izations. 1t is, as we have said, a contest be-
tween republicans and democrats. Circum-
stances above our control, and not arising from
anything thatbas been done by the republicans,
have made it SO, and nothing can make it 9th
erwise. The gentlemen nominated at Me-
chancs' Hall are in republican nominees,
and it seems to us that the republican voters
should act together in support of that ticket.
1t is quite certain that it will have the sup
port of most of those who belong to the re-
publican party, and, under the circumstances
it seems the wsest course for all republicans
to adopt those nominees and support them
unitedly, as they are expected to sus tain regu-
larly nominated republican candidates. OF
course the usual party obligation does not ex-
ist in this case, but the nominees are eminent
ly worthy of support, and by acting together,
republicans will avoid promoting unwholesome
antagonsms among themselves.