The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-28
TRHTS OF OFFICE.

The late elections of members to our City
Councils have decided that the machinery of
our municipality will be, for another year at
least, in the hands of the Union party. To
chat party, therefore, will belong the right Of
filling the vacant offices which are within the
gift of Councils. There occur in the begin
ming of every year vacancies in the Board of
Trustees of the Gas Works, of the Poor, in
the Highway Department, and many other
positions, which it is of vital Importance to
the city should be filed by able and honest
men. In the choice of these officers, we ear
nestly urge the Union caucus to select as
their candidates honest, able, and patriotic
men. There are within the Union ranks gem
tlemen to whom the party owes such marks
of its confidence and esteem.
Let the test of Office applied by THOMAS
JEFFERSON be adopted as their guide. "Is
" he honest? is he capable? is he true to the
&" Constitution" should be the inquiries, and
not, as it has been in days gone by, "What
" has he done for the party? what is his per-
" sonal influence and is he likely to support
us in return for our support Of him?' Be
meath the rule of the late Democratic party,
these were the questions propounded. Let
the opponents Of the Union party never be
able, with truth, to say the same of its
nominees.
Honesty is the great requisite for city office.
That their OPINIONS on national affairs are those
held by the true Onion men of to-day, is
requisite which the caucus will of course
demand before nomination viii be for mo-
ment considered, and although tn the discharge
Of the Legitimate duties Of a municipal officer,
the occupant viii come bat little in contact
with national affairs, yet the crisis demands
that loyal men hold every office, high or low.
In the Democratic regime all the positions
have been given to politicians, and dishonesty
has been so prevalent, that the holding of a
city Office caused O mans honor to be sus-
pected. We feel confident that the days Of
corruption are past, and that beneath the ad-
ministration Of our Sheriff elect, honest, fair,
and upright dealing viii characterize the ad-
mnisiration orhi- Office rs has always marked
the actions OF his private life.
Capability IS Che second requisite given by
JEFFERsoN. A man may be honest and
wcll-meaniug, yet through iucompetency and
weakness bring di5respect upon his position
and himself Firmness and Intelligence are
demanded by the people as a right. We have
many instances Of the inCapacity Of public
officers Only few months since, through
political geTymandering of the Democratic
party, a certain Board Of Trustees Of our city
were actually compelled TO dismiss upwards Of
fifty Union men from their employment.
although in that very Board the two parties
were equally divided. Wewant no more such
instances Of incapacity. We must and viii
have capable men. The Union caucus OF
Councils hold in their hands an opportunity
Of making themselves deseTVedly popular, or
ofplacing their party In the same uniayorab,e
position that the Democratic party hold To-
day. The former course, we feel assured, they
win adopt,
Is be true 10 the Constitution? is the third
requisite Of Office. On this head we need say
little. Tie importance OF uue men being the
candidates is fully appreciated by the mem
bers Of the caucus, and we have no fears that
the Union party viii ever disgrace Itself by
giving 10 traitors the gifts in lbs possession.
We feel confident that the officers elected by
Councils this year win be honest, capable, and
patriotic men-a pride not only to their party,
but also 70 the whole city Of B:otherly Love.