The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-06-23
The Election,

There is no doubt about the fact that we
have been cursed in this country by the fire.
quency Of our elections For example, in this
city we have an annual excitement upon the
question of municipal rule. The effect Of this
has been tc beget among us chronic apathy,
and to inspire feeling very nearly akin to
contempt for these oft-recurring scrambles for
place or emolument. This feeling was natu-
raj, but nevertheless wrong; for the govern
ment of a city involves questions of morals, of
health, of order, and of finance, which are
of the gravest importance We have our de-
partments of Justice, of Education, of Public
Charity, of Police, Improvement, of Hygiene,
and Finance to consider, and upon the proper
administration of these branches, legislative
and executive, our comfort and prosperity
must depend to very great degree. Hence
it is that we say with such emphasis that our
previous apathy in municipal elections, though
natural, was wrong; we may even go further,
and say that it has been almost criminal. Few
thoughtful men will dispute this proposition;
and knowing this, we call upon the commu-
nifty to come forward, and assert their right
to good government This can only be Sc
cured by the intelligent and conscientious
action of the people themselves Neglect
would now be culpable folly. They have had
their attention fully aroused by the late agita-
ton of the community, and they cannot fail
" 4
We have now before us multitude of ca1di-
dates for our suffrage. 1t would be presump-
ton in us to attempt to pronounce among
them, even FIVE possessed the necessary in
formation; but the individual voters of the
various wards can discriminate and they
should critcise each name with the greatest
care, We require prudence and energy, ex-
perience and information, and the men who
do not possess these requirements should not
be put in the Councils The reason is abund-
antly plain Theories which are not built upon
philosophical generalization, are rarely, if
ever, sound; and Just now we cannot afford to
be experimental on Let us then endeavor
to combine in our repres entatiyes in the two
Councils the qualities we have enumerated.
Energy without prudence, hurries madly into
innovations; but these qualities combined
with experience and information, will adapt
the ordinances of the city to the facts as they
are, and net to conditions which we would
gladly have existing but which are not to be
70 und. In short, we want sound sense and
as little experimental philosophy just now, as
we can possibly avoid. This is another
proposition which will not be disputed. This
being granted, the voters of Norfolk should
come forward with an eye single to the in
terestS of the city, and it is an easy task from
the names before us, to select men who will
discharge their functions either in the legisla-
tive or executive branches of our COVE. n NJ mt,
with zeal and ability Let the people ratify
the good names presented by the Conventions
and replace the bad ones by their own nom-
nations If this advice be followed, we may
rest in reasonable comfort for the next twelve
months Otherwise those who dance must
pay the fiddler.