The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-12
The Election.

6I0CtIOus
We do not wish to enter the arena of
politics in a partizan character, nor to die
tate vote under the pretext of conscience,
but we think the present political emer-
gency sufficiently important to warrant the
expression CT their views by all who take
an interest in the~public welfare. We are
passing through period of misfortune and
suffering. In addition to political compli-
cations of the gravest character, the imam
cial question is extremely embarrassing.
Our currency, national and municipal, is IN
very unhealthy condition, and public
credit, especially Of the State and city, is
at so low an ebb as not to be available.
Taxation brushes out all enterprise, and
the elements of disaster are growing daily
in Importance.
The subject of most immediate interest
to our community, however, is the admins
tration of it's municipal affairs. The great
question of "city money" has been para
mount one with us for long time, and
countless are the profound financial schemes
which have been invented for the solution
of the great problem. Luckily the problem
has, to great extent, solved itself, SO far
as the immediate convenience of the public
is concerned, by the money in question
having continued to sink SO steadily that it
has finally sunk out of sight as currency.
Were it not that the public school teachers,
the police, and other employees OF the city,
are still paid in this paper, it would lose
nearly all importance as question OF the
~, 1,o-> <nf
the capitalists,
we must remember, however, that it is
still used as the medium for carrying on
our municipal government, and that even
tually it must all be redeemed by the tax
payers of the city. These two considera-
lions should still keep it before the public
as question of present and future i'm
portance.
We do not propose, at this time, either to
suggest new scheme of financial wisdom
ON this topic, or to advocate any one OF
those which have so far failed to secure a
patent. We merely wish to call attention
to the fact that the best schemes can do no
good unless pat IN operation. That Is d
tcondition precedent to the success OF any
of them. If we have city government
which is too lazy, too ignorant, or too cor
rupt to act efcinntly, why take the useless
trouble of constructing plans which have no
shadow of chance of being tried. The
real object in view, then, should be to get
the business lodged in proper and compe-
tent hands. Then, like any other business,
it will naturally be conducted in the most
discreet and successful way of which Cir
cumstances will permit.
The great question, then, before our
voters should be, irrespective of political
bias, who will be the safest men to entrust
with the control of city affairs9 We think
that no one will differ with lis when we say
these men ought to be intelligent, practical,
and honest. The affairs of the city are
always sufficiently complicated and extern
sive, but especially so at this juncture, to
require the exercise of great business tact
and ability in their control. There is an
immense revenue to administer annually,
and there are powers to WELD, which, by
an iniudicious exercise, might sacrifice
public interests. and involve the city in
embarrassing liabilities for many years to
come. The control of the levees, the lens
ing of wharves, sale of markets, granting
rights of railway on the streets, and other
powers ought to be cautiously and judi
ciously used.
Why, then, entrust these powers to q be-
sotted ignorance which has never lifted it's
possessor above the meanest functions of
private employment, or to the visionary
talents of professed politician, who has
never been able to conduct any personal
interest to successful issue 2 Let us have
prudent, practical, and successful men OF
business for our city fathers.
Honesty! 1t may be considered unfair
to insist upon this new element in politics