The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-09-10
sDeok Of war.-Recently the Council

Speck of War.-Recently the Council
of our city passed an ordinance to prevent
the ringing of the fire bell, except on the oc-
casions of fire, and on the death of fire.
man. 1t had previously been customary
| for the firemen to ring the bell for all meet
ings both regular and special, and as each
company had special meetings nearly every
week, the bell was frequently in service.
It becoming an annOySaee to many, council
was petitioned to pass an ordinance restrict
ing the use of the bell, which it did as a.
foresaid. The fremen took umbrage at
this, and complained, perhaps with reason,
that members did not attend the meetings
because not reminded by the tap of the bell.
The matter eliminated on Monday night
last by the companies hauling their sp-
paratus out upon the street in trout of the
council chamber and demanding the repeal
of the ordinance on pain Of disbanding.
AS Council could not maintain its self-respect
and yield TO 90 Imperative a demand, the
matter was laid over for one week. The
iremen then returned to the engine house,
and passed resolutions in which they pledged
themselves not to turn out to or labor at a
fire until the ordinance was repealed, They
left the aparatuses standing in the street, the
council had them taken care of, returned to
the engine house, and placed them in charge
of the Marshal and police.
The next evening a citizens meeting was
held, at which the project of establishing a
a paid fire department was discussed. After
the appointment of a committee, to in
vestigate and report, the meeting adjourned
until this Thursday evening, when the
citizens will meet at Bigchsrd's Hall.
The action of the fremen, in SO peremptOri-
Iy demanding the repeal of the ordinance,
or threatening the disbandment of the de-
partment in case of non compliance with
their demands, was certainly not commend
able It did not imply confidence in the
Justice of their course, for just cause is not
SO hasty. The ordinance was, perhaps, too
stringent, but such haste and imperativeness
were not calculated to effect the object they
sought, but, on the contrary, obliged the
council to refuse compliance, in order to
maintain its self-respect, and the respect Of
the community. Had they yielded, we
question if the fire department could have
respected them as much as they do to day,
for they must have, in that case, appeared
an overawed, and subdued body.
Had the fremen been content to ask a
redress of grievance, and await the action
of council, (and we regard the officers o.
the departments as direlict 10 their duty in NOT
couuseliDg moderation, and endeavoring to
restrain them from precipitate action, no
doubt all they asked would have been con-
ceded, but putting their claim in the shape
of an imperative demand, they left the
council no alternative but refusal.
In common witlfal good citizens, we re-
gret that our fremen allowed themselves to
be led into open revolt against the council,
and We cannot but commend its action as in
dicating a determination not to be bullied
and overawed by any faction which may fool
ishly imagine that it can control the city
government. As in the general government,
so in the local, we must have an authority
that will command respect.
Since the above was written, we learn
that council has repealed the ordinance
creating fire department. so that the fire.
men have no longer any existance as an or
ganized body. They, certainly, cannot
object TO this action: it was the alternative
they offered, and if council, taking them at
their word, has wiped out the organization,
they have no cause of complaint. Yet we
learn that some threats have been INDUCED
IN against the property of members Of
council. This is the weakest and wickedest
phase of the whole matter; but we cannot
believe that any of them will so far forget
their manhood as to allow themselves TO be
led into the commission of crime.
The council will take steps at once to or
ganize a new department, either paid or
volunteer one, as may be recommended by
! the citizens.