Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-05
ayatiuuaI gepnbIitau


Mr.. EDfToRi I, as an humble Taxpayer
OF this grand capital OF a great republic
would beg leave to insert a few remarks Ia
your widely circulated paper, to which I am
a subscriber. ALLOW me drst to put the
simple question Why all this clash OF
arms, this Wild commotion In the ranks ahd
among the would-be lenders OF the two OPP
posing wings Of the Republican party h u
believing our frst impresslou) all Tor
nothing else but for the greatest good Tor
the greatest number Of our feloW-oitizens
aud taxpayer, white aud colored, OF this
beniehted metropolis, aud are they going so
far IN their zeal TO outstrip each other In
that iaudable object that they would even
kill each other II their wards-the tax-payers
would allow IL, aud are the spoils--the
ohices-not coming into consideration at ALT
ARE they not worth while to be- spoken Of
viz That absolute Mayoralty with its up.
Pendagesi that $4,000 collectorship; that
5000 reglatershlp; that 5000 wood and
coal meaaurership, sc. 1s that the last
question 70 DO thought ofby these unselflsh
citiEen leaders or course, they take them,
II offered, because they would not like TO
oneud their fellow-cltizens by a refusal.
But now to the point, fellow-taNpayers.
What Ia all this disgraceful fight aud com
motion forf Is II not for the spells and
from a strong Inherent motive In them to
rule, which ls 80 sweet TO sonnet What
difference does II make to us citizens who Of
these designing, plotting men arc put at the
bead Of Affairs aud lord Il over us II we do
not change the Institutions and laws which
give them the power 90 do mischief and to
impoyerish tho city treasury II ls the
aame thing whether we keep the form OF
District aud city government we have at
present or whether we change II to O terrific
rial form OF governments; five do not make
the laws aud institutions so that instead Of
the otilce-holders, our agents. having and
holding US, tho people, 10 their power aud
eubservient TO their behests, we, the people
and taxpayers, hold them liable and re-
sponaible TO our sovereign commands, and
make them feel that they are In reality our
servants aud not we theirs.
Why is 1t that the Mayor has the dlstribu-
ton las presents for well-doue seryicss) Of
all the minor municipal Offices and the uu-
merciful dismissal Of their incumbents at
his absolute WIFI Why make him supreme
ruleri ls this democratic, a republican
institution Ia 1t worthy, Is II honorable,
Tor US, white as well as colored, citizens thai
We hrst light among ourselves to decide what
man shall be our absolute ruler, and then,
II Wo have succeeded In electing him, 20 10
him and beg Of him petty office as pres
ent, % hold only so long as 1t suits him In
ms grace and as we obey as Rbject slaves
his tnfalilblc behestsf Is that what ali this
strife IL fort Colored feloV-cltlzens, Ia
this not slavery again with q vengeance and
In worse form, being self-lmposed II
We Intend to change our form Of District
and city government let US try with all our
might TO change II to the better.
Let Us elect all our officers from the Mayor
down to the last In the rank; let us elect our
judges, who often have our lives and our all
In their hands-Qf that cannot be done now,
let the agitation begin)-our school tTus.
tees let us elect the superintendent Of
police and the board Of police commission
ers, who now hold their sessions In secret
conclaye, like the holy inquisition OF old,
shutting their doors against their fellow
citizens, that IL never shall leak out by whom
OF their number one or the other OF our citi-
zens aud business men ls denounced and
may be ruined, and the honorable police COM
missioner may have a chance when he meets
that man 10 pretend friendship to him, and
AJAX bis fayors. Let us demand OF them, as
we have q sovereign right 20 do, that they
open their doors to us aud let the sunlight
shine In to them and their meetings, and II
they cannot stand that, II the watchful pub |
lie eye Is too much for them, let no at the |
proper time disband them and elect better
men who are not afraid OF daylight. By nll |
means let us not tester secret inqulsitions In |
the heart Of our republic. eternal vigil
lance Is the price OF liberty" Let us elect |
all our public men and keep them well In |
hand and We shall not see so much Of arbl- /
trary and overbearing action on their part
and shall hear less OF their pet phrase,
which they use at every OCCASION "You, the |
people, are governing" reserylug always,
when they utter 1t, In their inuermost heart
the thought, with our permission, or with |
Us as your heads" Then, aud then only.
shall we In fact be the governors, aud our |
institutions will only then become truly |
democratic or republican In form, when no. |
lOdV. he hia nnatinn -
hold 1t without the peoples pleasure, and we |
can make him lay II In our hands whenever |
he forgets to fullll his duties honestly, or |
becomes overbearlng TO his fellow citizens. |
Let them never forget that they are only citl- |
zens like US, and at any time liable to fall |
back In the ranks.
Why Is 1t, tag payers arc asking, why Is
u taxes are so hight Where Ia all tho money
going tot Why, into the pockets of some
Of our modest ollice-holders. What for that
OF allowing q city collector
$4,000, nearly as much us the Presidents
salary, q city register 5000; q wood and
coal measuTer 5000, aud so ont Would
not q, 900 or 81, 900 be enough, and would
not hundreds Of good citizens be willing to
take the Offices for that, and perform their
duties honestly and faithfullyi
IL IL a wonder that there lie such a dis
graceful scramble aud commotlon for these
lffices, whereby some designing, wOuld-hs
eaders Try g SRe tssi taihsSalded fellow.
iitlSens, white and colored, 70 fight and
JlAckguard each other, to get the spolls for
hem, the plottersi IL such a spectacle at
very election not shameful, disgusting and
for every honest and re- (
'pectable free citizen OF the capital OF a I
treat republlei Cut down the spolls aud
he chances to do mischief and TO act the |
yrant, aud we will be spared such sPecta- {
lies hereafter. Without that we never will I
Ind the saints among men who will not be |
poiled by giving them too much aud too |
ong chance to feather their nests aud
o lord Is over US.
As TO tho territorial form Of government,
think II would work well " we apply the
principles above laid dow, aud would, in-
'tead Of electing the upper house OF the
legislative body for the term Of four year',
,lect them for the term OF two years, and
have the Governor appointed for .ae same
ength Of time, as, In my opinlc.l, the people
would act unwlsely TO give their power and
heir trust for such r,orlod In the hands of
ny one man or PJdy OF men; 1t Is always
~, ano tne sooner the better, to have u
"a regulate them, II found necessary,
10 20 keep the sword OF Damocles, Wis
ne voice and the will Of the people, con-
IinuAlly above their heads.
FAIR AT CARRoLL HALL.-Those OF our
readers who desire to spend a pleasant even
nE should visit the fair now In progress at
Carroll Hall. The ladies OF the cOngrega-
lon Of 81. Patrick's church, with character
site lasts, have displayed a number OF use
ul and beautiful articles for disposal; the
paciouS hall Is neatly arranged; the tables
Lro well filled; and there Ia every Induce
nent for vtSitors 70 pass Rn agreeable hour.
Those OF the sterner sex, especially, who
ire not. lndlsposed 10 DO beguiled by the
mile OF youth aud beauty to eTpend a few
iollars in \ good cause, will have ample OPP
and will be more than repaid for
.hsiT generosity by the thanks OF the fair
assistants. We say fair assistants adVisedly
md with due deliberations for we arc OF
opinion that the visitor will not DO dlsap-
'olnted on the score OF beauty, any more
han no will fall 10 be pleased with the
harmlng manners Of the lady managers.
,ATl Richter's band, an excellent one, too, {
y the way, IL engaged to play every even
70.