The Republican journal., 1870-03-17

which the paper is sent.-aa
PARTY LINES IN TOWN AND CITY AT.
FAIRS.
An interesting question, to those who take
part in regulating and guiding the machinery
of party, is-to what extent is party allie
glance binding upon men? OF how far should
il concern itself with the divisions and sub
divisions OF government and society? The
history of parties, which is as old as the re-
cords OF constitutional governments, shows
the usefulness OF these organizations They
operate as checks upon the assumptions, en-
croachments and eXtravagances of each
other, and by this very vigilance play an i'm
porlant part in the economy of government.
In their larger sphere Of operations. like
the concerns OF our national government,
III which each party gives expression to the
views OF a large portion of the community.
then action is second only to the operations
OF the government itself. When p party has
given expression to its views, by resolutions
on these matters, its adherents who expect
to partake OF its advantages, must be held to
strict observance of its rules, and TO rive
1t a thorough and promp1 support A want
OF discipline, and u consequent lack Of yigor
IS to invite defeat. The same rules apply to
State affairs, and to all the elections of off
GERS whose functions may operate upon State
OF national politics.
But i'll following this descending scale, we
come to the matter of choosing municipal
oflicers-the mayor and aldermen of cities.
and the selcctmen of towns. Their duties
are limited to the care Of strictly local affairs
til" hiohwayS nnhlr hnoll, f"o 1e,>a,t
ment,-and such enterprises outside the
common corporate sphere as the Legislature
may have authorized the city or town to en-
gage in. There are many who have not
given the subject much thought, and who
honestly believe that the obligations of party
should compel all citizens to apply party
tests to these matters. They have, they say,
a principle in the matter. But when asked
to examine irparty platforms and to show
how application may be made to municipal
questions, they are all at sea.
The Democratic party, for example, is in
favor Of taxing bonds-but the most unyield-
ing Democrats, if constituting the city Off
cals of Belfast. could not compel the pay
ment of taxes on the United States bonds
owned in the city. The Democratic party
has recorded itself as favoring low tariffs on
importations-but we fear that the Demo-
Gratis Of this city, however thoroughly they
might possess the city government, would
not be able to prevent the persistent fellows
in the brick edilice at the head Of Main street
from collecting duties on importations at this
port. The Democracy are opposed to con-
ferring all the rights of citizenship on the
hordeS of ignorant negroes at the South-or
were while that was q living queston-but
we fear that any adverse action which our
city government might take, would fail to
Gust the colored Senator from the United
States Senate, or prevent Ben Butler from
appointing the same race to West Point
cadetshps. And equally futile, We're Demo-
Gratis in power at Washington would be re-
publican efforts to steer the ship Of state by
Juggling at the filler ropes of our city COY
eminent.
On the other hand, questions are always
arising in towns, and on which citizens di-
vide, that no party platform does or can take
cognizance of. Several towns have been
agitated this winter on questions of dividing
their territory-but we should look in vain
for any guide from the Democratic national
or state platform. The citizens of Belfast
have taken sides within few weeks on the
question of a bridge across the halbor-but
we should look vainly in the writings of the
fathers OF the resolutions of '9S for ANYTHING
on the subject Of bridges. Such questions
concern and affect the people of the locality
alone; and when they arrange themselves
upon the one side or the other, it is found
that parties, and all arbitrary lines of distinc-
ton on other questions are badly lacerated.
1t is folly and absurdity to ask or expect to
hold together, in such issues, all men who are
united on national or state questions. But
where these disturbing elements do not
exist, it is advisable to hold parties together,
and we should strongly advise our friends
everywhere to do so.
A state of things which very well illus
trates the tenor Of this article, exists in this
city. Belfast is very largely interested in the
building of railroad. 1t has been opposed
by portion Of the citizens That opposition
made necessary union of the friends of the
enterprise-and that union, like the opposi-
ton, embraced men of each political party.
In order to give the fullest effect to the voice
of the railroad men, as such, it was decided
to run ticket on that issue in the Spring
election of last year 1t received nine -tcnths
of All th" votes cast. But that breaking Of