The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-27
COLUMBIA. s. G.
Wednes ay norn,nx. March ~ 1879.
Tho El.etIon.

Tho Ri. eiIon.
On Tuesday next, our city election
takes place. The "citizens" have an
Auexoeptionable ticket in the field. and
q fair prospect Of eieoting them. if they
will go earnestly to work from now until
Taesday, and then turn out on nsasse to
tho polls and vote. Che qualifications
OF q voter are that he be citizen of the
United States, an inhabitant OF tie
State for one year next preceding the
election, that he has been resident of
The city for sixty days, and that he has
been duly registered in the ward in which
Ihe proposes to vote. The registration is
fixed by law to commence three days
next preceding the day of election. As
Sunday intervenes, the books for regis.
4xation will be opened. in the present
instance. on Friday. At tue last city
election, it is estimated that ut least one
,:hird OF the white voters neglected to
vegister, and consequently could not
vote. even had they desired. There was
great Indifference manifested on the part
~di The white people in that election.
-Mapy we're Of the opinion that it made
no great difference how the election
went, and allowed their business aud
. thaL natural distaste for election hubbub
~.nd disagreeable excitement to keep
them from the polls. They now see,
Aewever, when they reflect upon the
Oity Hall swindle, the. embezzlement OF
che $75. 900 borrowed from DR.. Neagle,
and the increase of $3.50. QUO to the city
.debt. that it does make considerable dif-
,terence-not, indeed, what may be the
political sentiments Of the City Council,
ubut what may be the reputation of the
snembers.
If dishonest and inefficient officials
continue to be- foisted into our city GO
Rernment, the public moneys squan-
rdesed and embezzled, high taxation
kept up, and the oity debt increased,
Columbia, despite all her natural ad
cvantages her bracing and healthful eli
mate, her central position, her railroad
connections, her manufacturing facilities
and her now rapidly growing business
and general prosperity, must inevitably
suffer, and have her progress sadly re-
tsrded, If not altogether blocked. Every
4naan who owns property in the city, or
who expects to earn his living here by
honest labor. is directly interested in
securing an honest and economical go.
wernment. The citizen. whether Demo.
-crat or Republican, who would sacrifice
the public interests to party zeal, or to
mistaken notion of party necessity or
advantage, is nothing more nor less than
a contemplate fool. Political parties
are formed by the people. and for the
people. 1Aey are not the masters cf The
people, but their slaves-their instru-
1nents to effect good public ends; and
when they can work no good, as in our
municipal election, they should be dis.
earded. He who strives to bring politi-
cal Influences into action in d municipal
election like ours. is either demagogue
>or dupe of dcmngogne.
-@N
AS OTnERs SEE Us This is what the
London Morning Post. of March 6. says
OF the comparative strength Of Canada
and England rs the United States:
"The Dominion could ut shorter no.
'tice bring greater number of troops
into the field than the great republic it.
self, and it must not be forgotten that if
the frontier of Canada ia of great extent
and defenceless, that of the United
States is in the snme position. At the
Grst signal Of war, the English feet
would cross the Atlantic aud blockade
the American ports. and no one knows
better than the Secretary of the Navy at
Washington that the Union posscsst no
vessels which could compel us to raise
the blockade, or return tho compliments
Coy sealing up our ports." Barring the
drag. there is a good deal of suggestion
an this of how badly of the United
States are as to naval resources. Event