Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-03-21
Our Municipal ElcctiOn.-For

bcra!t.s us for our remarks last week WITH
reference to the "Citizens' Meeting and, as
usual, finds it necessary TO overdraw its
conclusions:
The Frostburg JOURNAL has had its Dem
ocratic feelings narrowed to profoundcs
depths Published in city largely Rcpub
lican the JOURNAL has found it difficult
to so dcmean itself that while as nearly rs
possible conforming its course 10 its feel
ings, it could avoid giving offence to those
of "a different way of thinking politically
Recognizing the fact To which we have above
alluded IA Republican majority i'll Frost
burg) the JOURNAL long since saw the hope
lessness of success of Democratic tickets
for office in the Frostburg municipality
Hence, for several weeks past, the JOURNAL
has loudly advocated Il citizens ticket at the
ensuing election 1t enlarged upon the
propriety of ignoring politics i'll the selcc-
lion of candidates, and argued that the
city's business could be as well transacted,
and with more satisfaction, if the offices
were divided between the Republicans and
Democrats, (the latter To be elected by Re
publicans) Should this course be adopted
the Journal evidently hoped that some of
its friends could be run into office"
The truth is, so far as this matter is con
cerned, politically We care not a whit which
party exercises municipal control. Our on
ly object has been, and is, to get our people
to avoid party considerations in the selec-
ton of gentlemen for the duties of offices
wholly without party interests to sub
serve In fact, in the business which comes
before our Council there is nothing politi-
ically upon which republicans and demo-
crafts should divide There are no appoint
ments which require any other tests than
reliability and manhood, and no appropria-
tons to make or patronage to distribute,
which require other than sectional merit
and equality. And these views have not
been more largely entertained than among
republicans, and from whom the call for II
citizens meeting a0holly originated.
Hence, we have 10 friends to run in
TO office" an(. no enemies IN Fi0stbtuy, of
whom we are aware, to upbraid us, or UNI
generously attribute to us the little and low
mcanncsses of underhand party conduct,
on account of our private political views
We pay our town taxes, and intend to have
our say, and to say as we please, independ-
entity, especially of outsiders who assume
either the censorship Of our politics or the
custodianship of our conduct
But the Ne,rs continues:
a public meeting was held one night last
week, and Il citizens ticket for Mayor and
COunclmen was nominated thcrcat. The
nominee for Mayor was Il Republican, rs
were four out of the six Councilman, Il very
considerable concession, as, If we under
stand the JOURNAL. a majority of those at
the meeting were Republicans.
The meeting, very unfortunately, did not
give satisfaction TO the JOURNAL, and it is
pleased to make fun of the whole proceed
ings, and slurs the conduct of the republi-
cans present ut the meeting by the words
but the little tcl-tale ballots leaked the
doleiul information to the Democracy that
Republican iealty is due only to the Rcpub-
lican party"
1t is well known here that, after the
meeting was organized, an effort was made
to consider it repubican-an effort which
was fairly defeated by republicans. But
when the vote came on the result showed
ticket entire of republicans. If any OF
the gentlemen are democrats we have been
grossly misled into an improper statement
Now, if a fact is a "slur' we cannot help it.
Under similar circumstances democrats have
done the same, but, done by whatever par
ty, such conduct is not commendable. II
was the servility to party we were aiming
at, and particularly, at a time when tho
party needs no triumph of this kind.
''The JOURNALS estimate of party fcal
tv" is only applied on certain conditions
1t saw no "fcalty to party" when a bill nam
ing three Democrats to two Republicans a.
Commissioners was drafted and forwarde,
to the Legislature providing for the erection
of watcr-works in Frostburg and the eXpcn
diture of $4,000 of public money therefor
altogether the most important proceeding
in Frostburg's history within number o
years past.
Perhaps, as the Watcr-W Commits
sioners were to act in conjunction with thu
Mayor and Councilman Of. Frostburg thu
JOURNALS "fealty to party" would have
been gratified if the Democrats had bcel
given one half of the city nominees, which
would give the Democrats a majority in
combination"
So oblivious was the JOURNAL to the par
ty complexion of the hoard of Commission
crs that the politics of the gentlemen com
posing this board were never thought Of
Upon investigation we find the Nears
statement to be correct. We felt satisfied
with the gentlemen as GOOD, substantial bus
mess men, fully capable of executing til
important trust contded to them-a trus
which involves not a shadow of politica
signiticance-and so far the JOURNAL
proud to confess its ''fcalty" due.
The matter, however, seems to be cap;
bic of an easier solution, and one by Whic
every mans "fealty to party" may be sati.
fled. Our latest advices from Frostburg al
to the effect that one of the Democrats ha
declined and that more than likely fu
Democratic ticket will be brought out, whic
will unite the members of each party on il
own men, and result in the almost assure
success of the Republicans"
Our people doubtless feel thankful ft
this lucid suggestion of escape from ii
"citizens meeting" anomaly. 1t is so clei
that way -faring men" of both parties ma
read" II proposes the beaten track of pa
ty feeling in matters wholly foreign to pa
ty interests. 1t re-plants in our municip
garden the exotic of party seltislness, Il
undue cultivation of which leads to the ne