National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-26
Ex.GOT sREPRERD'S VIEWS.

The ideas Of eI- Governor Shepherd upon
the best form Of government for the Dis
trict will be found set forth at length in
another portion of this mornings issue.
We have already printed two interviews
upon this subject-one with ex-Mayor Wal
ZACH and the other with Mr.. Norris, who,
to certain extent represent the opposi-
ton to the late fern Of government Mr..
Wallach, it will be recollected, favors re-
turn to the old cooperative form of govern.
ment with certain restrictions upon the
suffrage; Mr.. Norris wants a commission,
abolishing the franchise altogether. That
an old Domocrat should entertain these
views is certainly strange. 1t has always
been the boast Of the party Of which he
claims to be member that it favored the
largest liberty so far as the ballot is con-
cerned. 1t has been the great idea Of the
party from the beginning Of the Govern
ment, and 1t Is certainly strange to hear
reputation of 1t coming at this late day
from a member of that organization, no
matter how unimportant position he may
hold in its ranks.
Mr.. Shepherd, 1t will be seen, differs in
toto from Mr.. Wallach and Mr. Norris. He
is opposed to the old corporation form upon
the ground that it has been found to be
cumbrous and inefficient. The illustrations
of its characteristics in these respects are
strong, and hundred others will readily
suggest themselves to every one who has
had the least experience Of the old regime,
who remembers the way in which business
was transacted, or rather not transacted, IN
der it. Unlike Mr. Norris, Mr.. Shepherd
would retain the suffrage in some shape or
another. Under his plan elections would
be less frequent than they have been, which
would be an advantage, and which would
close the door upon good deal of fraud,
corruption and generalization. The great
merit Of his scheme is that 1t harmonizes
the interests of the two principal parties
concerned, viz the United States and the
citizens. Provision is made for the equal
responsibility and representation of the two.
Mr.. Norris scheme Is in this respect one
sided. The interests of the General
Government are closely guarded, but we
do not see what provision is made for that
Of the city. Our citizens are expected, will
be compelled, to pay at least one half the
expenses Of whatever form of government
may be devised. The people who pay those
expenses should certainly have some voice
in the matter. His arrangement almost
precludes that privilege, except in o gene
raj and, as we think in the end, very IN
satisfactory way.
In devislng form Of government for the
District some regard should he paid to its
growth and position in the future. Objec-
tionable so far as municipalities are con-
cerned as is an unrestricted suffrage, there
can be no doubt that its abolition would be
q much greater evil, and would in the end
cause infinitely more dissatisfaction. Wash
ington at the date Of the last census was the
twelfth city in the Union; the aggregate of
her wealth was four or five times that of
many of the States. In q dozen years or 90
she will have nearly double the population
she has at present, q population which will
no doubt embrace then, as it embraces now,
larger proportion Of the cultivated and in
telligent classes than any other city In the
Union. At the seat Of government, at the
capital Of the country, to confess the failure
OF the system which is the very foundation
OF Republicanism-the inability Of the peo-
pie to govern themselves-would not GER
tainly sound very well abroad, and would
be anything but q healthy example to the
whole country, as well as to other nations.
There is no city in the world to-day which
has not popular or property representation
in some shape or form. To make the capi-
tai of the American Republic an exception
to this almost universal rule would certainly
be an anomaly. Wedonot believe 1t would
be success, and that in the end we should
have to return to the discarded method.
The views set forth upon this, to US vital
question, challenge, and will receive the