River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-03-26
"Cityned."

.
AS former citizen, aad still interested
there, we say "aye." Why not be met.
ropolitan when you can just as well as
not, and not always act so "countryGed!
-Stdr G Times.
! 1t is with the leaders Of this City
Charter movement in this place, that
the editor of the Star DC Times doth
naturally affiliate, and hence it is that
with them he "mOst doth congregate.
That the ''good people here are wax
ing red hot over the discussion as to
whether it is advisable to become a
city," can be true only in limited
sense, since all the waxing" has been
confined to few would. e.city. men.
In fact it is confined to those who be.
lieye it better, both in large and small
communities, to take the troublesome
business of attending to common mu.
nicipal matters out of the hands Of the
many, and placing them in the hands
Of the few-those who believe il build.
ing up an aristocracy, or monarchy
in every community, whether large or
small.
- 1t may be true that self-goyernment
is difficult, if not hazardous under.
taking, and it may be true that mon.
arches, on a small scale, are advanta-
geous. For our own part, however, We
do not adopt these conclusions. We do
not ask to be relieved of all personal re-
sponsibility. Nor do We believe that,
with clear understanding of this matter,
the people on the limits Of this territory
desire to submit to be governed by an
oligalchy in the shape Of City Coun
Gil. As yet they are fully competent
to direct their own local affairs, without
foreign interposition, or the aid of con.
centrated wisdom, such as may be found
in that Of mayor, aud few uncertain
aldermen. Why should We become the
willing prey of king? Why surren.
der to few the sacred trusts We now
hold il our own hands? win they ex.
ercise them more wisely than We dog 10
acknowledge this would be an act Of hp.
initiation to which free men, should never
condeseend. As we rise in the scale
as our numbers increase-when we are
counted by thousands instead of hun
dreds, (if that time shall ever GOMEZ
then our responsibilities may be in
creased, aud then, but not till then,
may we begin to talk about setting of
responsibilities against privileges. But
then We may prefer something more
democratic than city charter. We
may prefer form of government, like
village, for instance, where the people
more directly regulate theirown munic.
ipal affairs. Then why attempt to be
metropolitan" Why not be content to
be "cOuntryfed?" Why ape an aristo.
crazy for the sake Of name?
We ask these questions in all candor,
and we ask every voter on the territory
of this proposed city, to weigh well the
subject under consideration before east.
ing his vote upon this question. Ifany
evils now exists, let US make some effort
to correct them by other means than
by rushing hcadlong into city. Why
jump from the frying pan into the FIRE?
Is it the part Of wisdom thus to act?
But wha. can be gained BY city or
ganization? Is there not a strong op.
position to it? viii not that spirit Of
opposition grow still stronger? If we
were organized as city, IS 1t not true
that the north and south wards would
unite to defeat every movement that
was put on foot by these persistent city
charter men? Can you drive men to
like that which they de,pise? Never.
Then shun the advice Of our city co.
temporary, as you would the spirit Of an
evil genius. That be is interested 10
the result Of this movement, may or
may not be true. True wisdom is not
to be found in him. To such a source
We should never look for aid or light
From such a source we shall never de.
rive IL. From such u source there are
only emitted those mere corruscatious
Of light which sometimes Ait over bog
and fcn--over quagmire and swamp.
where the footsteps Of prudent men can
never safely venture.