Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-04-12
Explanatory and Otherwise.

Explanatory and Otherwise.
The SIN oke of battle having cleared away
we are enabled to see the objects and pur-
poses and the losses and gains in our late
municipal election in their true light.
While the advantage gained last spring
over that party regarded as opposed to the
true interests of the city have not been
maintained in the recent contest for city
off GERS, yet the friends of the city achieF-
ed partial victory and are fortunate in
having elected a majority of the city coun-
ell. 1t is not our present purpose 10 60
over the ground and speak ever in q gener
| al way Of the mistakes made in conducting
The late election on the side of the Citizens
| Association. Most of the errors are SO ap
of the men who aided largely last year in
| making the fight against the Union League
complete success, resulting in a grand
triumph for the good government of our
city, were this year quietly told to step
aside because they aoere Republicans. They
could vote, and aid in this way, but to m axe
themselves prominent would be, it was
said, fatal to the cause in hand. In accord
ance With the detestible spirit thus mani
tested, an issue as uncaled for az it was un
just, and as ungenerous as it was vindctiye
was raised against Mr.. j. T.. Moak, street
commissioner from the lst ward, by those
conducting the campaign on the side i'll OPP
position to The Citizens Association. The
camor raised against Mr.. Moak, and
through him against Republicans generally,
found too much effect upon men who, while
sincere in the stand they had taken with
the Citizens Association, could not wholly
divest themselves Of party spirit and paid
too much attention to the partisan cry of
few political mountebanks. Through the
shibboleth raised against Republicans, Mr..
Moak aud his friends found themselves in
the awkward position of feeling favorable
to a cause where their countenance and sup
por, were scarcely desired Mr. Moak was
requested to stand aloof from a contest in
which be certainly had as deep an interest
as majority of our citizens, solely, and for
no other reason, than because he was Re-
publican, and as the head of the Movement
against be League last spring, had fought
out a campaign that not only refec ted cred
it on ibis ability and judgment, but re-
bounded to the best and truest interests of
the city. But he must be struck down and
made a victim to foul party spirit and jeal-
ousy, no matter, if in consequence, the
cause which our citizens held most dear
should suffer and be defeated. Even his
an able and faithful member of the Com
mon Council, and that his presence again
in the board of street commissioners was
almost indispensable to the success of the
| CITY government the coming year. Mr..
uoak, however, approaching fully the
thanklessness of the position. had deter
mined months before, not to again come
forward as a candidate for alderman, and
under no consideration could he be made to
under any circumstances would have been
equivalent to an election. All the honors
a ;tached to the office of alderman, Mr.. Moak
reaped years age, and his presence in the
council of late years has been solely the act
of his friends who, recognizing his ability
and wachfulness saw liz him fit and pro.
per man to be placed in position where he
could be of benefit to the city. Had Mr..
! Moak put himself forward for reelection,
or had he been direlect of his duty while in
| office, the shafts of malignity and vitu pera-
| ton hurled at him during the late campaign
| might have been eXcusabie to a certain de-
gree, but as his wishes regarding a re-eIec-
ton could not have been misunderstood,
! nor could anything be said against his Off
cial acts, the abuse heaped upon Mr.. Moak
can only be explained on the ground of pure
| political cussedness coupled with a DISPOSE
ton too often prevalent in communities of
striking man down because he is doing
too much good. II is not pleasant to have
to speak Of these things and the necessity
of bringing up such matters, shows bad
cond ton of affairs in the community. In
| the light, however, Of the able and satls-
factory report Mr.. Moak made of the fnan-
cial condition of the city government, of
which he is the acknowledged head, he can
we'll afford to rest on the laurels he and his
associates justly gained, notwithstanding
the voice of SANDER may not be hushed nor
justice done where it might be expected
Mr.. Moak ret;res this spring from the office
| of Street Commissioner with great credit
to himself, and carries with him to his re-
| tirement the thanks of the vast majority of
our citizens for his arduous and distinguish
ed services in behalf of the city's interests.
The city of Watertown cannot we'll afford
to lose the services Of such public servants
as Mr. Moak has proved to be.
FARM Frs
1 I'll