Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-29
Reputation is the Word.

The Union League l. as at last thrown off
all disguise and placed itself upon record as a
band of repudiators, utterly opposed to any
settlement or compromise Of the city debt.
! The only surprise which the announce
ment occasions is that the League has had
the boldness to show its hand No one Of
intelligence has supposed for long time that
there wis any disposition on the part of that
| body to do the least thing towards Kidding
the city of the debt. They have been re-
peatedly charged with being regulators,
| and persistent advocates of the edo moth
| ing" policy, but have denied the soft impeach-
ment always, and maintained that they had
plan for compromising with the bondhold-
ers which would be submitted in due time
But the time for revealing the scheme ne
came. They have upon one pretext
another managed to keep up their orgs
alton, without any object in view,
emily, except to carry elections, keep.
public mind continually infamed
| tip-toe waiting for the astounding r,
ton which was to burst upon the comml
ty, telling how the League proposed to II
with the bondholders. Last Saturday eve
ming, at its regular meeting, the question
was brought to direct vote, aud the
League unanimously declared itself op-
posed to making any offer whatever by way
of compromise. 1t should be stated, how,
| ever, that, there were several absentees, re
cognsed as leaders, who it is understood
would have taken the opposite ground j.
they had been present. They probably re.
NAMED away purposely knowing that the
| reputation wave was too strong and would
! sweep them out of sight if they came in
contact withsit,
! We hear it suggested, and hoped, thai
this will lead to dsintegrRtion IF the
| League, but we have no faith whatever
| that such will be the result Our re ason
| for this is that certain Democratic polite
ians are too much interested in keeping the
League alive, to permit it to die out AL
though these men are not members OF the
League, they are in full sympathy with it,
aud are very active as its advisers to the
end that they may profit by it politically
We need mention no names for every vel
| Informed person will see that what we hare
stated is true, and eau put lis finger on the
no to hnn, l;,,;l
uals for the sake Of political influence and
! power pander to the League, and plot trea
son against the best interests Of the city ::
and SO long as they can maintain their hold
may be expected to play the role of dema-
gogues, and the League will continue to
exist. Of this, there is not the least doubt
There is no occasion for rejoicing, there
fore, over the reported ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
the League. 1t is still under the control
OF three or fonr Democratic political bum
mers who have in the pas! been atle TO
utilize it. tor their good, and who will not
hesitate to make it do them imiar service
hereafter. They care nothing as to W hat
its action may be with reference to the city
debt They only want the League forces
at their command for the purpose of carry
ing caucuses, controlling nominations, and
aiding their poll teal schem general.
ly; and beyond t hat they have no concern
as to what the League may or may not do
These are the facts of the case and the
sooner they are recognized by the people o
Watertown, and by the League itself, the
better it will be for all concerned.