Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-04-18
!TIe Repnbiira,1.
APRIL Is, 1877.
HGreat Democratic Victory"

week before last, ana again last
week, the Democrat went into ecstacies
over the result of the election in this
city. claiming the same as great
Democratic victory" I footed its
Democratic horn after the following
fashion:
1t is the first time in many years that
the Democrats have exhibited their full
strength. Heretofore, in local elections:
their forces were more or less neu traized,
but in the dual elections of this spring,
there were no combinations of any serious
Importance effected, and the upshot Is that
the Democratic party is fast reganing its
former foothold in this city, and that the
success of last Tuesday is bat a brilliant
fore-runner OF even more triumphant
achievements in the future. The Demo-
cratic party is now SO Enthusiastically IN the
ascendeacy, that any opposition to 1t from
Republican sources hereafter can only be
characterized as abortive and useless. The
victory is complete, and it is gratifying to
know that the Republicans fer once in
their overmastering desire to get office have
been defeated by majority SO decisive as
to prevent them from ever attempting again
to become unbidden aspirants for Office In
SO powerful a stronghold as the city of
Watertown.
1t will be obeerved that the above
accords fully with what we have
claimed as to the alliance between the
Union League and the Democratic
party, whereby the two organizations
have become unit. They are joined
together In the strongest possible man.
ner, and all minor differences which
have heretofore existed between them
regarding local affairs have been con-
signed to oblivion. We thank the
Democrat for its frankness in acknowl-
edging the fact. and admitting that
there are no conflicting interests and
opinions which prevent harmonious
action between the Union League and
Democratic party. We admire its
candor in claiming as Democratic
triumph the success of the Union
League, Notwithstanding good citizens
generally regard it as victory of the
worse over the better elements, and as
calamity to be mourned rather than
a result to be rejoiced over. Time
will disclose the fact as to whether or
not the Democrat has not exulted
when it would have been more BETTING
to repine. It may, perhaps, be reason
able and proper to crow over the cleo
ton of the successful candidates, and
it possibly is great triumph of De-
mocracy, but we suspect that the same
has been achieved at fearful cost to
the city.
In the First Ward, for instance,
where William II. Rohr and Christian
Mayer were defeated by Charles Goette
and Dwight Mute for Aldermen, no
one will claim that the ward or city
made fortunate selection, nor can we
see where the great Democratic victory
shows itself, since the fact is that all
the candidates were Democrats, unless
it be because the persons elected were
the regular caucus nominees. Nor do
we see any cause for being happy over
the result in the Third ward where
Philip Quentmeyer, one of the best
citizens and heaviest tax payers, is de-
feated for Alderman by Hezekiah
Elinn, and Charles Wood is beaten by
Michael McHugh, and Edward John
son is distanced In the race for Super
visor by Henry Mulberger. All this
may rebound to the credit Of the Dem
ocratic party, and be a brilliant Dem
ocratic achievement, but We fail to see
1t. On the contrary, we consider it
discreditable to the party, as being det-
rimental 10 the best interests of the
ward and city, and result. On the
whole, to be greatly deplored. These
remarks apply also to the Fifth ward,
where Marshal j. Woodland is defeated
for Alderman by H. WILDER, which is
certainly public misfortune; and yet
the Democrat greatly rejoices, simply
and only because Wilbur wears the
label of its party.
We pass unnoticed the iDsinuation
Of the Democrat that the Republicans
"showed an overmastering desire to get
office" and are really the defeated party,
because the statement is not true. There
were no Republican tickets in the field,
and consequently no Republican de-
feats. Republicans were only anxious
for tho oloction of tho hoct mon ond