The Portland daily press., 1878-11-05

Mr. Schell is elected he will not diysst the
police department of its non-partisan character
he does not exactly pledge himself however 10
preserve the equilibrium In the Board by re-.
tanning two Republican members of the Conn
mission OF four Now nothing short of a dis
tihcs and absolute promise Of that kind would
answer Inc purpose after what happened last
year. When Mr.. Ely was elected Mayor two
years ago tnere was ao understanding such as
Is Dlnding IN honor, that in consideration Of
tne Republicans forbearing to enter into apv
alliance with the dlssffrcted Deuocracy. TINS
giving MIR. Kelly clear field and an ea.v vic.
tory, there should be no disturbance of the nan.
trality of ths police board. Mr.. Ely. who IA 4.
'"ons party man, was rather averse to commit
uhs himseif to such proposition, but Mr..
nelly urged it, aud he yielded his assent. No
sooner had Mr.. Erhardrs term expired than
Mr. Purroy, violent partisan of Tammauy.
was put In training for the succession. Mr.
ELY OF course couldn's listen to the suggestion
Ior moment. Ii Mr.. Kelly had been equally
ooservant of his parole obligation, Mr.. Par-
roy's candidacy would have ended the hour n
began. Mr.. Ethardt, or some other Rspubli.
can-no better one certainly could have bean
iouod-wouid have been nominated, and the
oosrd OF aldermen, the majority of whom ara
always sueservieot to Mr. Kerly's wishes.
would have promptly conirmsd him. The sams
course would have been pursued the next wear
"nen VII. Wneeler's term expired, There is
no otner conclusion to be reached thau that Mr..
heiy was consenting party to an apooiut-
mens that would have driven the police depart
ment Into the slough OF partissnship, aud that
II 1t had not oeen for the firmuess and man
nood OF Mr.. Ely thatgr wrong to the citi-
zeus OF New York would have been accom-
phshed. Mr. Ey's creditable refusal to break
faith was the cause of the alienation between
him and the Tamnauy Chief IL Mr.. Kellv
has since been converted his change Of views
ought to be so clearly established that the COM
muuity will be assured that there is no danger
OF tnelr Deing deceived about matter so vitality
important, for il the guardians Of the peace
should tall under the domination of Taumany
dall the psople will indeed be defencelsss.
Now and then some waak-min led or thick.
headed person rises to the surface long eoongh
to express an unwllDgness to support Cooper
because ne i' supposed to b, Tilien man.
There is an exquisite absurdty in this ground
OF objection from every point of view. In the
hrst place have no idea that Mr. Cooper is 80
entirely unlike the rest of his fellow citizens a.
not to realize fully that Mr.. Tildsn's dream Of
ambition is over. But assuming for the sake
OF he argument that his election az MavoY
would have the effect to impart a flicker Of
vitality to the political fortunes Of the lats
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, what
better thing could happen? The true pripc-
pie OF political warfare is always to strike at
the strongest force Of the enemy. That of
course just now is Tammany. The Ciphers
have disposed of Mr. Tilden. All the Cooper
ing in the world wouldn't keep the barrel TO.
gether which played so important a part in tne
last campaign. Certainly the Republicans
couldn't ask for anything better than to have
Tidsn pushed to the front and kept there.
After what has been revealed about him
lately he is the most conspicuous aud vunsr-
able target that could be set up anywhere.
And that is the reason why he will never again
be put where hostile shot can be aimed at him,
1t is against the Tammany ring of the party
that hard blows need to be struck. This seems
so plain that it is difficult to believe in the sim
cerity Of anybody who refuses to sustain the CO.
alition on such pretext New York city is
the great citadel OF Democratic strength in the
North. Its legons Of ignorant, unpatriotc and
vicious voters are relied upon to overpower the
conscientious and liberty-loving inhabitants of
the interior of the state, whose suffrages are sn-
nually cast by large majorities on the side Of
equal rights and honest governments. Any op-
portunity that presents itself of weakening the
power of this formidable ally of Southern des-
nOi Jam nm ht.fO ha 10
enemS's lines can be broken it is an excellent
thing to do. II the Republicans can by any
sort of alliances secure voice in the municipal
administration. and in the dispensation of just.
ice, the whole country will participate in the
benefits that will accrue. The stake is q mo-
mentous one; the struggle is severe and UNEQUAL.
The opposition is an undisciplined and not al
together coherent mass. pitted against a solid
and determined phalsnx, thoroughly trained,
efficiently handled, fertile of resources, nd con-
fdent OF their strength. If the people could be
made to realize what good fruits would grow
out of-the combination, they would be Inspired
by an irresistible ardor to secure Its triumph.
But there are great many respectable and
worthy gentlemen in this city who never find
out that there is to be an election, until it is too
late to register. 1t was only yesterday meta
mercbaut-a native of Maine and good Re-
publican-wh, was regretting that be had neg
lected to register, he did 30 want to vote the
anti -Tammany ticket, and for the Republican
candidate for Congress iu his District But he
had forgotten all about having his name regis-
tered. There were four days on either of which
he could have done it from eight in the morn
ing till nire at night. 1t would have taken ten
minutes OF his time, including the going and
coming. But be was so busy; he never could
think of 1t at the right moment His
case Is by no means an isolated one;
there are thousands of voters who dis
franchised themselves through similar
heedlessness, aud the worst of it is that ninety
nine per cent Of them are Of the class that
would count on the right side Of every public
question, If they could pe persuaded to let them
selves be counted at all.
Reckoning upon these elements of discourage
ment, and fully aware of the desperate energy
Of the rammsny combatants, 1 am not abso-
lutely sanguine of victory on Tuesday. At any
rate il so gigantic power should be overborne
it will be one of the most propitious political
events Of the year.
Outside of the city and its suburbs IL any
augury can be drawn from the harmony and
enthusiasm Of ths Republicans, they will make
. satisfactory sho wing. Secret and sinister in
haences may be exerted to throw away some of
the close assembly districts, bat the margin Is
deemed sufficient to cover the contingencies Of
that kind of burrowiog. When the party Is in
earnest and feels that it is acting under the
pressure of great necessity, there is not much
federation in the ranks for malcouteuts and
dyspeptics YARMOUTH.
News and Other Items.
Clarence Grant of Boston, aged q shot him