, 1879-03-23

PARTi ASPECTS OF TIE CITY ELECTION.
! The Democrats Of Chicago seem to be
more alive to the partisan significance OF
| this years city election than are the Repub-
1icans. This is due, perhaps, to the fact that
the Republicans Of this city and county have
been accustomed to subordinate partisan ad-
vantages to local interests. Three years ago,
when Mr. HEATH WAS first elected. and two
years ago, when he was reelected, the Re-
publicans did not push his success on party
grounds nor did they afterwards endearor
to make party capital out of the result. It
was simply urged, as lesson which had
been taught by experience, that party disci-
pline and party responsibility could be better
depended upon for securing the services OF
competent men, and for keeping them faith
full, than could any independent or IRE
sponsible combination. As this has proved
to be true in the marked improvement of
both city and county government, it is prop
erly matter Of pride for Republicans, and
it should encourage them to continue the
policy that has been found so successful and
efficient.
But the partisan zeal which CARTER HAn-
R1soN has invoked among the Democrats as
means for electing him Mayor is Of a very
different order. The Democrats are begged
to close up their ranks and Yote solid1y for
CARrER,-they are importuned to make an
exceptional effort to draw out their entire
partisan vote, and enlarge it as much as
possible by catering to every other available
voting element, all in order to place the
machinery of the City Government in the
hands Of the Democratic managers for the
benefit Of their party in the Presidential elec-
ton of next year. If this purpose serves to
unite the party vote on the Democratic side
(and it promises to do this), then it should
serve still more to unite the Republican party
in opposition thereto. There is no doubt
that, on strict party division, Chicago is a
Republican city; but the Democrats could
work great change with full control Of the
City Government, its patronage, its police,
aud the ballot-boxes. Such control is the
u1terior ain Of the fierce party struggle
which the Democrats are making under
ths leadership Of CARTER H. HARRISON
this yenr; and, if lie be elected, the result
will be celebrated by them as tri-
umph far beyond the temporary posses.
sion of the city offices, and as directly affect
ing the Presidential election The knowl-
edge that the Democrats take this view Of
this years election, and that they are strain
ing every nerve to carry it with such selfish
partisan purpose, should certainly induce
every Republican voter to put forth his best
efforts to defeat their project.
The partisan aspect Of the city election
has another side scarcely less important.
The national struggle between the two
parties is now over reassertion Of Estate
Sovereignty in the proposed repeal of the
Naturalization law. This struggle like
wise involves the honesty Of the next Ma
tlonal election, and the repeal of those laws
protecting the ballct~box will largely deter
mlne whether or not the ex-Confederates of
the South shall attain complete possession OF |
the General Government next year. CARTER
h. HARRISON is in full sympathy with the |
Southern bu]ldozers in this struggle. He
came home and Immediately announced to
the people of Chicago at his "impromptu
reception e that he fully approved the Demo-