Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-18
Ha,lcaster fmtelligencer.
The Significance Of the Result.

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The Significance Of the Result.
The large majority by which Mayor
MacGonigle has been reelected is very
flattering testimonial TO him by his fel-
low-citizens of their appreciation OF his
efficiency, and will greatly encourage
him in his future efforts to discharge his
duty towards them. 1t is reward OF |
merit and it is very gratifying, indeed,
to every lover of democratic institutions
to see how faithfully the voters dis
charged their duty and demonstrated
their good sense, by their emphatic deci-
sion in favor of the best candidate 1or
mayor, regardless. of his politics. IL
would he very foolish for us to claim
Mayor MacGonigle's large majority as
Democratic majority: for, most man
ifestly, it is not so. 1t was Swelled py
the ballots of independent and sensible
Republicans, who could not see the pro-
priety of voting against man who had
demonstrated his capacity for the Office
to which his reelection was asked: and
for a candidate whose capacity they
had abundant reason to distruSt.
The claim of party in a municipal elcc-
ton is not of such binding power as to
compel men of good sense to abandon
their judgment of candidates and conlIde
the administration of their civil affairs
to untrustworthy and incompetent
hands. We rejoice exceedingly that the
citizens of Lancaster gave this OPINION
in such an emphatic way yesterday. 1t
is lesson which the politicians will need
to heed 1t tells them that the party
lash will not avail to force into the con-
troll of municipal affairs amy manner OF
men. and will drive them into the moml-
nation of worthy candidates.
The Democratic party has always done
itself credit in this city by its mayor;,lty
nominations and it has earned good
title to the confidence of the community
bv this fact. Whether from the inherent
virtue of the party itself or from the fact
that the city has always been pretty even
" divided politically, SO that it was
prudent to put the best foot forward,
we can look back with great pride
upon the record made by our Democratic
mayors. The party is entitled to plume
itself upon this. whether it came from It's
virtue or its good sense. Manifestly the
Republican party. in this last nomination
at least. was prompted by neither sense
nor virtue and of this the public judS-
ment has been very decided. The Re
publicans who refused to vote for theil
party candidate have most excellent rea'
son to congratulate themselves upon thell
independence. They have no share III
the humiliation of their party associates
who followed the machine, and whose
natural modification at defeat must bt
intensified by the knowledge that it Wa:
deserved.
The people of Lancaster may well con
rratulate themselves. If Boring had
been elected, sustained bya Republican
council. we would have had no end O
extravaganza and, we fear. corruption in
the city administration. With nhones
Democratic mayor, and the two branche
of councils divided between the two par
ties, we have good assurance of an eco
nOmical and wise government. in Which
the interests of the city will not he sub
ordinated to those of party.
1t is unfortunate that in the struggle
for power, the party in possession is na
turally tempted to abuse its trust t.
maintain itself; and it has been though
that, in offices that are not of Il pOlitica
character, the public interest would ID
best subserved 10y an equal representation
of parties and Il feeble effort was mad
in the state constitution in this direc
tiOn, by providing that in the simultane
Gus election of two supreme judges
no voter should vote for more than one
The provision was not happy one
because it practically left the selection o
the Judges to the party conventions; but
no doubt, if it was possible to have non
partisan offices properly filled in equa
proportion by men of different parties
the result would be fortunate. Our cit
councils will be such check on eac
other that it is reasonably certain tha
party interests will not he nursed at til
cost of the public advantage.