The daily gazette., 1882-06-02
pail0 GGxette
wLM1NGgoN. FRIDAY, JUNE
A Last Word.

AAaHs
Tomorrow the voters of this city will be
called upon to decide at the ballot-box who
shall serve as Mayor for term of three
years from the first of July next, and also to
elect a Treasurer and almost full municipal
legislative body.
During the past month the GAZETTE has
been earnestly endeavoring to convince the
people that their best interests and the best
interests of the city would be subserved by
the election of the Democratic nominees. In
doing this we have been actuated more by a
conviction of the thorough truthfulness of
our position than by mere partisan feeling
We firmly believe that a Republican success
at the polls tomorrow would prove disas-
trOus, financially and politically, to the
whole city, and so believing cannot, as public
journalists, consistently do otherwise than
endeavor to impress others with the same
belief
We do not, however, take the ground that
Republican success would be a public
calamity simply because it invol lived the
election of Republican officials and Repub-
lican City Council On the contrary, we
are not ashamed to frankly admit that there
are plenty of Republicans in this city who
would make just as honest AMI economical
officials as the best Democrats that could
be named. But where are this better class
of Republicans in the present campaign
Are they at the head of their party's man
agement9 Have they hal voice in the
selection of the candidates of that party
now seeking the suffrages Of the people
Have their counsels prevailed, and is the
future course of the party to be governed by
their advice or directed in accordance with
their intelligent opinion
These are the questions for the intelligent
and conscientious voter to ask of himself
before casting his ballot tomorrow after
noon. The GAZETTE has maintained, and
still insists, that in the present canvass the
worst elements Of the Republican party have
come to the front, dictated that party's can
didates, taken charge of its management,
and stand ready, in the event of success ut
the polls, to resume their corrupt control of
the city government from which the people
once before Indignantly expelled them, but
only after their rascalites had become so
open and disgusting as to be singing dis
grace to the fair name and fame of our
beautiful little city.
From day to day the GAZETTE has con-
scientiously labored to establish this fact to
the satisfaction of all fair-minded people.
We have shown conclusively that the Repub-
lican party organization has been captured By
the old "City Ring" element, under III,
lead and control Of Charles H. Gallagher
whose impudent assumption in attemptin!
to foist himself into the office of Caie
Executive of this city was Indignantly re
buked by reputable members Of his own
party, as well as the Democratic organiza
ton. We have shown how Galagher's las
administration of the Water Department
was marked by disgracefu defalcation b
one of the department officers, of which h
must have had a knowledge, although
was not exposed until after th
department came into Democratic hand.
We have shown how the "Ring's'' last con
troll of the City Council was marked by Il
most reckless extravaganza, with Sire
Department pay-rols increased to the emo
nous sum of 81 800 in single week, simp
for the purpose Of paying men to vote Il
"Ring's' ticket And finally, we ha,
shown how this same corrupt, extrayaga
"Ring' which the people fairly kicked o
of power in 1878, has arrogant
taken charge of the Republican G
ganization in this city, nominated
friends and adherents as the party's cand
dates, aud will be in complete control of Il
city government should its nominees be e
dorsed by the people. \ Republican succe
tomorrow would mean the rcnst atemcnt
Gallagher in the Water Department and d
intrenchment of the " Ring' in the oh
departments Of the city so firmly that yea
would elapse before the people could relic
themselves Of the burden Of corruption al
ruinous extrayagance the . Ring" would
sure to impose upon them.
Believing this, and with sincere, unpar
san desire to warn the people against t
inevitable results of "Ring' goyernmeI
the GAZETTE could not consistently do 9th,
wise than pursue the course it has. Eve
allegation we have made concerning ii
Kings" mismanacement and deialcatio
in the past has been uncontradicted by I
Rings dependent organs, and we stai
ready with indisputabe facts anil uncontr
yertfblc figures to sustain every position
have taken. We have not wrought uD
the changes of the ''Ring'' for mere plrt;s
effect, but because we believe it to be
deadly enemy of the taxpayers, who ha
already suffered from its yenal admin
tration
In this contest the Republican party
Wilmington is lost sight of under the da
shadow of the ''Ring," AMI this corru
organization is simply using the party mai
and the party machinery to give it positi
and prestige. The battle is not one
parties it is a death-struggle between
people and the "Ring"
And now a word in regard to the Den
cratic candidates. Against their persol
character naught can be uttered, and
their positions as the party's represcntati
they are the free, untrammeed choice Of
Democratic people. Their nomination v
not secured through the influence Of riI
or cliques, and their only obligation is to
whole people in case of their election. tt
stand upon platform Of decent, progT
sive municipal government, as exempif
by the administration of the Demoera
City Councils of the past three years.
charges OF extravaganza or corruption def