Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-20

follow through the medium of citizens
business organizations. Mr.. Grace says in
his article that sit is of no avail TO talk OF
partial remedies and of temporary oompro-
misses or changes. Until the radical evil Is
corrected, the government of our cities will
continue to be not only an unsolved. but
an uhsolvable problem" And SO he de-
mahds absolute Independent local seif-gov.
ernment under constitutional guarantees.
On the other hand, Mr.. kasson. after
inveighing against the system which ig-
nores the majority of interest, and vests
the control in q mere majority of numbers,
and against the voter who comes In to-day
and leaves 3 twelve month hence without
obtaining an interest in the place, but in
the meantime exercises as much control as
the mechanic whose life is spent in the
town, whose homestead is compromised by
taxation, and whose whole fortune hangs
upon municipal prosperity, exclaims ''The
local political manager, who finds this
floating vote the cheapest and most passive,
adheres to the system, and demands the
perpetuity of universal suffrage in applica-
ton TO the local affairs of town, in the
manipulation of which he realizes the con-
tents of other peoples purses" But Mr..
Kasson must not hope to work abolition of
universal suffrage in accomplishing muni.
cipal reform. As we have said, the virtu-
ous element, the element that desires good
local administration irrespective of politi-
cal triumphs, is sufficient in number to con.
troll if combined.
An effort is being made here to divorce
city administration from politics. The
possibility OF failure resides in the danger
that the citizens moving in the matter may
not arise TO full comprehension of the
weighty task they have undertaken. Will
they be equal to the sacrifice on their own
part of having no politics as regards city af.
fairs? VIII they have the courage to brave
the torrent of opposition and the boycotting
which is certain to descend upon them
viii they fall into the fatal error of limit
ing their organization to such an extent
that sympathetic intelligence will be ex-
cluded Will they realize that they have
not the work Of an hour or day in hand,
but Of yearsl VIII they antsgonize and
eukindle opposition by ostrscizing classes
instead of making individual fitness and
sincere sympathy the sole qualification for
membership. and of calling to their aid all
possible local strength? Will they, in
short, enter upon municipal reform in a
broad, non-secretive. fearless manner, and
upon the basis of conscious right armored
against the allurements of party and the
fears of partisan frowns If so, they will
succeed, for it is evident that the thought
ful sentiment of The people favors the fitrest
men for municipal trusts, be they Demo.
Gratis or Republicans the management of
municipal finances by men of comprehen-
sion, and experienced in financial laws /;
The conduct of city sanitation by the best
obtainable sanitary SKILL the promotion of
local interests according to the most
economical, and yet moss efhcacious plans
for city protection, improvement and
identifying, and the taking of every posi-
bic step to secure the commercial, indus
trial and social advancement OF the com.
munitY, with an utter disregard to the
personal claima or political demands of
this, that or the other man or party, for
this, that or the other municipal office,
trust or commission.