, 1883-10-11

iaI agents have prejudiced the case
by their adverse reports. Sent here
to help enforce the law, and to rec
ommcnd such measures as seemed
necessary to such enforcement, they
have by their contemplate and noto-
riously false assertions become the
elders and abettors of the law break
ers. They ought to get a good round
sum from the jobbers in Chinese Ia
borers who are smuggling such to
this country, for they have earned 1t,
Besides this they have become enc
mics Of the government they pretend
to serve.
POLITICAL.-Ben Butler is undoubt-
edly trimming his sails for the dem
ocratic nomination for president
and those who are disposed to credit
him with wonderful possibilities re
gard his attitude in politics inst now
as portcntious. His stepping stone
has been the governorship of Massa-
chusetts. As a republican, Governor
Butler was for many years one of the
most rabid, ,dogmatical and blatant en-,
emies of the democratic party. In
his service through the war OF the
rebellion he made himself SO obnOX-
ious to democrats all over the United
States that a lingering hatred of him
still exists among them. What
makes this more bitter, probably, is
the conviction forced upon every
careful thinking man that Buffers
democracy partakes more Of the
demagogue than the sincere states
man. He was loyal republican I'M
til he found it impossible to attain a
leadership in that party, and if his
conversion to democracy has not
within it more of the element of ex-
pediency than sincerity, then it be
lies appearances. However this may
be, that he is bending every energy
in the direction of preferment with
the democratic party is evident to
the most casual observer. 1t is even
alleged that he contemplates mat
rimonial alliance with the widow of
Stonewall Jackson-though just how
far this would go toward healing the
bitter feeling in the South against
old Spoons" "as they call him, is not
known. Apropos to the subject of
democratic politics comes a short
sermon read by that pungent writer,
Brick Pomeroy, to the n. Y Sun,
on the latters urgent demand that in
order to succeed the democrats must
nominate a presidential candidate
from New York. Pomeroy cities
Mcclellan, Seymour, Tilden and
Hancock, as we'll as Greeley, to prove
that New York candidates of that
party have uniformly failed. He
further pointedly says that New York
democracy is composed chiefly of
two factions whose principal employ
ment is chawing each other up, and
that either faction is strong enough
to defeat any candidate of the other.
In connection with the PROPOSE
ton to light our city, that of bring
ing in supply of fresh water is also
agitating the public mind Port
Townsend has gotten beyond her day
of swaddling clothes, and begins to
demand all the conveniences, neces-
sites common to cities of larger
growth. However much the old
.croakers" may say to the contrary,
we need an adequate supply of fresh,
pure water, available for every house
in town at reasonable and uniform
tariff. Mr. Epler, the gentleman who
seeks charter from our city gov
ernment covering the matter of light
ing the town under a contract at a
stipulated price for fifteen years,
with the privilege of selling to pri-
vate individuals at uniform rates,
says the investment his firm proposes
making in that line will not be pay
ing one for several years to come;
but he has faith in the future growth
Of the town to proportions that will
result in handsome remuneration
to him and his associates for their
venture. As TO water supply, the
situation is much the same. Any
company undertaking to furnish the
town will have to expend largely and
depend upon the distant future for
gain To secure the present benefit,
therefore, charter covering a long
period must be granted. But while
this is being done it Is well to caution
against hasty or unguarded action
The rights ofthe city should be pro
teeted as well as human wisdom can
foresee. We do not want to dupli-
cate the experience of San Francisco,
where an expensive and tedious hd
CATION has been in progress for some
time between the city and the SpriHg
Valley Water Company to determine
their respective rights. 1t is we'll to
understand that the benefits to be de
rived in the way of light and water
will cost something. Everything of |
value costs money; but while the ag-
tax viii be considerable !