Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-11-01
OUR HOME AFFAIRS.

This Journal, keeping abreast with the
best sentiment of the age, has made note
several times recently of the movement
now becoming general, TO secure for mu-
nicipal affairs complete divorcement from
che political machine. But these com.
ments and suggestions, precisely as ex-
pected, have not found favor with GER
tain class, and intimations are thrown out
impugning the motives that prompted the
advocacy of enforcement of city business
from party schemes. These objections
are worthy Of notice only because they
illustrate Vividly the necessity for the
separation policy. Here it can be
more easily accomplished than in
most places. because the more import
ant local elections are distinct from
either county, State or national elections,
and held ut times when party campaigns
are not in progress. The movement for
municipal reform is not actuated by ami
mostly to party. The assumed belief of some
persons thst it is promoted with view to
destroying party organization, or calling
men from allegiance to political faiths, is
transparent. The separation of municipal
administration from the control of the ma.
chine workers and ward bosses that afflict
party viii benefit it, elevate it, and give it
greater claims upon the confidence of vot-
ers. It Is perhaps a matter of regret that
there are some whose views of local affairs
are so narrow as to be bounded only by
party lines, and who cannot draw the dis.
tinction between non partisan municipal
administration and party opposition. There
Is no desire to set up peoples party, nor
any wish to oppose the Republican organi-
cation, which is here supposed to be the
dominant one. The charge to that effect
emAnates from the ringsters, the managers
and the bosses, whose " discreet manage
nent OF party affairs has given over city
admittedly Republican to the Democracy,
body and head. Those who sneer at the
movement to chose administrators of local
affairs regardless of party platforms, and
solely on q basis of fitness, are main-
ly those who in the past have
driven and still desire to force men
to the necessity of securing their
consent before they can even become
candidates the men who in the past have
and desire still, to levy tribute upon can
didates to fee ward strikers and stuff pri.
mary ballot boxes. In the last decade
there has been enough of money laid upon
the affairs of these political gods to propi.
tiate them, to have paid goodly part of
the interest upon the bonded debt of the
city. The emphasis of this statement will
be appreciated and remembered by the vic.
tins Of the sacrifice.
Il is to be repeated then, that there is no
intention in any city of which we know to
erect third or independent political party;
but rather to secure to citizens the right
60 choose their candidates to conduct the
affairs of street sanitary, police, school
and financial departments, with an eve
single to the best interests Of the commu.
nifty, and free from the domination of ward
bosses. This gentry of one party 60 man.
aged matters recently that two depart.
ments of this city's government were bodily
given over to their opponents. 1t is now
their intention 70 cloak moral obliquity
with the mantle OF political nomination,
and to foist upon the people incom.
potency because it wears the trade.
mark of party. and would make
city educational trusts convenient
stepping-stones to county preferment.
The Republican party cannot be held re-
sponsible for these things. It is burdened
by them. Its city bosses are its curse
These potentates, in its name, rule with an
imperious sway that brooks no suggestion
of wisdom. They command candidates to
bow at their throne, or to take the conse-
quences. OF course under such rule NUM-
cipal affairs must suffer.
The Republican fealty of George VIII.