Daily Republican., 1884-05-23
The Local Issue.

Democrats before casting their votes
to place their party in possession of the
City Council should consider what the
cost of such change would be. Ever
since Wilmington has been city her
people have been in charge of their own
local affairs.
They have supplied themselves with
water, have opened and graded the
streets, have supplied themselves with
light, have protected their property
from fires by Gordon of fire compa-
nies, have taxed themselves and have
paid their taxes, and no word of COM
piaint has ever been made against the
city government until in the course of
of time its government fell into the
hands of greedy politicians that were
not willing to be governed by the
voice of the people.
For nine years the city had been govern
cd by Democratic Mayor, backed by
q Democratic police. The most Of that
time the city had Democratic Council
and Democratic city officers. The
Street Commissioner was Democrat
and the Chief Engineer of the Water
Works was Democrat, and nearly
all ether city officers We're Democrats.
Nobody during all that time ever heard
q Democrat open his mouth in favor
of Police Commission, a Municipal
Court, a Street Commission or Water
Commission.
Democracy held all the offices and for
once was satisfied, and would
have continued until dooms-day hold.
ing the offices and nothing would ever
have been heard in favor of a Commits
sion of any kind had not political
revolution occurred in 1882 which
turned the Democrats out Of power
and placed the Republicans in power.
1t was only then that the Democrats
found that commissions would be d re-
markably good thing.
1t was only then that it was discov-
cred that the executive department Of
the city would be better run by Mu-
Iicipal Court than by the Mayor 1t
was only then that the gentleman who
had been for some years Chief Engi-
neer of the Water Works suddenly dis
covered that it would be TO the interests
Of the city and the people if he were
continued in his Office. No matter if
the people had just decided in favor OF
change, the people were mistaken
and he was correct. To please this man
and few more Office holders the will
of the people was to be overturned, and
the politicians were TO be placed on the
top.
To accomplish this purpose parti-
San Democratic Legislature was ap-
peaied TO- to undo the work of the peo-
pie of Wilmington. The Chief Engi-
neer of the Water Works, who the peo-
pie had decided should be Chief no lon
ger, was the leading spirit in the plan
to override the will Of the people. We
need not multiply words further in
showing what has been done. A look
within the City Hall doors will reveal
Municipal Court which has usurped
the place and functions Of the Mayo1.-
Though the election was Democratic
defeat, the result by the aid ola truck
ling partisan Legislature placed two
more Democrats i'll power.
The people have only to thank the
present City Council that the Water
Department of the city is not in the
hands Of Democratic pawisans with the
Chief Of the Democratic PARTY as wei
as the would-be- Chief of the Water De
partment at its head
The question is, how can any onsis
tant Democrat who favors local self
government, who believes in majorit,
rule, who hates party tyranny and op
preston, vote to place the old Demo
cratic ring in power again The loca
issue is between party tyranny am
usurpation, and the right of the peopl
to rule themselves i'll their own mar
ner. There can be but one course t
pursue by every honorable man wh
believes in majority rule, and that cour:
is to defeat the party who would rail-
a hand to strike down the principle I
local self-govcrnment