Daily Republican., 1884-04-28
Plain Words with Honest Demo.
Gratis

There can br but one answer to the
question from all Democrats who love
justice and believe in fairness, and that
answer i, that they are in favor of obey
ing the voice OF the people as expressed
at the ballot box. This being admitted,
then, We would ask another question :.
How can honest Democrats, who hold
these views, vote in favor of Democratic
supremacy at the approaching city
election
We will 90 back few years and
review the situation so that the people
may have it spread out before them in
bold relief so plainly as not to be mis-
taken. First, we will look up the
Water Commission business, and ask
honest Democrats ii our picture of the
case is too strongly drawn. The year
1882 found the Democrats in power in IA
Republican city. There had been "a
Democratic Mayor and a Democratic
police in power over nine years. The
City Council alternated between the
Democrats and the Republicans, but
owing to infamous assessment laws and
political gerrymandering of the wards
the Democrats have had the larger leases
Of office.
Even leading Democrats, who have
been foremost in cutting up the Demo-
cratic section of the city into small
Democratic wards, have admitted that
there is an honest Republican majority
in the city of four hundred votes.
These votes had to be overcome before
the Democrats could be successful.
These votes were overcome by cheating
the county out of taxes and the Repub,
Icans out of votes through partisan as
sessment laws and partisan collectors of
taxes. Were it not for this thumbscrew
political machinery we doubt if there
has been time in the history of Viii
mington during the last eighteen years
when the city could have been honestly
and fairly carried by the Democrats
But to return. The lower wards had
all been handsomely gerrymandered
under the direct supervision of Henry
b. Mclntire, then Chief Engineer Of the
Water department. and present would
be-Chief OF the same.
A yielding Legislature had listened
approvingly to the suggestions Of tl.t
Chief, and had made six wards intend.
ed to be Democratic. The population
of these six wards, the number of voters
and the amount of taxes paid 10 til,
city were less than the population, the
number of voters and the taxes of the
live Republican wards, but these were
trivial circumstances compared to the
need of the Democrats for majority in
the City Council.
Such small thing as fairness wa,
never considered. only the office,
were the objective points. Mr.. McIn
tire had once before been Chief Engineer
OF the Water Department, and he want.
ed to be Chief again and on for a con.
tinuOus stretch of years to come. None
knew better than he that six Demo,
cratic wards with twelve members Of
the City Council could outvote ten Re-
publican memberS from five Re
publican wards. Under such arrange
ment, John p. Almond had been Mayor
OF the CITY Tor three years up to June,
1852, and under him was full force of
Democratic police. Under this ar
rangrment, II. b. Mclntirr had been
Chief Engineer of the Water DEPART
melt up to January, 1883, and under
this arrangement it was expected that
Joseph l.. Carpenter would succeed
Mayor Almond, ,andMr McIntire would
succeed himself.
But a city election was held on the
first Saturday Of June, 1882, and no.
body had any doubt that DR.. John +.
WaleS,a Republican, was elected Mayor,
and to the great astonishment Of the
Democratic wire pullcrs and manipula-
tors, Mr.. Mclntire in particular two
Republican members Of the City Coun-
Gil were elected from two Of hi, gerry
wandered wards. Here was "a change
totally unexpected. The Democratic
cloth had been drawn too thinly over
the Second and Third wards, and when
the strain came it tore apart and let two
Republicans into the City Council. At
the same time a Republican President
of the City Council was elected, making
a Republican majority Of three in that
body
Here were blasted hopes and the
bright anticipations Of Il long series Of
fat office holding We're all dashed to the
ground. But the people did it and it
was right. They proclaimed at the bal
lot box that there should be a change
They declared that there should be II
Republican Mayor, a Republican po-
lice, a Republican City Council and
when the proper time came Il Eepubli-
can Chief Engineer Of the Water De
partmcnt. Now word to honest
Democrats. Should there not have
been a general and quiet acIuiesccnce
in the expressed will of IA majority Of
the people. Is there one who will not
answer in the affirmative.
But what was the result ? Hardly
had the excitement Of the election died
away before Mr.. McIntire raised the
cry of a Water Commission, and the
deposed Chief of police, Mr.. Max
vel, raised the cry of a Police Commits
sion.
Is this not true? Will either Of
these gentlemen named deny what we
have charged /? Before the Legislature
met both these gentlemen had their
bills drafted, which if passed would put
them both back into the positions from
which the people had dcposed them. Is
it not true that theybOthhung around.th
Legislature and made use Of every
means in their power to have their bills
put through?
Is it not "A well known fact that Mr.
McIntire was successful, AS far 50 hav,
ing his bill passed, is concerned. Wa,
there not q Water Commission created
and was not Mr.. McIntire elected Chiel
Engineer Of the Water Department luS
as he had intended he should be from
the beginning? That he is not enjoy
ing tue cmoumeDts Of that office at the
present time, and that the people are
,,t cnI ,II,l ,,,;tl, &, NVntar ('prp m ssi