The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-06-12
MuNIOlpAL GoYERNMENT.

All gro wing towns, on the road to city
proportions, and all having attained that
condition, are vitality interested IN the wis
dom and purity OF their municipal govern
ment. This Is tho dictate Of common sense,
but 1t has been learned by many American
cities at immense cost. For years The
TWEED ring Of New York plundersd that
people Of millions annually, until the far
reaching mind and bold nerve of SAMUEL
J. TuDES, nobly sustained and
aided oy CHARLIE o'CoEsoB, pulled the
devil from under the blanket
and the whole Union stood aghcst at the
hideous spectacle. The bold inquisitors
rested no, til TWEED and his confederates
we're SUCCESSFULLY outoasts, refugees, in the
prisoners dock, and finally in the peniten-
tiary. Other towns and cities have, in less
degree, tasted the zane bitter cup OF ex-
perleucs, until in this country IL has grown
into a prover5 tina; municipal governments
require tar more scrutiny nom Tho people
TO Keep lhsu' pure and simple than do the
D.e'o or Bsdefsl governments; In other
word. that they ara .-T mOte liable ~ fall
in.o the control Of rings and become the
pest houses # corruption ard oppression.
Then what 10 the safeguard against such
dangers? First Of all, most assuredly, Is
the obligation upon the people to select
wise and honest men 10 administer their
local governments; but tho turest, most
practicable, cheapest ard best guarantee oil
fidelity on the pArt OF the administrators,
aud OF ability by tho people 10 discover and
rebuke wrong, is TO publish everything
done, and place the facts from day 10 day
and week 10 week before the people, who
nav The taxes, aud for whose benefit the
corporation is created by The state. II must
bs borae in mind that municipal govern.
ments. infinitely more han the Federal or
state, act upon and sffsct the right OF the
citizens, and that their tendency,
b. the laws OF human nature, is 10 en-
croa chment and u%surpaiion II delves into
the private affairs and personal rights OF The
citizen in ways innumerable, wherein the
state law 10 YES him as free as the birds Ct
the air; and the world over the possession
OF power By men not restrained by wisdom
and concien,ioui conceptions OF right, be.
gets O mania for more.
1t follows that all acts Of municipal nu-
thor'ties should not only be performed open
10 public view, but that all the transaction
Of the law.making body-tho representa-
tives and guardians Of ;he peoples
~rlghts-should be published and placed
within the reach OF every citizen.
rs we'll as frequent exhibits from
every city officer, whereby those who
bear the burdens and feel the lille, may
have an intelligent conception Of the acts
OF their sgents. No sensible citizen would
olera'e less In the management by an
other, OF his private AFFAIR."; and when the
rights Of ten. twenty or fifty thousand peo-
pie are az stake, is u not by 60 many times
more important that the principal in the
supposed case, the whole people. should
know fully the acts OF their agents.
This line OF thought has been suggesie
bv reflections on the fact that the election
OF SAMUEL J. TrLDKs TO the presidency OF
the United States 10 1876, tprsng from
Two rrsn. achievements 10 his career.
First-His cxpo-urs aud utter de.
,truc.ion Of that mighty organization Of
and vllainy in New York. which
ed. secondly, TO his election as governor OF
hat state, whereby be cut down an annual
nd corrupttsx on the peopls OF sixteen mil