The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-03-04
The City Election.

The result of the city election on Monday
future of Belfast. \ TAXPAYER victory would
mean a continuance of the present high rate of
taxation. To be followed by other evils. 1t
would probably drive out some of our present
industries and prevent the establishment of
new ones. We should have to wait another
year for new hotel and for the public library,
and there will be no building done to employ
our laboring men and mechanics. Worse than
all would be the triumph of the sentiments
and princples-or rather the lack of princi-
plcs-proclaimed on the street corners, in the
suburbs, and through the columns of the Tax
Payer. There ought to be no Dennis kearneys
i'll an enlightened community like this; no men
TO go about the streets trying to destroy their
neighbors business, reyiling the dead, and AS
sailing with foul language the bencfactors of
our city. No men despicable enough to solicit
money with which to buy the votes of fellow
citizens whose necessities make them prey to
the briber and corruptionist. Yet such senti-
ments have been uttered and such methods re-
sorted to with a view to carrying this election;
and apart from all other considerations this is
sufficient reason why every honest citizen
should &c to the polls on Monday next and
cast a vote against the Taxpayer ring.
Another reason. 1t is not for the public
interest that one set of men should control
the affairs of the city indefinitely. Those
four years. They think they own the city.
They don't care damn for the public"
They are using the money which came out of
the pockets of those who pay taxes to perpet-
uatc themselves in otfice-to retain their hold
on the city treasury. They are promising all
the places under the city government dozen
times over to secure the aid Of men to whom
they could not offer money bride. OF course
if they carry the election they will not be able
to carry out their promises; and they do not
expect to, any more than they did their prom
ises four years ago to reduce taxation and re-
fund the city debt. We all know that they
have increased taxation and have defeated the
only feasible plan for refunding They claim
ed great credit for submitting the railroad
question to the court, and thus removing it from
politics, but have refused to abide by the de-
ci>ion and the city has to pay the lawyers bills
without benetiting in the least by the eXpen-
diture. The State tax and the county tax have
both been reduced in the past four years-we
gave the exact figures reccntly-property be-
fore exempt has become taxable, and yet the
city tax has been increased, and will be fur
Their increased if the >o-callei Taxpayers pre-
vail.
There is every prospect now of the success
of the Citizens ticket on Monday next. Men
who have been deluded by the falSehoods and
miscd by the false promises Of the ring are
awakening to the evil done by those who have
controlled the city Of late and can clearly see
their selfish motives and malicious purposes.
Every laboring man, every mechanic, every
farmer-every one who holds the future of the
city dear and has pride in its good name,
should rally at the polls next Monday and con-
tribute his vote to the downfall of this un-
principled ring. 4 vote AGAINST the TaN-pav-
er ticket is a vote for the reduction of taxes
fifty per cent. this year and from - to 81 per
cent. every year hereafter. 1t is a vote for
honest men to control our city affairs II is
vote to redeem Belfast from ring rule-a vote
that will carry with it assurances of a revival
of every branch of b.lSncs> and industry and
prosperous future to all of us.