St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-17
THE CITY ELECTION.

dor the business of the approaching
election; for it is neither more nor less
than the transaction of most important
business-the selection by this commu-
nifty of the public servants to whom
shall be entrusted for the next two years
the administration of public affairs. AS
this duty is one which under our form
of government is imposed upon the peo-
pie themselves, one which they are re-
quired to discharge and from the per-
Torrance of which they can neither es-
cape nor postpone its eXecution,it would
seem very natural that they should
approach it by the usual avenues and
methods of thought through which they
travel and by which they perform the
several important duties of life allotted
to each of them in his particular station;
and it is with at least mild surprise
that the quiet observer sees the apparent
entire abandonment, not only of calm
thought and fair reasoning, but the
utter refusal to consider things as they
really are, or to admit the existence of
facts which our knowledge, observation
and experience alike unite in proving to
actually and visibly exist. We are
moved thus to express ourselves from
fair and dispassionate view Grom the
GLOBE tower of the present aspect of
the city campaign. From that elevated
and reflective ''point Of view'' we have
looked down upon public affairs, and it
is by reason of the ''things we have
caap,3 apd tho s.tbiDrc wa bova hoard ;,
as they occurred in full view of our
bright but philosophic eye, or were
waited by the spring zephyrs to our at
tentive and receptive ear, that we are
moved to address to our fellow citizens
some quiet and reflective remarks that
may be apropos to the situation.
In the rush and hustle of American
life we have preserved and Endorsed
one aphorism, that experience is the
best teacher" and in this breezy West
we have translated it into the more eff
fective form that ''a mans hindsight is
better than his foresight" Taking
these notices as text, do we find any
thing to consider that may be of service
to us for our guidance On the present
occasion?
Since the foundation of. this state the
city of st. Paul has been its capital, not
only by selection, by operation of law;
but in fact, it was here the first settler
stood in his first attack upon the savage
wilderness. 1t was from this point he
QUILTED and dispatched the pioneers
who built up the state. From st. Paul
radiate the railroads that are the path
ways Of commerce and prosperity; and
here has been and remains the great
center OF the intellectual. financial and
commercial prosperity which is emblem
attic of the entire commonwealth. 1t is
not an eXaggeration to say that in the
race of progress in Minnesota st. Paul
has always led, and that our city shines
in no reflected light, but in the bright
beams OF her own enterprise and pros
perity, and from the warmth of which
the entire state has sprung up and pros
pered; for Minnesota did not create ST.
Paul, but ST. Paul made Minnesota what
our great state is to-day; it is to the in
tegrity, industry, capacity and example
of this community that the state owes
her present position and unexampled
prosperity; and this has been done
by our city under the management and
control of the Democratic party, who
have controlled and directed the
government and policy of st.
Paul since its incorporation. Can
any other city in the United States
show such record? And look at the
circumstances under which it has been
accomplished: For nearly thirty years
the Republican party has been so domi-
nant in the state that since the term of
Gen. SHELLEY as governor the Demo-
cratic party has not elected a single
state officer, and the parched
and weary searcher for political
truth and honest and efficient
administration of public trusts
could only find in the broad political
desert of Minnesota this one oasis; this
one unfailing spring of private honesty
in public affairs: and here and here
only could he rest in the grateful shade
of municipal administration which
was at once protection and an exam
pie; for during all of those years there
has never occurred one instance of detail
cation in Office by Democratic office
holder in the city of st. Paul.
The statement of that fact is sufficient
of itself. No argument can amplify it:
no reiteration increase it's force; no as
perSion Scan affect it; and while it
exists this cheap and foolish talk Of
gangs and RINGS and hoOdtn ic nc ,,uIror
and profane and useless as would be a
harangue of JOHANN MosT delivered in
the shadow of the statue of Liberty in
New York. The situation would of itself
refute the SANDER.
Political discussion is beneficial,
When you have the best of the argu-
ment it Is delightful. And we now sub
nit to our fellow citizens whether in
the choice they are about to make of
public servants they will select the men
who have made the record we have de-
scribed in our municipal affairs, who have
been educated in the teachings that
produce such record, or entrust the
business of our city to the Falstaffian
band of indescribables who have been
declared by the genial prototype of the
bluff Sir John himself to be so illegiti-
mate and offensive that he even would
not accept them as subjects.
When man is so far gone that he is
given up by his doctor, he does not
make very available candidate for
any earthly Office.