Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-28

concerned. This refusal to anchor the city
to any partyis shown by the history of the
elections in that municipality. Only a
few years ago the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties, having pooled their schemes,
agreed upon joint nominee for Mayor,
but the people rebuked them by putting
up and electing citizens candidate. In
1888, shortly after, Mr.. Cleveland carried
the city by 5000 plurality, but at the
same election the Democratic nominee for
Mayor was showed under by a majority for
his Republican opponent. In 1889, Rus
sell, Democratic nominee for Governor,
had 5000 majority, while the Democratic
nominee for Mayor was defeated by 5000
majority. In short, it is the policy of
Boston to make no close inquiry into the
politics, State or National, of the candi-
dates for municipal offices.
If anything, the Republicans, taking
all years together, have given the city bet
ter officers than the Democracy, which the
local press declares is in demoralized
condition in the Athens of America, be-
cause in city affairs it prostituted itself to
the uses of the baser elements. and ma
chine politics tangled up city business
badly. Under the latest rule of that
party, says one writer:
Men who made business of politics. who
cared neither for party success nor for the citys
interests, got control of the "machiue," die
tated nominations, appointments and remov-
ais and levied tribute with the daring of the
highwayman, upon all candidates for the pub
lie service, upon contractors corporations. and
even city employees. Franchises and privileges
were sod by the Aldermen like so much mar
ketable merchandise. a carnival OF under
prevailed some CT the leaders gJt rien and con-
sequently arrogant. The conservative voters
st last arose and swept the party from power.
reckoning within the organization followed;
| there was desperate struggle for control ana
for publication. The boodiers were driven
out Denied home and habitation in the
| Democracy party, these wreckers joined forces
with the Republican machine" and the nomi-
nation of Moody Merrill was the palpaole out
come. Mr.. Merrill was President OF surface
road during the dominance of the o. Brien
regime at the City Hall. He was constant Pc
titioner for street privileges and locations. In
| most cases where he was successful he was
| forced to pay literally for what he got. Being
! the head of strong corporation, with ample
| funds at his disposal, he became power in pol
ities. He made and unmade Aldermen and
Councilmen. He influenced the vote for Mayor.
| He helped to support the lobby. He distributed
favors among the strikers. He finally won the
/ admiration and the Friendship of the greedy
sharks who preyed upon thetaxpayers and who
were riotously looting the treasury.
Then came the election of last week
and Mr.. Merrill was defeated by the Dem
ocratic reformer Mr.. Mathews. 1t would
| apnear tbarafnra 70 ha t.,a nc &c o,.ortod
that the business men and workingmen OF
Boston will not sanction the election of a
Mayor whose claims are advanced by the
pariahs of politics, and whose main
strength is found among the Doodle hunt
ers.
All which indicates that Boston is moy-
ing in the direction of genuine municipal
reform, the basic principle of which is
treatment of city affairs as those of cor
poration, and as unrelated to State or ma
tional politics.
1t is on this line that city governments
in the United States can be wrested from
rings, ward bosses and political brokers
So far as her Aldermen are concerned,
however, Boston is partly in the tolls, for
some time ago political party so dis.
tricted the city as to give good portion
of the Board to political ring, and as
yet that gerrymander has not been wholly
broken up, but the indications are that il
will be-
In the recent election an evidence of thu
local feeling was that not one leading Repub
lican journal supported the party nominee
and many Republicans went openly owe
to Mathews standard, while large por
ton of the Democratic party, the pur
chasable element, went over to the Repub
lican nominee. In such a ferment in on
of the great cities of the United States, w
see evidences of good to come. Out of tn
unwillingness of the people of Boston t
submit to party dictation there is indi
Gated existence of reform spirit that viii
eventually wholly disconnect the govern
ment of the city from partisan politics.