The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-21
CITY LIGHT AGAIN.

Professor Ely, of Johns Hopkins Universl-
tv. who has discussed at considerable length
various municipal problems, is undoubtedlya
man Of marked ability, but at the same time
it is generally admitted that his theories with
reference to municipal government, as well as
other questions of equal interest, have dis
tinct socialistic leaning, which detracts large
~ from their value from the Democratic point
of view
Indulge in as many metaphysical refine
ments Of the schoolmen rs we may, there Is
this vital point in this question Of the city
establishing an electric light plant Of It's own,
namely. that if Illuminating powerisfu furnished
by private companies, it is entirely in the
power Of the people to control them IN case
there IS ground for dissatisfaction. j the
lighting is TO be done by the corporation,
who is going to control the corporation if dere-
let? The people? The failure Of the people
to control the corporation in the instance OF
gas is only what is to be expected in the in
stance of electricity if the proposition under
discussion is carried into actual effect.
As we have stated again and again, the prin-
ciple involved in this proposition is essentially
undemocratic. That foreign municipal gov
ernmcnts have very generally adopted the
plan Of furnishing their citizens with light
is no argument in favor Of inaugurating the
same methods on American soil. for the very
simple reason that il is the boast Of our sys-
TEN Of government that it has discarded the
paternalism that prevails in monarchies, from
the national administration down 20 the most
provincial boards Of municipal control.
Why should an American city seek iustitica-
ton for It's action in its corporate capacity in
the example Of an European city that recog
nizes personal sovereignty as a fundamental
law? This is the very system of government
from which il was supposed that We had long
ago cut loose. TO seek to institute it in this
community in the form Of a corporate monop-
oily is a direct violation of the character Of the
Democratic basis upon which the fabric Of
our society rests. II is distinct return TO
unenlightened methods Of government against
which American sentiment has always REBEL
ed and which to adopt now even on the small
est scale. would show a proportionate degen-
eracy in Democratic instincts.
The TINES opposes the proposition to estab-
lish an electric plant as a substitute for the
gas works because it considers that PROPOSE
ton to be in conflict with the principles Of the
Democratic party, which is as much as to say,
in conflict with the best interests of the peo-
pie Our aim is to represent the people in this
natter to support popular government in its
simplest and fundamental principles.
City electric works would be a monopoly.
As q Democratic journal every form Of mo-
nopoly is odious in our sight, because obstruc-
tive Of that free competition which. for the
good of the people should prevail in every
community
City electric works would be an open recog-
milton of paternalism in government We
condemn paternalsm in government because
it is a presumptuous curtailment Of the power
of the people and therefore an active factor
in promoting their political degeneration.
TO all thinking disinterested men, these
are reasons sufficient to make the establish
ment of the proposed city electric works an
experiment that would be altogether wrong in
its principle. and being wrong in principle, it
would certainly be most dangerous in prac-
teal operation.