The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-10
TRUE HOME RULE.
Interesting Letter From Mr. Joseph
~ Dana Miller.
JERSEY CITY. Nov. Q, 1893

JERSEY CITY. Nov. 9. 1898.
To the Editor of the JERSEY Citv Neps:-
The Democrats of Hudson County who
have contributed to the downfall of the
ring in thfs county have done SO because
: of their belief that the expulsion of
certain sq,cal!ed democrats from the
party would be an enormous accession to
the strength Of that party. In a revolt
so general as that throughout the State
1t is to be regretted that a number of
good men should have been sacrificed;
but this is mi of the inevitable
consequences OF an imperfect system of
local goyernmept, where the National
policy OF the party is endangered when
ever a municipal ring is expelled from
power. or the conduct Of local govern
ment by a party Ia discredite5. 1t Is be-
cause OF this chat the men who have run
things TO suit themselves 10 this city
have been the real enemies-the foes high
In the ranks-of the National Democ-
racy. sr1sH
Is it not about time, then, that we
should now turn our attention toward
remedyfng a system which puts into the
hauds OF Assemblymen and Senators.
charged with the conduct of State mat
tiers, the control Of purely municipal con-
Germs? II we are to have a United States
Senate, erected by the vote OF the Legis-
lures on join ballot, it 10 bad policy. It Is
uprepuhiican and ~undsmocratie to give
those same Senators aud Assemblymeu
power over local affairs. Give to
municipalities the control OF all matters
which are purely the concerns of cities.
allowing them to determine their own
methods and agencies and The character
OF their local policies. A local ring
might then be turned of power
without injury to the national policy of u
party. Assemhlymen aud Senators
would then stand In their true character
as legislators for the State, and--as long
as we are to continue methods of indirect
represen tation-charged with national
responsibility in the election of a United
states Sen But Independent voters
would increase, corruption, in local
politics would be destroyed as soon as it
raised Its head, and the vote for Seu-
ators and members of Assembly would
no longer be hampe ed by local
considerations. In the general indlena-
tlen OF the people against local misgov-
ernmeut, which has driven the party
out of power in this State. we would not
now De mourning the posslbility-unless
We can reverse the majority Ia the Legis-
lature-of a Republican successor to John
X MePherson. and consequent increased
difficulty OF carrying into effect the policy
of the National Democracy.
1t Is a INDUSTRIOUS imperfectton of our
system that local rey0lts Should occasion
disaster to the true National policy of the
country, and that Independent Demo-
Gratis like myself should 40 Willingly, aud
III spite of them elves have contributed
TO strengthen the popularity and powers
of a party to which we are opposed.
Give us, moreover. true home rule. aud
corrupt politicians would cease to attract
votes to themselves by virtue of calling
themselves Democrats The only r .
democrats are those who believe In aud
are willing to labor for the sue
cess of the Democratic policy.
A mans vote for poundmaster Is not a
test OF his democracy nor does his refusal
to swallow e~veryuauseous dose that comes
labeled regular nomination." Gao mat
ter how irregularly ootained.) make him
a political exile.
The true democrats in New Jersey are
those who refused to support local mis-
rule; that their antagoni5m should have
contributes to tha weakening OF those
which are their most darling cou> |
victions. is their misfortune, not their
fault. due to a system of local govern
ment which has every " here roboed us of
our indspeudenee; aud to the reform OF
which we should now turn with all our
soul and all our ensrgy.
tot JOSEPH DANA MILLER.