Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-23
NEW ORLEANS AND RICHMOND.


NEW ORLEANS AND RICHMOND.
II our teiegraphic dispatches from New
Orleans do not err the Democratic city
government there has met with an over
whelming defeat at the hands of the Ciu-
zens League.
Tbe evils complained OF in the municipal
system OF the Crescent City the party III
mower neglected or refused 10 correct
Suggestions made as TO economies that
should be practiced were ridiculed ahu
hooted down. and things went on IN the
old. old way as II day OF accounting
neve- would come. But at last consluef-
able number of voters concluded that for-
bearance had ceased TO be virtue ana
they proceeded to organize the citizens
League and called the enemies OF De
mocracy to their help and swept the city
And so the party in power Is to be al
che mercy of the citizens organization.
How much better II would have been TOT
our New Orleans friends TO have maze
concessions In the first instance. But alas'
this course a party in power Will not al
ways adopt.
The experience Of New Orleans is that
Of New York ana Baltimore. In eacn o.
these places large numbers Of Democrats
despairing of relief in the party, "oolted'
ana ,oined the Republicans. In the END.
xxe think, they will find that they have
Maid too dearly for their whistle. Ihey
would have better tried the plan that we
Richmonders are trying for the correc-
tion of such abuses as exist In oar NUM-
c,pal system. Yes, they would have bet
Ter made their fight within their party
lines. and they should have been met half
way by the party.
When we consider the caution and con-
servatism that have been shown by the
democratic League for Good Government
in Richmond we cannot but see that the
Democratic party is under great oDrga-
items TO the league. Several thousands of
our loyal Democrats united, not 10 bolt
the party, but 10 go TO work within the
marty to secure the adoption or more
business-like methods in our municipal
system.
II must be remembered that for some
months before the league began It's work
the public mind was infiamed by the dis
closures made as 10 the rottenness OF the
management OF the gas-works. Soon after
the death of Superintendent Adams IL
began to be bruited about that the city
was being robbed at the gas-works. AFTER
n little while Mr.. Branch, business
man. and a new member Of the Council
made a demand for a balance-sheet which
could not be furnished, and the result was
the disclosure Of the fact that under the
Adams management the greatest possible
looseness had prevailed at the gas-works
and that the city had been robbed OF
large sums OF money. and had probably
lost much more by careless business me-
thods.
The citizens of Richmond. we need
scarcely say, were indignant at the dis
closure OF all this rottenness, and an
independent movement might have been
organized by the time Of the municipal
election had not the Democratic League
come into existence.
The Dispatch likes the Richmond me
thod vastly better than the New Orleans
method. In the first place. we think II
more, certain TO effect the changes de
sired. In the next place. 1t does not re-
ouire us 10 treat with our old enemies
Further, IL enables the Democratic party
10 make good It's ofi-repeated assertion
that Il Is at all times able and willing &c
correct whatever abuses may be shown
10 exist where II is in power Now who
can doubt that abuses have existed ir
the passwords management? Who car
doubt that Richmond has been spending
more money than its income justihes Il
IN spending? Who can doubt that our city
debt is becoming alarmingly large? WhC
can doubt that we ought to inaugurats
economies that have not heretofore beer
practlced by the City council9 By thu
City Council we mean as well previous
councils as the present Council)
Now. if--as we hope and expect-th'
movement here within Democratic iinel
should result IN effecting the adoption o.
better municipal methods. who viii gain
xay that the league has done great dca
Of goodf And if--as We hope and expect
oil OF these changes shall be made within
our party. who will gainsay that TN,
league has probably saved Richmond from
nueh "citizens movements as have az
1iieted New Orleans, Baltimore. aud othe
cltiesf In short. men most active In tn,
party (and those who enjoy the substan
sial fruits OF party triumphD are OF al
men the men most indebted TO the Demo
cratic League. II they have any doub
upon this point let them consider for ,
u moment how extremely probable It wal
that but sor the organization OF IN
Democratic League Qn view OF the dis
graceful disclosures as to the sss-works
m independent party would have beer
organized here. Now. insiead OF an oppo
sftion party we have Democratic league.
body OF temperate well-meaninx. am