Year: 1867

The recent canvass for city officers was, ION
our part, conducted wholly upon local issues,
the democratic party being the champion of
the peoples interests.


The republican party attempted to make
a strict political contest and carry the ferry
monopoly clique, the Brickenbanner Coal
Co., and the Maine-Liauor law, on its shoal-
ders. 1t suffered itself to be taken posses
sion of and run by indiscreet and bungling
managers, and the result was an overwheIm-
ing defeat


The democratic party was united and har-
monious, and carried the canvass through
strictly upon issues affecting the interests
and future welfare of the city. The people,
BY an overwhelming majority, and on the
largest vote ever polled in the city, have sus-
tanned the course taken by the democratic
party, and condemned the leaders and manag-
ers Of the republican party; condemned the
policy of giving away the peoples rights in
the ferry; condemned the scheme to turn the
peoples stock in the Rock Island & Peoria
railroad over to the Brickenbanner Coal Co.;
and condemned the policy of oppressively
high licenses.


The elements were all against the repub-
fcan party, as managed by those who had
taken control of it; and the better judgment
Of many republicans told them to rebuke the
folly inte which unwise managers had led it.
They have done it, and credit is due them
for their independence of the party lash.


The most powerful agent for the defeat of
the ,repnbicans was the course their party
took upon the ferry question. Party schemes
and leaders, the men who, for years, have
been carrying that party in their breeches
pocket and using it for personal ends and
not for the public good, had bartered or given
away the peoples interests in what might
have been made d source of permanent rev.
enue to the city treasury. The people have
rebuked them for it most emphatically. The
course taken by the poor ''heirs of John
Wilson" and those who sustained them, in
controlling the republican party for their
private use, had rendered that party so obi
Gus IN the eyes of the people that its manag-
ers sought to divert public attention from its
treachery to the peoples interests and centre
it upon the Rock Island & Peoria railroad.
1hey knew that other persons running for
once, had for years, kept up a mysterious
series OF winks and whispers about some un-
e1piainable, unknown attempt by that COM
pany to get the advantage of the city, and
that they had succeeded in mystifying the
Dram OF great many people on that sub
1ect' lhey, therefore, adopted a resolution,
the effect of which would be to place the
citys stock in that road under the control OF
Ar. Bittenbanner. The President of the
hock Island Peoria Railroad had taken nc
active interest in any city election, for some
years, though his name had been buffeted
ABOUT at every voting place to scare timid
people who never look below the surface o
any story told merely for effect. But wher
he saw political party exhibit the folly o
putting him and his interests into its publ,
platform and attempting to control public
opinion to his detriment, he felt it hi.
duty to wake up and take. hand in tbs
tight. When he saw the republican
party commit the gorgeous blunder o
making party contest between TIVE
coal companies and nominate the Presi
dent OF rival company as its leader ape
champion, he felt it his duty to appeal to hi
personal friends in that party to rebuke rths
act and put stop to any future demagog
uery OF that sort; and he did SO with telling
effect-with an effect which will not soon b,
forgotten. When any political party ha
the effrontery to make a party question o
the business affairs of coal company. a fer
ry company or any other business affair, the,
must expect to get just such rebuke as tn,
republican party got yesterday.


The democratic party havenot taken a 20
s'flon for or against Mr.. Gable; nor win the,