Year: 1860

"INTERFERENCE OF THE DEMOCRAT.
The Gazette says that they are "at loss
sometimes to understand the motive of partic
ular articles in the DEMoCRAr on city affairs. "
We have at all times endeavored to be plain in
our articles-even plain enough for the some.
what obfuscatsd understanding of the Gazette
editors. We have yet to learn that we have
published an article, or o word, calculated to
injure the credit or name of our city abroad
We have uttered some very plain truths. be-
cause we considered it our duty so to do We
have told our citizens that it was impossible to
pay the interest on our bonded debt at this
time, and we tell them the same thing now. .
We cannot do it. Our will is good enough.
but We know not the wayne have not the
means. Mayor Price in his retiring address
said that s27 900 of the city indebtedness had
been paid since the lst day Of January last.
How was it paid Ten thousand dollars was
paid in cash, and seventeen thousand dollars uas
arranged The arrangement referred to, we
suppose, consisted in giving new notes or ex-
tending the old ones. Those notes have to be
paid some time, and we presume at an early
day. Our Indebtedness is thus accumrlating
and growing larger, and if some arrangement
is not made soon it will become very uncom-
Portable True. our Indebtedness is insignifi-
csnt when compared with that of Dubuque,
Keokuk and other cities of no larger proper.
tions than our own, but they do not pretend
or try TO pay, and we do. They tell the hold
ers of their bonds that there is but slim
chance for their ever getting their money. We
tell our creditors that they shall be paid. but
we have not The necessary funds by US just at
this time. The Gazette writer knowingly ut
ters fslsehood when he says we ever sdvocat-
ed or suggested reputation. Such thing new.
er entered our mind. We are utterly opposed
to reputation in any form. and We never sug-
gested such thing We hold up both hands
for reduction of interest. and if we cannot
obtain that, " 9 shall be satisfied with an ex-
tension sufficiently long to enable US TO once
more get upon our feet. and pay our indet ted
ness without running and distressing our citi-
zens.


The Gazette would like very much to make
q little capital ont of our article in Fridays
paper, but We shall not allow the editor that
satisfaction. We have compelled that paper to
wilt so often, that they will find no difficulty
in doing 80 no.. Ever since we came to this
city the Gazette has been the organ Of few
wou'd-bs monopolists, bogus brokers and wild
cat speculators. We have chastised them re-
peatedly for thus degrading the profession, and
We had commenced believing that decided
and permanent reformation had taken place
But there is nothing clean in them. They are
now laboring to cheaper and place in bad re-
pute our city bonds 90 that few hungry
sharks. who would like very much to invest in
such safe paper, can buy them up for a
cong Does the Gassae dare Say that they do
not believe our city bonds will ever be paid
Their article would lead us to infer as much.-
We think that every dollar of the Indebtedness
of the city Of Davenport will be liquidated and
We rather guess most Of our citizens think 90
too. We cannot settle with our creditors now,
but they are sure to receive every cent we owe



for their money every six months, than to give
10 an extension. we are the last persons to of.
fer any objections. The DExocRAr was the first
paper to propose reduction Of interest or ao
extension Of time. 1t was not until after re-
peated lashings that We drove the Gazette into
taking = similar position. We have invariably
been the first paper to lead off in all great re-
forms, and the Gazette has invariably opposed
Us, until compelled by the pressure Of public
opinion. to fall in behind, and sullenly follow
our footsteps.


That the DEMocRAr is endeavoring to embar-
rass the present Republican administration =
ridiculous. We do not propose noticing such
silly twaddle. We are perfectly willing that
our record should go before the public side BY
side with that Of the Gazette. We do not fear
the result