Year: 1864

The Congregational and other LOCAL


Elections, ms Com pared with she Presi-


dcntiai ontess.


It may be in consequences Of the anomalous


condition OF political affairs generally, or it


may be from policy, or from cupidity, or from
. trait Of rasoality which pervades that un-


scrapulous class Of the community known as
politicians In grain, but It Il an extraordinary
circumstance that 80 little attention Is paid ct
this time to the Congressional and other local
elections occurring In the fall. Amidst all tho
questions now agitating the public mind, out
side the paramount war issues, no question Is
Of more consequence than the composition Of
the Congress which shall come into power with
the induction Of the President to be elected
next November. The Presidential election
Itself Is Of scarcely more Importance; for,
without q sympathizing and congenlal Con-
gress, the Executive is little better than an
automaton in the administration Of the govern
ment


It is unnecessary to 60 out Of the Congress
sional districts comprised within the limits Of
this subject. Here the prizes are great and nu-
merous. The republicans will be united on
their Presidential candidate, and the democrats
on theirs. Local interests may not be involved
directly in the Presidential result in the city;
but the distribution of the local spois will lend
importance and peculiar charm to the con-
test, and IS that contest may be decided so
will, in great measure, the local spoils be
dispensed. How is it, then, that SO much
apathy exists in regard to the local elections
occurring simultaneously with that for the
Presidency? The present city delegation in
Congress, elected two years ago, have proven
false to their constituents, and lent hesitating
support, if not presented direct opposition, to
the war policy, which was the actuating princi-
pie that insured their success. This delega-
ton should not be reelected; and the result
of the municipal election last winter de-
monstrates the fact that they cannot
be if the elements then .predominating are
again invoked and concentrated. The present
delegation were chosen by coalition of the
opposing democratic factions, Mozart and Tam
many. The candidates Of the same coalition
were defeated in the municipal election by the
spontaneous action Of independent citizens and
former adherents Of the old factions, who
spurned the brlbes and threats Of their former
nominations. In the latter contest the Mozart
and Tammany cliques made separate bargains
Fernando Weod on one side and Peter B.
Sweeny on the other-presuming the mass of
the democrats would 60 with them. But both
Wood and Sweeny. together with their bar
gains, were repudiated, as we have seen, and


the Independent candidates elected. Since
then the independent Mozart and Tammany
democrats have been acting together in bond
Of brotherly union; and, with the aid Of these
no party and patriotic citizens who were Joined
with them in the last successful. municipal


contest, they can sweep the city clean
Of the present worthless Congressional delega-
tion, should either succeed in obtaining re-
nomination, and elect in their stead men Of the
true patriotic stamp-men possessing the con-
fideRce OF the people, and who will prove
worthy representatives Of the great interests Of
the city. Nominations made according to this


suggestion will present some show Of fairness
and honesty, and will not furnish that odor of


auction bargaining and corruption which has
distinguished and disgraced the managers of


Mozart and Tammany in times past. With the
union that elected the McKeon ticket last
winter, the corruptionst and secessionist can
didates will be defeated, and their places filed
BY those who will do their duty fairly towards
their constituents, and prove on honor and q
strength TO the republic in this Its hour OF
tribulation and danger. Let the work of ward
c,1at ho q