The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2215, 13 June 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1870.

There was nothing remarkable in the meeting held at the Princess Theatre by Mr Reynolds on Friday. It was on the whole somewhat loss rowdy than is usual, when a number of ratepayers are called together and have to try their hands at cross-questioning a candidate. It is not very pleasant to have to stand the rode brunquene with which some electors thrust their questions forward ; and soberly considered, those who are willing to endure the ordeal of candidate-baiting, deserve all the honor that they aspire to, other conditions of fitness for office being present. The choice of a Mayor ought not to be made a party question. As chief magistrate of the City, he should be a man of known and acknowledged business habits, and of spotless integrity ; and if he happens to have been in positions of honor analogous in any degree to that to which he aspiies, so much the better—he has not then to learn his business. But to listen to the nonsense talked on the Subject, one would imagine that the duties of Mayor were so onerous and complicated, that a preliminary apprenticeship was necessary in order to prepare for their fulfilment. It is’on this baseless bit of unreason that the doctrine is set up that the Mayor ought to be chosen from the members of the City Council. So dogmatically is this position laid down, that really one hardly da pc venture to say that there may be another side to the question. But before saying a word against the doctrine, lot ns dispose of another aspect of it. Such a doctrine might do very well from an outsider, but when a City Councillor and a Corporation employe stand forth to advocate it, there is, to say the least of it, an appearance of indelicacy about the proceeding that no public meeting should tolerate. The citizens are quite able to judge in their own case, and need no instruction which has the appearance of self-interest in it. It may be replied that they did not appear in their characters as a Councilman and a servant of the Corporation. Perhaps not, but the very appearance of evil ought to have been avoided. In these remarks we are not alluding to Mr Grlffen, who only came forward on being called for, and enunciated no such doctrine. And now for the theory that a Mayor should be chosen from , the City Council. Why ? We are told because the prospect of the honor is an incentive to good behavior as a Councillor, and acts as an inducement to men of standing to come forward and take part in City affairs. This very much resembles the conduct of a schoolboy, who works, not from a sense of duty, but with a view to obtain a prize. We do not undervalue the honor, nor do we say that the Mayor ought never be chosen from the Council*; but surely if the Civic chair is to be a reward to those who serve the public, why should it be confined to those who do least, and sacrifice least, in that respect ? Are not mem equally entitled to confidence and marks of honor who have for years, .through good and ill reports, given time, energy, and talent to the welfare of the Province and the country ? If they have done I their work well, there is all the more 1 reason to trust them—they are old and tried servants, and distinction conferred on them, is but poor reward for the; sacrifices made iu the public service. But looking at it in a broader light, wo think a Mayor should he of no party, nor should he he mixed up with fixe interests of a particular ward. Each member of the City Council has been elected by the ratepayers of the ward he represents, specially to advocate the interest of that ward, and if he have been iu office some time, as a matter of necessity he becomes mixed up more or less with party politics and partial interests, and lias adopted particular views respecting special questions. When these questions arc ol general import, such as gas and water, perhaps the opinion of a Mayor may be worth enquiring into before election, notwithstanding that his peculiar duty is to hold a fair and equitable balance in the Council between contending opinions. But on such general questions the election of a Mayor seldom depends, nor ought it. His chief qualifications should bo social position, high character, and known talent for public business. Now we by no means say that these are not shared in by several members of the City Council, nor do we wish it to be understood that we should object to one of that body being chosen, unless there were notoriously good reasons for rejecting him. If worthy, he is always eligible for election. All that we wish to point out is, that no good reason has been shown why the choice should be confined to members of the Council; while good reasons may be given, iu addition to those already stated, why it should not. To place the Mayoralty before the Council as a reward of merit, Is an

insult to a man of right spirit. Only think of a candidate for the representation of the City standing before his constituency, and by some irresistible impulse compelled to speak the truth. If such wove the reward he sought, he would say—“ Gentlemen, Ido not care “ one farthing for your interests, any “ further than ray advocacy of them is a “ stepping-stone to the Mayoralty. All “ my words, my promises, my fervor “on your behalf, mean ‘ Elect me “ ‘ Mayor.’ If I speak in the Council, “ and pretend to advocate the interests “ of the ward, my every word means “ ‘ Elect ine Mayor.’ In ray heart I “ care nothing about the interests of “ the ward, although I -say I do. I “ have set my heart on being Mayor, “so choose ms your representative, “ that the City, in'the end, may ‘ Elect “ ( me Mayor.’ ” If, on the other hand, a man deserving the honor had the bribe paraded before his eyes to induce him to go into the Council, he would bo inclined at once to ask in no slight indignation —“ What do you “ mean 1 Do you suppose I cannot do “ my duty without being paid for it? “ If that is your opinion, you had “ better get some one else to serve “ you.” We are glad to find so many desirous of attaining the honor. To be chief citizen of Dunedin is to hold a distinguished position, and in choosing either of those at present in the held a mistake can scarcely be made.