THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2139, 3 January 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1881. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

The ratepayers of the North-West Ward will, in a few days, have to elect a representative in place of the present Mayor, and there are three aspirants for the honor in the field. From these, the selection has to he made, and we trust that care and judgment will be exercised in so doing. Two of the three are but little known to fame, except as citizens who have been successful in the management of their own business, and also having the reputation of being shrewd, sensible men. Of the third gentleman who aspires to be a city councillor we have a few words to say. Mr. J. P. Oliver is known to most of us as a specimen of the wordy demagogue, who in small communities such as ours achieves a doubtful species of popularity by a copious flow of language, expressively and idiomatically known as " the gift of the gab." So far as we can see, Mr. Oliver has no claim beyond the possession, in a marked degree, of this talent to recommend him to the favorable consideration of the burgesses of the northwest ward. It is no secret that his desire to obtain a seat in the Council, is to ventilate his peculiar style of eloquence, and pose himself as the champion of the rights and dignity of the citizens, which, in his opinion, have been invaded in various ways. Carefully considering Mr. Oliver's career as a quasi-public man, we candidly confess that, with every desire to do him justice, we are unable to discover one single recommendation in his favor as a candidate. Do the ratepayers wish to increase by a hundred-fold the present capacious talking power of the City Council, to the neglect of the interests and business of the city ? If they do, they could not possibly select a better representative, or one more fitted in every way to do so, than Mr. Oliver He would discourse there by the hour on every conceivable subject. But that, we take it, is hardly the qualification to be admired in a candidate for municipal honours. His late public appearance in connection with municipal matters, also, is scarcely calculated to impress very favourably those who have really the interests of the city at heart, and his return as a member would go far to bring back those times in our municipal annals, when the office of City Councillor was anything but one to be desired or, sought after. Fortunately, a change has come over the minds of the ratepayers. "Worth and ability, combined with sound common sense, have been the standard applied to any one, who has wooed the voices of the electors, and frothy declamation, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, has had its day. That this is so, is a matter for sincere congratulation, and we trust the time is far distant when our municipal government will be entrusted to men of the latter type. It is for this reason, and because we are unable to discover one single tangible ground why Mr. Oliver should come forward, that we urge upon the ratepayers the necessity of exercising wisdom in the choice of their representative. The City Council is not an arena for the gratification of personal pique, or the ventilation of theories on the rights of individuals; hence, Mr. Oliver would be entirely out of place there. He would be far moro at home at the base of the Godley statue, declaiming, as on a former occasion and in another place, in fervid accents, on the iniquity of all Governments and the sufferings of the downtrodden masses, writhing beneath the heel of the bloated capitalist. But, however appropriate this might be in the leader or champion of an unemployed movement, it would degenerate into an intolerable nuisance when carried on in a place, where the representatives of the ratepayers meet to conduct the business of the city in a business-like way—and we question whether our reputation would be enhanced by the introduction of Mr. Oliver's peculiar notions on things in general. Thure is an old but truo aphorism respecting the advisableness of the shoemaker sticking to bis last, which we would commend to Mr. Oliver's careful consideration, the application of which, is likely to be of benefit, not only to himself, but tho citizens generally. It is, wo believe, the desiro of this goutlomau to obtain a public meeting, where ho may pour forth his eloquence on tho devoted heads of tho ratepayers. If ho succeeds in so doing, he might be met with a similar check as that recoivod by an agitator of a somewhat kindred typo a few years back, in connection with gas matters. At that meeting, after listening to an harangue of some length, a worthy citizen proposed a resolution commencing •' That this meeting wonders at tho cheek and impudence, Ac." It was scarcely framed in tho way such resolutions are, but it expressed in

a plain and nnmistakeable manner, the opinion of those present, and the sentiments it then conveyed seem to us peculiarly applicable to the present time. We have but briefly referred to the other two candidates, preferring to leave the ratepayers to judge between them. Both have the reputation of sound common sense, added to business aptitude. Of the trio, Mr. Treleaven appears to ns as the best fitted to fill the vacancy. He has a large interest at stake in the city, and with a short training in the work, would, we feel sure, reflect credit on the ward, besides bringing to boar on the matters likely to bo discussed, a thorough knowlodge of the wants of the city as a whole, and of the ward in particular. It is true, he has not been before the public at any time, but that is rather in his favor than otherwise, as ho will be the more likely, if elected, to set himself diligently to acquire the requisite knowledge, and in doing so, to make himself thoroughly acquainted with what is wanted to be done by the Council.