New-York daily tribune., 1856-05-23

There should be certain characteristics OF
large city. in this country. Philadelphia is now
large city, perhaps of some 800 OOo inhaoisants-
one third the size Of London. We ought there
FORE to look in such place for the entire scope OF
mind and action not Of an out-Of the-way-and yet
more an iterate bigoted-villsge, but of great
city, sflluent with light and liberty. But whether
that exists or not, may be Judged by the following
extract from letter written BY an eminent citizen
of Philadelphia:
"you have sometimes commented with severity
upon the absence Of independence among our city
papers but how far independence is possible IN little
town like this, you may judge for yourself arter reau
ing an account Of operation now in course OF beng
Uniformed here. The Whigs, a. you know, had no
ticket al the late election and if they voted they had
only a choice between Know Nothing ticket Oh Tue
one hand and Buchanan one on the other Inc
former was made up exclusively from the lodges, and
had upon II some names that were highly exceptions
bic, put forward as candidates Tor otces requiring
both integrity and ability whereas on the latter, the
Democrats had placed men much more entitled 10 tne
public confidence. In this state OF things Inc N0't"
dmertcan-righty looking at the question as purely
local one and not in any manner connected with gen
eral poitics-recOmmended Wings to take the oeSt
men, without regard to party, accompanying tue recon-
mendation with an examination OF the claims OF the
candidates. not very favorable to the n. Ms. In so
doing however il gave offence to certain portion OF
the hig party that desires the Trends OF Gay
and TAYLOR TO worship at the shrine OF Fillmore and
DonelsOn and that, while proposing TO stnye Tor
itself not disposed to permit any one ese 70 90 80
Some of them are, therefore, as | hear, engaged 10
vigorous effort to coerce The North american into
change of policy geng about from store to store to
obtain signatures to an order to " stop my paper "a
sOr Of conspiracy that would seem To De quite worthy
of II en- who, to expression OF your own, would
desire so 10 worship God a. to give the Deyh no
,oid ground of offepse-sotO be AhtiSlsyery as not
TO prevent any savedrver from buying goods at ms
store They have not, as believe, succeeded TO any
extent, but in community which toerates a. al any
such oi.play Of littIetovnshness' how can you e1'
pect independence p
Our correspondent calls Philadelphia little
town but as it is one which stretches some FIVE or
ak miles along the Delaware in an unbroken chain
Of bouses be must mean small in spirit and nos 10
numbers. Conceive ofthe paltry temper ola squad
going about trying to break down newspaper be-
cause il differed from them on o question oil the
choice of men for local Offices. Why, how can
Philadelphia hold up her head with such wretched
pettiness, even on q small SCALE great city
needs above all else, liberty of the press; and il
Journal, which ought TO speak its mind freely, is
uuzzled a. the instance Of such conspirators
against liberty, the city is little more than slave
plantation call it by what name you will. None but
a puny. minded person would so attempt to coerce
a newspaper, and q community which would sub
NIT TO it is worthy of being secuted as a moral
leper. TIE idea thst set of men may, without
dsmsge to their respectabiity, assume to ccerce or
DESTROY journal with which they differ, is simply
equivalent to the press laws Of Paris or Vienna.
T. :. .o ba an IN Philadelphia l. The North
american to be injured or biased BY such means'