Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-03-19
PH1LADRLpH1A, March Is, 1856.


The gross Encouragement of our city finances
maNseemingly be matter of little interest to your
numerous readers yet it is worthy of note, as a
pract'cai illustration OF the manner in which the
Know Nothing party manage public trusts when
they happen to be in majority. The municipal
example Of political incapacity and fragrant dshon.
esty which is disgraceful to that high character
which her citizens are always boasting she MAIN
tans among her sister cities of the Union. The
circumstances should be made known throughout
the Union, that the honest and Conscientious MEM
bers OF the secret order may learn how the self
styled Americans rule America" upon small
scale, and thus be enabled to Judge of what may be
expected it the order succeed in getting into power
by the election of their sworn brother" Willard
Fillmore, to the Presidency.
When Mayor Conrad came in power every Office
in the gift of the city, from the highest to the low
est, was promptly filled with brothers" They also
had large majority in the select and common
ellis, and in the exultation of victory it
ced by some of the inexperienced members of the
party, that Philadelphia had at last model govern
ment which would give glorious example of :" ma
tive American rule." Prophetic words but in
sense different from what the green ones expected.
The results of the Know Nothing administration
are now before us-an increase of one-third on the
already onerous tax upon real estate, besides new
loan of nearly one million, three-fourths Of which is
to be applied to the payment of debts contracted
since the order got possession of the city treasury
The salaries of the teachers Of the public schools
and Of the police officers have been withheld for
months until themselves and families were in want
OF the common neceSsaries of life. Not many days
ago statement appeared in the Ledger that an &C.
tive and mertorous police officer was indebted to
the charity of neghbor for sufficient food to keep
his family from starvation. The claims of the
merous contractors and the laborers dependent upon
them, were equally disrcgarded, while the moneys
appropriated for the payment of these various
inns r,1saA nkt,n hf hn nStx,
officials, who did not neglect to take Of number
one. And why not? Are they not natives " to the
manor born" and of course entitled to the fat of
the land? City warrants, Tor promises to pay,)
though they are taken in payment of the new loan,
are at from to per cent discount, and not even
cash at that, but part i'll trade.
The bonds of the wealthy and aristocratic City of
Philadelphia are of dull sale at 81, while the United
States bonds, in face of threatened war with Eng
land are eagerly sought after at II; in solvency
the securities are about equal. Whence the differ
ence? The affairs of one are administered by Off
Gals who, as long they obey the commands of
the secret Council which rules the district certain
of impunity, no matter how glaring their malfeas
ance may be. The other is governed by the known
principles which have ever guided the Democratic
party since the establishment of the Republic The
public funds like the human pulse, is the criterion
by which We must judge of the good or bad health
of the body polite. Is it an unfair conclusion to
draw from the above statement that similar results
will follow if the national affairs are guided by the
same party? If Willard Fillmore, as a sworn men,
Der OF the "secret ORDER" is bound to obey the be-
hests of the national council" (under the penalty
of being denounced perjured traitor will he
not if elected President be like the ancient Doge of
Venice, a mere puppet in the hands Of a concealed
and irresponsible council? In that case, it will be
only necessary for to have lions mouth "
placed upon the steps of the capitol (where the best
and worthiest citizens of the Union may be anon
ymously denounced and marked for future ven
geance,) and We will have made one long stride in
that system of government which makes the mem
DRY of the Venetian. Republic be held in universal
| execration yyss4 OBSERVER