The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-23
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1867.
What is Necessary if We Would Garry
Philadelphia Next Year.

struggle next year is for us to regain the
asoendancy which we have lost In the tactics
which are necessary to fight battle in the
minority, much greater care is required than
when we act only on the defensive. 1t is
necessary that every force should be exerted,
that every engine which argument or energy
can bring to bear should be used. If we
would succeed, there must be left no stone
unturned, to use a trite simile, in our efforts
TO win. The errors which might have been
passed silently by when we were certain of
success and struggled only for large
majority, now become obstacles which
must be removed. If, under such circum-
stance, that portion of the party which should
proved itself both powerless and imbecile, it
is unnecessary for us to say that it's re-
moval is of the most vital consequence
to secure victory. The Republican party,
with all its offices, all its prestge
al its patronage and majority, was changed
rom the administration to the opposition by
The weakness and worthlessness of its City
Executive Committee and their nominees.
Possession which is nine-tenths of the iniu-
Snce necessary to success, was crippled and
rendered imperative by these men, who have
assumed the selt-appointed Office of managing
the party. Corruption and incompetency lost
Ms the day, and if we would retrieve the dis
aster we must cast forth all who have proved
themselves possessed of either one or the
other of these qualities. The first step in the
way to regain our losses is to change the
party managers. The present City Executive
Committee is utterly untitled for the task of
managing our party. 1t has lost the conf
denee of the party. 1t has lost the confidence
of those who supply the money to carry on
campaign. If they are retained, the gentle
men of the party will refuse to work with
them. If they are retained, the newspapers of
the party will refuse to work in their behalf.
They cannot, after the exhibition of the
last election, gain that support which is the
great essential to such a committee; and it is,
therefore, absolutely necessary. that they be all
superseded by men who come fresh from the
ranks. The old political hacks have lost us
the city. We can do no worse by taking new
men, and new men we must and will have.
The immense influence for good or evil which
such central committee can exert is proved
by the wonderful power of the Democratic
committee during the last campaign. There
was no laggard allowed in the councils of our
opponents. Secret circulars, personal canvass
ing, and systematic work was the order of
the day. While our leaders were sitting on
Chestnut street, waiting with supine careless
ness for the victory to fall into their hands,
the enemy were at work. They threw their
influence in favor of good nominees. Ihey did
not nominate each other and act as a clique.
They took the best available men. And it was
to their activity and the mismanagement Of our
own committee that we are indebted for the
loss of the city and State. This evil must be
remedied If we would succeed next year.
Having secured a live City Exc
cutive Committee, composed of the best men
of the party, there only remains for us to
nominate good men, and the victory is our
own. A majority of the voters of PhiladeI-
phia are still with us but they are not will
ing to accept a mandate from ''ring'' which |
buys up nominations. II we would have the
people with us, we must let the people make
the nominations. In the selection of candi- |
dates, and in the support which we as Jour
u"hsVS en"h give tneIu, we lay down one |
broad rule:-Every man ,Oho holds or has held |
office must give aOay to ns,0 men. This may
exclude certain good officers. II doubtless will,
But the end to be accomplished is sufficiently
important to warrant such an exclusion.
Besides, 1t does no injustice. These gentle
men, while there are so many worthy
men in the party who have never
Pad office, cannot certainly demand
with justice retention for more than one
telm. They have no right to even that. II is
i'Yor accorded; and when there is such a
nos OF competitors, it is only proper that the
otltes should be distributed among them all,
'Wi'si some attempt at equality, and not man
age as monopoly. We therefore desire to
see new men nominated for all the offices; and
will not pledge our support after nomination,
and certainly will not give our support before,
TO any who are mixed up with the "rinps', or
tS'Staie House Row." Some such renovation ia
absol utely necessary to success. We ex-
haustsd our space and time in attempting to
bear up load, last October, which would
have sunk any party in the world. We do
not intend to do so again. lightweight is
not cheerful or comfortable burden;
and il the party leaders see fit to
nomil tie such unworthy candidates,
or fppoint such unworthy committees,