The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-19
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1857
FOr Sheriff or Anything Else-Mr.
Peter Lyle.

having been a candidate for all the offices
under the corporation, from precinct judge,
mn or down, now comes once more before the
people of our city as the Democratic nominee
for the office of Sheriff. The persistency with
which this gentleman has sought for Office
leads us to believe that he has adopted the
Scriptural advice given to the priests of Baal,
and, considering the people as god, goes on
the principle that it is necessary to 'cry aloud
for lie may be hunting, or peradventure he
sleepeth"-never once admitting that the
ears of the voters will be deaf to the continued
supplioatons of one whose prayer has been
coming up to them for at least two decades.
His eagerness for anything he can get reminds
us Of a story of General Jackson. The Gene
raj was waited upon by stranger, who de-
manded rather persistently the ministership
to the Court of st. James. He was refused.
!t'Then let me have the Consulship
to Liverpool" "My dear sir, it is
impossible "Then, Mr.. President, can you
give me pair of old boots?" Mr.. Lyle wanted
the Registership last year, and what not the
many years before, but now he seizes on the
chance Of being Sheriff with as much ardorjas
position, and that alone. His views.as to what
public Office he would take, coincide with
Mr.. TOots, who neatly expressed his senti-
ments with the assurance that "it is of no
consequence"
However, letting the dead past bury its
dead, we will look at the claims of Mr.. Lyle
TO the Office which while we write he is aiming
at. we understand his claims properly, he
bases them on his military services, and de-
clares all those not inclined to yield to his de-
mand as 'tradical rascals.' Now, other things
being equal, the fact that man was a soldier
Weuld lead US to support him for civil
Office; but military record is not the
only requisite for a post of trust.
We had unreliable officers in the army as
well as at home, and although we do not
place Mr. Lyle among them, yet we cite the
Instance to show that the bare fact of having
been soldier is not peremptory claim to
support. So far as the service rendered the
Government in the war was concerned, there
were many men who were compelled to stay
at home who did far more to aid the success
of the cause than those who lent their strength
in the field.
If, however, a soldier and civilian were
presented for a nomination, and were each sur
rounded by equally unobjectionable elements,
we would give the preference to the soldier.
But if the success of the soldier would mean
not success of the war doctrine, but exactly
the reverse; if the election of soldier would
not place in power the principles for which that
soldier should have fought if by giving him
victory the soldier would get one Office and a
dozen soldiers give place to a dozen enc
mics of the Republic, then we say
that the Republican who would vote for
that soldier is as false to his principles
as the soldier is to the great cause for which
he fought. Yet this is just what Mr.. Lyle is
doing. He is claiming Republican votes on
his soldier record, yet we know that if we
elect him for the one place he would fill, all
The soldiers in the employ of the Office of
Sheriff would give place to semi-Rebels, who
hissed at the name of "volunteer," and who
use Mr.. Lyle but as tool to gain their object.
Shall twenty loyal men be turned out, and
twenty semi-Rebels be put in, and all in order
that one soldier may get office We do not
think that our Republican readers can vote for
Mr. Lyle if they think Of the result.
Again, Mr.. Lyle has demonstrated his unfit
ness for the post in the present disordered
condition OF our country, by the violent temper
ne has exhibited, and the brutal manner in
which he has attacked all who are his oppo-
nents. For Sheriff to call half our citizens
radical rascals" is both insulting and dan
gerous. We do not know what we are doing
II we place this man in power. Suppose
Vhat the mailman at the White House should
proceed to carry out some of his wild
sOnenies' suppose the promised coup
@etat should turn out TO be realitv
ana not myth-then we would see a scene
ol Wnu disorder in all the cities of the
land. The public peace would he ena.naorad
ana II Is not unlikely that riot and bloodsbo al
would be the result. God forbid thot o,,,.
fears may be realized, but it is not ;,O,os.,,,a
Then would it be the duty Of the shar,s ~
preserve peace, and all good citizens won,a ~
bound to follow him when called upon. Tho,,
If Mr.. Lyle were Sheriff, our city ,yould =,
ruled by the Johnson faction, the loyal nor
lion would be placed in the light of illeua
opponents, and we be out of Office am
opposed to the lawful authority. Think, Re
publicans, what you are exposing our city {
when you vote for Mr.. Lyle, and then run tn