The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-11
The Action and Attitude of the s gners
of the "LudIOw Call"

n
of the sELudlOw Call"
WHEN Judge Ludlow was nominated by a
number of gentlemen for the post of Associate
Judge, a card appeared signed by number of
our leading citizens, gentlemen of high
respectability, in which they favored his reten
ton in the Office he at present holds. This
card has since been used as an electoneerng
document, and is daily referred to by the
Democrats as an argument in favor of the
choice of their candidate. The gentlemen who
signed that card did so through desire to
remove all political discussion from judicial
election. The conduct of the Democracy,
however, has been such as to utterly defeat
the end in view. The signers have
been drawn into the very vortex
of politics, and the only difference
in their present position and that occupied by
them at any political election is, that instead
of their influence being given for the party
which saved the country in the days of the
war, they are being used by the enemies of the
Union, and are absolutely giving all their in
fuence to favor the success of the very party
which acted with traitors throughout the four
years of rebellion. These gentlemen have
now had an opportunity of calmly looking at
the false attitude into which they have been
thrust by the wiles of the Democratic party.
They now see as clearly as all their fellow
citizens that, instead of raising the judiciary
above the reach of partisanship, they
have themselves been drawn into
bitter partisan contest, and one in which
they are used to protect the Demo-
cratic party. The fight is just as bitter as
ever, only they are under the enemy's flag.
And in what company do they now find them
selvesH Starting with desire, which we
honor, to see the Judiciary chosen without
party feeling, how have they succeeded? 1t
requires no great perception to see that they
have utterly failed. They have not secured
Judge Ludlow as a no-party candidate,
and they are not running him on his merits.
| They have failed to elevate the tone of the
| election but have sunk themselves into the
company of the Carrigans, Reeds, Inger-
soils, and McMullins of the radical Demo-
cracy. Instead of fighting side by side with
their old comrades, or instead of defending
high principle of political purity, they are
standing shoulder to shoulder with the enc
mics of our country, the followers of Vallan-
! digham the men whose watchword is the
platform adopted at the Democratic Conven-
tion.
Under such circumstances it is not incon'
sistent, it is not unexpected, that we see
them coming back, one after another, in dis
gust from the ranks into which they have
been drafted. Already nearly three-fourths
of the Republicans who signed the Ludlow
call have declared their intention of signing
another, stating the reasons for their original
action, and their reason for repenting thereof
Before many days are over the card will ap-
pear. 1t takes no prophetic vision to know
what excuse they will give-what explanation
they will set before the people. When
the call was signed, it was anticipated that
the clique which almost ruined our Judicial
Convention would rule it entirely. 1t was
supposed that the friends of the Democracy
who, in disguise, had gained admission into
its ranks, would succeed in nominating an in
ferior candidate, man of straw, who would
be put up only to be knocked down by Judge
Ludlow. In this opinion the gentlemen sign
ing were nearly correct. We knew at the
time of all the moves which were to be made,
and we trembled ourselves for the result.
Had the cabal succeeded we could not have
blamed the signers for their adherence to a
gentleman who they knew was at least able
when the choice lay between him and one un.
known and but unqualified. But the scheme
failed. The Republican party could not bt
manipulated like the Democracy. Mr.. Thayel
was nominated and a gentleman thus fur
nished who was in every respect Judge Lud
lows equal for honesty, ability, and judicia
learning, and many times his superior il
patriotism and eloquence. And the favorer
of Mr.. Ludlow stand now opposed to Mr.
Thayer, when really, from the bottom of thei
, hearts, they wish him victory. What, then
is the only manly and honest course left opel
to themP 1t is clearly to confess their mis-
take, to say like men, eve doubted the Con
vention of the Republican party, and we did i
injustioe''-to retire from the ranks of tn
, rabid and unwashed Democracy, and take thei
old places under the old flag. How can Mr.
, Meredith, Mr.. Price, Col. Thomas, Gov. Pollock
and the like, stand the association of such mel
, as rule the Democracy, and who endorses
their action and adopted their candidate, VIII
. willingly fell into their congenial embraces
There is but one means of showing themselve