The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-20
The Republican Nomination for Dis
trlct Attorney.

The Republican Nomination for Dis
tTlct Attorney.
THB Republican Convention for the nomina-
tion of District Attorney have difficult and
delicate duty imposed on them by the with
drawal Of Mr.. Hazlehurst and Mr.. Mann, a
duty which we greatly fear they do not ap-
preoiate, and which they will not prove equal
to. The position of local politics is peculiar.
This Convention came near, very near, saori-
Roing the entire Republican party in our city,
if not in our State, for the qualification of a
merely personal preference. This self-de-
struotion was resisted by the minority, and
the two branches separated. Force of circum-
stances has compelled reunion Of
these opposing elements, aud if they
ere to select candidate on whom all
can unite, they have to give their choice to
an existing popular man. There is nothing to
be gained by denying that Mr.. Sheppard is
gentleman OF large popularity and eminent
fitness for the post of District Attorney. But
his qualifications are not so transcendant that
we cannot select a dozen Republican lawyers
every one of whom is equally unobjectionable.
He is an honest man. We have honest men
Oh our side. He is good lawyer. We could
suggest dozen other equally good and half-a-
dozen far superior. He is new man; but this
is no exclusive requisite. But these qualities
which, when matched by worthy choice,
give him no advantage, are certain securi-
ties OF victory if we do not have
as our candidate one who possesses them as
well as Mr.. Sheppard. He is the strongest
man by far of all the Democratic nominees,
and If we want to beat him we must make
our choice the strongest of our ticket. What,
then, are the requisites In a cardinal point
of view, We deem that tue nominee should be
pure man. We must have no one around
whom fingers the corrupting and etfete odors
of the Quarter Sessions under the old regime.
Every man who has been in the ring under
the Mann administration, be he ever so dis
family connected with it, must not dare to
seek the nomination. The suspicious of the
people are strongly aroused. They look with
mistrust, and most properly, on all the
clique, and under the new administration
these men must havs no voice.
He must also be an able man. Dull medi-
oority will not succeed. The court over which
he will have to preside, to a great extent, is
one which requires consummate ability. 1t re-
euires on many special occasions a singularly
powerful and fervid speaker, and one whom IN
the people feel sure can be equal to any de-
mands which may be made upon him. In this
connection we may add that we want a nominee
who has the power of systematizing the affairs
of the court, which have become 80 disarranged
by the continued retention of one man as to
make them need a thorough revision.
The third qualification deman led is that he
be ne,o man. We cannot disguise from our
selves the fact that the people are tired of sur.
feiting certain men with ofioe. When for
twenty years gentleman has held a position
Of public trust and emolument the mass of
men think he has had his share. When there
are others who have had nothing, they desire
that such men should have a chance. We say
il other things are equal, a new man should
receive the nomination. There are con-
tDgencies, however, which would au-
thorize the retention of a tried Off
Ger, who has proved faithful
to all his trusts. If it should be impossible to
secure harmony on any other candidate, or if
he should possess peculiar merit, then we can
unite most cheerfully in this selection. Unless,
however, such force of circumstances arises,
zoe Javor neO man Who has never held o6fce
We do not deem that such an occasion has
arisen which calls for any such denomination
Of an ofhce.hOlder, and most earnestly urge
the Convention to act wisely in its choice
Let the candidate, whoever he is, unite the
qualification of honesty, ability, and freedom
from Office. holding in the party, and we can
assure him victory. To the nominee all of
our support will be most heartily accorded.