The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-02
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 1859.
7yE PROGRESS or POLITICAL IRE
FORM"


Last LEGISLATURE of this State, one good result
flowed from them. The attention of the
Dublic was generally attracted to the prevail
ing rasoality in political management, ana
from all sides came protests against the cor
ruption of the present system and appeals
for change in the future. The press OF this
city, especially, were thoroughly aroused to
the necessity for a radical change, and were
almost, if not quite, unanimous in their de-
mand for thorough and sweeping reform.
The only manner in which this reform could
possibly be inaugurated was clearly seen to
be by reputation on the part OF the people
of the shameless and reckless plunderers who
had contriyed to install themselves in positions
Of honor, trust, and profit. The essential
principles of the two great political parties of
the country were not connected in any way
with the corruptions and abuses which had
crept into the management of public affairs
by the so-called representatives of either of
these parties. The evil of the system con-
sisted not in the principles professed by
place-holders, but in the character of the
place-holders themselves; and the only hope
of reform lay in the future selection of men
who were not utterly lost to all sense of
shame, who were not entirely deficient in the
elements of decency, capacity, and honesty.
With the powerful incentive of public
opinion at their back, the Republican man.
ayers a few weeks ago presented city and
county ticket which was unexceptionable from
first to last, except in the case of one name
placed upon it. Through the agency of the
most unblushing roguery, John A. Houseman
was declared the candidate of the party for
the Office of Recorder of Deeds. The manner
in which he secured his so-called nomination.
and the general disrepute attaching to his po-
itical affiliations, render him entirely un-
worthy of the support Of decent and respect
able citizens who have the welfare of the COM
munity and the strength and purity of the
Republican party at heart In respect to the
nominations for the State Legislature, the
result was not so fortunate. The districts are
comparatively small, and were therefore much
more easily manipulated. By reason of this,
the ring which secured the pretended nomi-
nation of Houseman succeeded in splitting
one of the Representative conventions and in
gaining for William Elliott, one of its servile
tools, the shadow of nomination. Six of
the old members likewise managed things so
adroitly that they were enabled to claim a
Irregular" nomination, by which they expect
to eounteract the disreputable records left
behind them when the den of thieves at Har-
risburg was broken up for the season. With
the exception of these eight men-Houseman,
Elliott, Stokes, Davis, Bum, Adaire, Cloud,
and Hong-the general and legislative tickets
of the Republican party come before the
people with the strongest claims upon their
hearty support, in the cause of the new re-
form.
But the Democracy Last night the last
of their conventions adjourned, and the re-
suits of their labors as whole are now before
the people For the lower house of the State
Legislature, two of their old members, Sam
Josephs and Samuel d. Daley, secured uncon-
tested denominations, while in two of the
other districts controlled by them the con-
ventions were rent asunder through the de-
Termination of the old members, John l.
Rogers and Michael Mullin, to secure re-
nomination at all hazards. John McGinnis,
the other Democratic member, for some
reason did not turn up on Tuesday, but still
another split presented two candidates, while
in the Eleventh district which is neither one
thing nor the other, there are also two candi-
dates. From this showing, it appears that,
in their Legislative conventions, the reform
movement in the Democratic ranks was
knocked in the head and either fell dead at
the outset, or fingers on the brink of the
grave.
The Democratic conventions at large wit
messed the same melancholy result The
claims of such men as Joseph N. Peirsol,
Major J. r. Coke, Colonel A. II. Reynolds,
DIR. f. F. Burmeister and DIR. H. r. Linder-
man, were utterly ignored, in Difference to the
aspirations of such unterrifed specimens as
John p. Ahern, James Stewart, and Charles
III. Hurley. On the entire ticket we find the
names of but two men who have any claims
on the support of the decent law-abiding
ana order-loving portion of the community
Dlr' .. Gross Fry secured the nomination for
Oity treasurer, but this result was achieved
Ohiy by the most fagrant violations of the
tUies Oh the party, and amidst scene of riot
GUS olsofder which fully warranted Mr. Peir-
sol IN requesting his friends to withdraw from
the convention. Mr. William r Scbaiblo
who Is announced as the candidate for Pr
thonotary of the District Court s von
known as decent and honorable eentlen,o,,
but that consummation of chaos and climax
OF Fourth ward rowdyism, the County Cor
vention, which placed him in nomination
dealt severe blow at his reputation and
standing In the community by honoring him
with their endorsement, while the characte,
OF his associates on the ticket effectually robs
him of all the respectability that was left.