The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-21
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 81, 1869.
I'VE MUST CLEAN NSE OUR AUGEAN
STABLE

that community Is subjected. Ids aSsOclatlOn
publishes a number of aims it has in view,
some of which are to our minds wise and some
of them foolish. But while there may be dit-
ferences of opinion as to the propriety OF GER
tain doctrines, we think all good citizens Will
unite in sanctioning the idea of such society.
II is therefore, with pleasure thatwe hear IL
rumored that q somewhat similar organization Is
to be formed in Philadelphia, looking primarily
towards the curing of certain legislative evils
which have grown to be perfect cancers on the
body polite. There could no better time be
selected than the present for the commencement
of Just such effort, for 1t is seldom that popu-
lar Indignation has been so deeply and unusually
excited as it has been by the heinous proceed
ings of the late session at Harris
burg The old motto of striking while the
iron is hot cannot be more appropriately quoted.
The conduct of the late General Assembly has
been a disgrace and an injury to our Common
wealth. Influenced by greed, ignorance, or petty
Spite it has attempted to pass, or else has
passed, series of the most iniquitous measures
capable of device. No monopoly was too garing
or too powerful to be opposed or checked. No
interference with private rights caused a mo-
ment's hesitation. No expression of the popular
will weighed for one moment with the members
of the Legislature. These servants of the people
arrOgated to themselves powers which it would
be impossible to condemn in sufficiently strong
terms and not offend ears polite. In fact,
we have Just seen in its climax how great a
curse q bad Legislature can be; and that any
man who burns ton of coal, or a lamp, or
builds wooden shed, does not have to pay
tribute out of his pocket to the infamy OF this
last session, is due to a double corruption and
not to purity or wisdom The bill to tax logs,
coal and petroleum was but sample of the
iniuuities conceived by this band of thieves. 1t
relieved the rich corporations from taxation and
caused the burdens to be Laid on the people OF
the State. The enormously wealthy were ex-
empted the down-trodden were yet more heavily
burdened; and why did not this pass both
houses2 Simply because the anger of the
friensd of the Cattle bill-a fragrant injustice
prevented them giving their assent. We quote
this one instance to show that II ever an out
ragged public should hurl into oblivion the crea-
lures whom they have favored, now is the time
for action.
Again, in other respects the hour is propiti-
Gus. The next Legislature is not called upon to
elect United States Senator, nor fill any import
ant political officer The composition of the State
Senate is such that we are certain of a Repub-
lican majority there, so that no partisan mea-
sure can be framed by the Democracy which
will cause an interference with the rights of the
Republicans. We, therefore, OF Philadelphia,
are free to commence our reform in the lower
house. In this city we elect eighteen members.
OF this number thirteen are Republicans and
five Democrats. Most of these members are re-
turned by meagre majorities. Five hundred Is
a large vote, while number did not receive one
hundred. In the hands, therefore, of say, at
most two hundred and fifty citizens, in any of
the districts, rest the choice of the two nomi-
nees. If a hundred good Democrats will repu-
diate bad nominee, the Republican can be
elected; if like number of Republicans will
break the shackles of party and vote for the
Democratic nominee because ne Is honest. then
win one great step in favor of reform be made.
The Reform Club which is being discussed in
certain circles proposes to take the history OF
various members, TO expose without fear or
favor their acts and their qualifications, and TO
take for their motto, 'The best man for the
place is our candidate" If it does start with
such an idea of operations, and carries out it's
intentions it will do infinite good and become II
power.
In the idea of such an association we see much
to commend itself to the public support There
was time when it was the paramount duty OF
men In the days of the war; when the election
of democrat, be he like the Angel Gabriel, was
esteemed national misfortune we did not hesi-
tate to support our Republican loyal nominee
though he had hoOfs and tail. That time il
now passed. 1t is not of moment to the nation
whether Democrat or Republican represents
such or such district. 1t is matter of the
greatest moment to our citizens whether an
honest man or a thief represents such a district
What does the nation care to-day whether the
lower house of delegates at Harrisburg is Demo
cratic or Republican, Not particle. But yol
and we and all our neghbors care whether {
majority of the lower house are homes
or dishonest. In that every man of us is inte
rested, and there are no calls of party duty o
party allegiance or public necessity to whip u
into line to support dishonest man. The tim
has come when it is a duty of every voter TO vot
against every one who is corrupt, or even tainte
with corruption. It may be that injustice wi
ne done to some, but that injustice will be S
rare that we can afford to let it pass, in orde
that great good can come And in our supper
or opposition, we can lay down with considers
BILE safety pretty definite guide. AnS man oo'
has been al Harrisburg during The 'ointer &
1859 o,.oha not TO 90 back. If he is an homes
man, he will be so disgusted with the NTH VIII
which he came in contact that he would not r.
turn if the people wanted him to. IL he desire
to return, it is because the atmosphere OF u
capital is congenial, and that III Itself Is sun
eient of an argument Tor his deiea
We need q new set oil legislators - he'
untried ''green" heads, II need De
for we can with perfect assurance say tnat an
changes must be for the better we care NJ
Al. KfffI