The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-11
GRANT AND PHILADELPHIA.


In the controversy which, if it did not
break forth, was certainly imminent, as to
the duty of the remodelled Supreme Court on
the legal-tender question, no organ of public
opinion was more steaoy on the side of hon
esty and law than the Public Ledger of Phila-
del phia. 1t now, naturally enough, takes
credit for its sagacity and integrity. "The
Ledger always comes out right. 1t had the
great advantage too of being as it were, the
organ of the Federal reporter, who, hailing
from Philadelphia, naturally enough put him
self in communication with his own news
paper, and whose news, being semi-official,
was very greedily devoured. But there was
time when the reporter must have trembled
and the Ledger was awed to silence, and that
was the moment when Mr.. Attorney General,
representing of course the President, made
his unexpected appearance on the scene,
and demanded a hearing of some of the
cases which had been passed. This had
not been counted on; and, although the
Ledger had talked very ominously about GER
tain delinquent corporations, yet neither it
nor Mr. Wallace, the reporter, dreamed that
these corporations would be INSCRIPTIONS
and powerful enough to seduce the Execu-
tive into this act of wrong. Then was it they
trembled and were silent. 1t is all idle to
pretend that the Executive has not influence
| with the court. 1t has. Judges who have
''just kissed hands" on their appointment
may be pardoned for looking in the direction
the Presidential fingers point. In this case
they did, and obeyed, at least in the initial
step. Nowhere, we may be permitted to say,
is the influence of the Executive, socially,
more powerful than in the good city of Phi
ladelphia. At its dinner-tables secretaries
are made, without the slightest reference to
their fitness or political position. These
honors are bought and furnished and
given. Thither 60 invitations to
the White House, in grateful return for
summer drives and temperance dinners at
Long Branch; and hence is it then, when MIR.
Grant, in way not to be mistaken, makes
his imperial wishes known that the legal
tender decision should be reversed, 1T was
that our friends in that region were mute or
mildly murmured dissent. Nor are we aware
that word of condemnation of this Execu-
tive intrusion has yet been uttered. Neither
do we know-and this we have right to, as
matter of financial news affecting large IN
terests-what course the discounted corpora
tions of Pennsylvania have of late concluded
to take. They failed in the raid round the
State sinking fund and in the flank movement
on the Federal judiciary. The Ledger well says
that there isfor them ''but one course, and that
is to pay in gold, for the law requires 1t. We
fear they will do nothing of the kind for, backed
up by high authority and careless OF the
ruin and hardships of those about them, they
may determine ''to fight it out upon their
line all summer" and take the chances OF
ultimate success. We shall be glad to know
if the great corporation of Pennsylvania has
obeyed the law, withdrawn its contingent
certificates, and paid its April interest II
gold Pennsylvania is a rebellious Common
wealth. Its revolt from Great Britain was
prompt and earnest. 1t went nigh unto the
death for whisky. There were armed traitors
once in Northampton. 1t had buck-sho
war: and now we see one set of its corpora
tions asking the State courts to enjoin the
collectors of Federal revenue, and another
proclaiming open defiance to the Fedora
Judiciary. All of which is not calculated t.
promote public credit