Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-11-17

| ATTEMPT TO OVERTHROW THE VERDICT Ex-
| PRESSED AT THE PoLLs-woMAN SUFFRAGE
| AND THE MEETING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
ASSOCIATION.
Special Correspondence of Re Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA November 18th.
It really does seem that we are on the road
finally Of being delivered from that too long
endured nuisance--a Volunteer Fire Department.
Looking back along its career of rowdyism and
| inefilciency, the wonder is that /. has been
endured 30 long. Its existence is readily ex-
| planned, but it is none the less wonder. For
many years the Department has been mere
political machine, and parties anxious to secure
the large vote that 1t controlled hestated to
disturb the existing order. Agitation, however,
has done its usual work. The eyes of all have
been at last opened. and an earnest effort to
adopt Paid Fire system is now being inaugu-
rated with every prospect of success and popular
approval. At the meeting of Councils yesterday
petition was offered. signed by number of
the foremost business houses Of Philadelphia,
putting the case in very forcible way. When
such men particularly want a thing they generally
getit. The names to this petition represent
probably more capital than the combined Yolun-
teer Fire Department, and they are but tithe
of the people, rich and poor, who desire to see
the change effected. Might makes right we are
,oAAi eus AAA eAln Se>oo Az an aiu il6uu AZ
once.
But-there is always but-we should not
overlook the good the old system has done.
That it was not as good as might have been, may
be granted, but politics and rowdyism, and COM
pany rivalry apart, there has been an immense
amount of generous, self-sacrifcing public spirit
shown by the Philadelphia Firemen. No better
material could be desired all that is asked is a
better system. For those who genuinely like
the business of fighting the flames the change
will ba only n banefit. Good firauen will a1,vav
be wanted, and such can under the new rule.
make comfortable living, while they crafty at
the same time their tastes and inclinations.
Still another but" Undoubtedly it is weak
the utter elimination Of the Fire Bully. He was
not desirable too close at hand, nor would most
people care especially to enroll him among their
intimate friends, but he was true original, an
American growth, not to be found if travellers
are to be believed, in any other country
under the sun. And will declare him to
have been, at his best, heroic figure. And
30 funny! And perhaps-who knows, perhaps
he did not al,oays carry slung shot. That
he invariably had "spanner" l admit,
of his vocation, and if occasionally used in way
other than legitimate, why-it is all that can be
said after all, so much the worse for the other
party. But this is serious matter. Are the
Jacobs and Moses indeed to be played out
Shall Mr.. Copeland Greer and Baltimore Sewers,
Esq. have in fact no successors Many people
will doubtless say, '.No! thank the Lord thus
strengthening their negation with mild sort of
blasphemy, but others will say sadly that they
are afraid not. Chanfran never plays "Jakey"
any MORE either, for the latter-day audiences
vote it vulgar, and 30, both in fact and fancy, the
dreadful absurdity Ii doomed to extinction.
When the people voted in such overwhelming
fashion for Broad and Market streets, for the
new Public Buildings, they naturally thought
that they had forever settled the matter. 1t
seems they did not settle it, and that the $1,000
majority, (the largest ever cast here by any party
on any question, ii am not nistaken) in favor
position can at this time of day easily overturn.
The pretence now is that people voted for build
ings to be placed on the present Penn squares,di-
yided as they are into four diminutiye plots,
two Of which wouldscarcely accommodate thepro-
posed buildings. This supposition gives our yo-
ters very little credit for intelligence. The law
passed by the Legislature was sufficiently ex-
plicit, and it had been thoroughly read by all
citizens. 1t is safe to say that every man who
reads at ALL read that act. And by the provisions
of that act it was made lawful to erect the pew
buildings either upon the intersection of the
streets, or upon the squares as they are
present divided. The people even to de-
eide by vote between Broad and Market
and Washington Square, and then, if the
first locality was chosen, the Building Commits
ison were to erect the Public offices, in such
manner as they chose, subject to certain condi-
tions which were particularly detailed. What
tHe OppOU6Itb OI tll6 eApT6obeu Will Vi Iiulduel-
phians expect to gain then, is not very clear. A
little time perhaps, but that amounts to moth
ing in the end, though for the present, it keeps
back the work that should be moving briskly.
What lot of spoil sports there are in the world,
| to be sure Pluck is good thing, but like to
see a man own up when he is beaten. If there
| is anything whatever, in the Voice of the Peo-
ple," as prominent City Father used to call it,
it was expressed upon this matter in the Octo-
ber election. He that ran might have heard.
nn1 faIl NV mar mr. ph n
| united upon the justice and advisability Of
woman suffrage. Unhappily they are not. do
| not especially find fault with ordinary folks to
whom the idea of woman voting is too much OF
| novelty to be at once taken into their hearts.
Ten years hence it may be different with them,
but just now, with the light they have, they
stick to their Idols. But hate the sneering
indifference or the deliberate opposition to this
great work of people who ought to know better.
| Women, mind you, as we'll as men. think it
| must be admitted that if women were entirely
united upon this subject they would win speedily.
| But they are influenced 30 much by men, and 30
many men are unworthy to hold such power,
| What is the tremendous problem? Is it not
rather matter Of the simplest justicea What
are we who arrogate to ourselves the right to
| govern woman? Suppose women were to COM
bine and deny man the right to vote Then
l fancy we should hear some loud talk, very diff
| ferent from the appeals from the suffragisi
conventions much as they are abused b,
| the men of the period. Perhaps-it il
impossible to say,--there might be swearing
1t is in fact surprising that women are SC
meek. If they were asking simple favor il
would be another matter quite, and even thef
men should grant it, out of hand, in considera
ton of having themselves 30 much the easies
part in the work of life. But voting in a repub
lie is not favor, it is right. 1t is thankles'
work starting in for reformer, but wish some
times that was woman for, say about year
(not longer) and that had the power Of JoaI
of Arc, Elizabeth, and q few others combiaed
should like to make things hum among m.
sisters
| "Sweet friend where sleeps thy soul?
| Why sleeps thy soul?
Oh, wherefore hath 1t lain so long
| In idle slumbers?
| Quick then the ancient bondage break,
And bid its startled song awake,
In fiery numbers !"
You will divine-you who read the Philadel
phia papers-that my mind, in writing this, wa
upon the Convention of the Pennsylvania Wo
mans Suffrage Association. The meeting wa
large, in a small way, and the proceeding
moved in the usual placid fashion, but the larg
est and best of these meetings seem 80 triflin
aud appear to do so little towards the result dc
. sired. Must it be such slow work? 1t is 8
mean Of us THAT is the point so mean Of Ut
The mere holding, the mere necessity Of thes
meetings. is an insult to woman. feel like gel
ting shoulder under the corner, and ''lifting
things.
Yours, rather uncalm, INDEX
New Church at Contesvilie.
ii DEDICATION OF THE NEW BAPTIST EDIFIcE.
The Baptist meeting house erected in I'll