The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-15


clare them incapable Of sef-government
ResolDed, THAT Capitalization OF power in the
hands OF rev Is Inconsistent with the principles OF
true democracy, and that we will oppose II by all
honorable means.
directly by the electors whom they represent, and
That their compensation should be liked by law at
salary proportionate to the services rendered. and
all fees, profits or income Of the offices should be
paid into the public treasury ,,
ing the Government should be disfranchised, and
be disqualified from holding any office of trust or
profit under tde by the angenee and #
put by the chairman, and they were unanimously
adopted.
REMARKS OF WIN. RoToa wIsTER
The Mayor then introduced Mr.. Wister, who said
after the able argument delivered he did not intend
to enter into the merits OF the case, but there
questions which 1t was necessary to call atten
tion TO. lie wanted to know If there were to be six
teen or seventeen wise men to rule over them in
some things, II they were not to rule over them in
all. Let us be consistent; II we are not, will be
tied hand and foot and be unable to struggle against
the power that oveTwhelms us.
The Legislature thought these men were ft to rule
over us Tor i've years. III we are not capable OF
ruling ourselves now, we will never see the day in
elect these men, and forever so that we may have
perfect form Of government Give them the power
to do what we thus acknowledge ourselves to be
unable to do, and let tie hands and feet, and
give up all political power In the future. He had no
fault to find with any of the men who had been ap-
pointed or who were to be appointed he was merely
here to oppose thing that he considered terrible
in It's consequences and which he thought the people
OF Philadelphia would never submit TO. (Cries OF
'Neverr1
II it was submitted to they would be in much the
same condition Of the clients who took the oyster to
the lawyer. The oyster was swallowed, and nothing
was left but the shells, and if these bills passed they
Prior to 1851 the truly wise men of the city pre-
sented a bill called the Consolidation act and the
labor required to perfect 1t would be rememDered
and yet that bill, a good one and wise one, met
with Opposition But that m opposition was
be remembered in the manner Of the receipts
OF the Row offices, but they should be consi-
dered calmly. There never was such a gross at
tempt to rob the city as this was, and 1t was the
first time that scheme Of this kind had not been
considered by the citizens but he believed that
one citizen had heard OF them until they were pre-
sented at Harrisburg. He merely came as a citizen,
to add his protest with those already made. This
had considered it his duty to do, and he cheerfuly
performed it law-abiding citizen. The speaker
then related the familiar fable OF the stork and the
own conclusions to the style in which they would
be swallowed by these sixteen wise men, If the bills
were allowed to pass. (Applause.)
SPEECH OF JOHN o'BYRNE, ESQ.
The chairman here introduced John O'Byrne,
ESQ.,, who spoke as follows:-
Gentemen:-In stirring times a speech should be
short, sharp, and decisive. There was never time
in which the passions OF men ought to be so evoked
as lust at this particular juncture of time What do
pSpuar sysem of wiis Is fen1e sag and
that a despotism ought to be inaugurated.
! mean by despotism an irresponsible gov:
ernment. You mean that by the despotism OF
Constantinople. You mean just that. These
men were sent to Harrisburg to make laws, and
the Legislature has exceeded its powers, and resist
ance in any fashion becomes the duty OF the citizen.
do not know about the pecuation which is said to
exist in the municipal offices. only stand for the
independence of the people. Let any lover OF liberty
up the history of liberty, and he will find that when
ever the conSprators OF other countries wished to
Independence and government Of the people. 'n0
There are some advocates OF this infamous mea-
n9e Sl 69e fSe snt wS
they to do this when they themselves enter into
conspiracy to deprive Philadelphia of her rights?
1t is TRUTH standing out line of history, that
the municipality has been the cradle OF liberty.
When Charles l attempted to take away the free
dom OF the people, the first thing he did was to take
from the city OF London the power to elect Sheriff.
and place in their stead leutenants who were not
swords and fought the battle, battered down the
crown, and brought the traitor to the block
These men who do the same thing and follow
bad example, are traitors to political freedom That
is the political aspect OF the question II it be right
to govern 100000 men by a commission OF sixteen,
not called for by the people, is 1t not right to govern
the State in the same way? Let the halls of egisla
tion be closed up; let the members commit political
suicide, and let them decide that a commission OF
twenty.six shall govern the entire Commonwealth.
An argument in favor OF the commission is that
his eyes to the city Of New ork. The rich man in
that city lives in magnificent palace, and the poor
one, instead OF, here, having his house which he
calls his own, in this glorious commission city finds
him in the sixth story OF tenement house, foul and
The horrid condition of its streets ia another
point; fostering and decayng animal matter is the
order OF the day. But or course none or the cOmmtS
soners live there nor do any OF their relatives; but
the vapor sends many poor mans child into an
early grave. What security have we for these CON-
mission men?
II our Highway Department is bad, we know them
ALL and il they drink, 1t is whisky, and their tastes
are modest, but these commissioners are men OF
high culture, with corresponding ldeas-they indulge
in green seal and diamonds-and who shall pay the
expense? The bill answers the question. The issue
Of bonds and raising OF money will increase your
debt and you will pay the taxes resulting from their
elegant tastes. Where will your houses be? You
pay the taxes on them where you own them, but
wheee you rent your landlord will say must have
more rent. You say, cannot pay It, and they reply,
You must, or leave the house. for my capital must
under these commissioners, yield me a certain per
cent, and after all, II Is the hardhsted son OF toll
! who foOts the bill.
You must pay and your children must suffer.
| They must be taken from school and sent to the
factory TO aid in ekeng out your subsistence.
If this freedom OF municipality is not preserved
the commissions will eat up your capital and your
labor and instead OF desire to cultivate amenities
between the rich and the poor, there will be heart
burning envy, hatred, conflicting interest," and pos.
| sibly open outbreaks.
men. Say that he who votes TO dlsenfranchise is
enemy Of the people, and should be marked out for
! public reprobation, even though he be Senator.
! (Applause.)
! ADDRESS OF L. BLODGETT, ESQ.
The next speaker was Lorin Blodgett ESQ.,, who
said he had never seen parallel to the present state
OF affairs. 1t was novel experience to all, and yet
action was rendered absolutely necessary by the
! movements OF certain set OF men who had assumed
| TO control the entire city government. / wish to
| state what is the solution Of the question which we
! have before us. There is always state OF unrest
in the public who always expect something better.
| Notwithstanding this the Legislature has thought
that they could safely set aside the city government.
The speaker had done much in behalf OF the en-
! bellishment ana advancement of the city, IL has
been said that those who Joined this movement were
in favor OF the abuses which prevailed in certain
! branches OF the public government. But this was
the truth in any respect. Let these men be
curbed in their very first movement until they learn
n anf tfUa