The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-15
THE LNDIGN ALTON MEETING LAST
NIGHT

The meeting at Horticultural Hall last even
ing was warning that the members of the
Legislature will do we'll to heed, for it is GER
tain from the temper manifested that the
Tammany government which it is proposed
to place over this city will not be tamely
submitted to. The meeting was very largely
made up of poor working men, the owners
and lessees of small houses, class which on
ordinary occasions is distinguished for its
profound respect for the law, and for its cor
dial submission, in the interests of good
government, to the DEGREES of the law-making
power. 1t was evident from the converse
tions which took place in every part of the
hall previous to and during the formal pro-
ceedings of the meeting, that these men were
thoroughly alarmed, and that they fully
understood what the ultimate results of
commission government would be.
They felt instinctively that upon them, and
not upon the rich men of the city, would fall
the burden of increased taxation; and with
the prospect that all the results of years of
toll will be swept away to gratifyth greed of
an irresponsible and all-powerful oligarchy,
they naturally and properly arrived at the
conclusion that when the law fails to protect
the citizen it is the duty of the citizen to
protect himself. The man who by dint of
hard saving has managed to obtain home
for himself will not tamely submit to have it
taken away from him by system of govern
ment to which he never consented, and which
never received the sanction of majority of
his fellow-citizens. Every small property
holder in the city of Philadelphia is now
threatened by the commission bills
with the confscation of his home
and lot of land by system of taxation
over which he has no control whatever, and
the alarm and indignation of those who at
tended the meeting last evening, if not loud
voiced, were deep; and if the Legislature
should dare to pass the Commission bills in
the face of the protest of the citizens of
Philadelphia, the men who expect to grow
rich by means of them may possibly find that
some laws cannot be executed when public
opinion in community of freemen is unani-
mously opposed to them. The citizens of
Philadelphia will have the sympathies of the
entire nation in any opposition they may
make to the enforcement of the commission
| bills in case they become laws, for these bills
! will completely overthrow republican gov
ernment, at least so far as this city is
concerned, and will establish despot-
ism of the most infamous description
greedy, pitiless, and INSCRIPTIONS oligarchy
to which that of Venice would appear lamb
like in comparison.
The speakers at the meeting last night
turned the whole commission scheme inside
out, and exhibited it in all it's deformity, and
the response which the audience made to the
telling points brought forward by Mr.. Vaux,
Mr.. O'Byrne, and the other gentlemen who
occupied the platform, proved how thoroughly
the whole subject was understood, and how
profound was the just indignation of the
citizens who crowded the hall. The meeting
was warning to the Legislature, and espe-
cially to the Philadelphia delegation, that it
would be well for them to heed. Every
member from this city who advocates or votes
for the commission bills, in their present or
in any other shape, will be branded as traitor
to his constituents, and he will probably find,
! if he attempts to return, that Philadelphia will
not be pleasant place for him to live in for
the future.
We caution our readers as we did yester-
day, not to place any reliance upon the reports
which come from Harrisburg with regard to
the defeat of the commission bills. They
have for the present been choked off, but
there is nothing to prevent them from being
brought forward in the House and passed at
any moment; and even if the present set of
bills are definitely killed, there is every pro-
liability that others will be introduced, and
a determined effort made to push them
through both houses and to secure the sig
nature of the Governor. The men who ex-
pect to be benefited by the commission
scheme have prepared deep-laid plan, aud
they are determined if possible to carry it at
the present session in spite of all opposition.
Such an opportunity for wholesale stealing
under the protection of law was never before
offered in this country-for our commission
bills go step further than those under which
New York is plundered-and with untold
millions almost in their grasp, desperate
efforts will undoubtedly be made to secure
the prize
Of,a kind with the three bills particularly
referred to above is the Personal Tax Com
mission bill which was introduced some
weeks ago, and which has almost been lost
sight of lately, owing to the superior inte-
rest of the great plundering scheme. The
bill for the creation of Personal Tax Com
mission, however, is scarcely less dangerous
and is no less obnoxious than the other
measures, and it should be equally protested
against. The individuals who are named for
Commissioners of Public Works, Water, and