Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-01-27
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATURDAY LETTER.


Pross Over the Militia Tax-Notable Lectures
The Burns Celebration Oskins Murder
Trial-Amusements, Etc.
Special Correspondence of the Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, JAN 2Gth
The little squabble between Mayor Stokely and
the " Grand Army of the Republic, is quite un-
iqne, and proves that our City Father has will
Of his own, eyon il it shows nothing else. The
Mayor has seen fit to break in upon the old rules
which has decided that the Chief Magistrate
shall receive such visiting bodies as desire it in
Independence Hall, and formally tender them
the freedom of the city" He expressly dis
claimed in refusing to receive the "Grand Army
delegation any intention of sighting those sen-
tlemen, but they happened to he the first who
came along since his Inauguration, and 80 were
made the initial case. There are two sides to
this as to every question. On the one part there
has been vast deal of humbuggery in these
receptions. Any travelling fire company or lodge
of Odd Fellows could drag the Mayor away from
important duties, and for what was after all the
merest farce and shell Of ceremonial. But
again there are occasions when such ceremony
IL eminently proper, and when il would seem as
naturally the province OF the Mayor to receive
the eitys guests as it is Of the President to Ie-
ceive national representatives at Washington.
That is about the gist Of it, and other Mayors
have doubtless experienced the same difficulty,
but not having Mr.. Stokely's strength Of will did
not know how or where to draw the line. Per-
haps, all things considered, it would have been
best to go ON in the old way. II il all in life
time, anyhow, aud to make distinctions will be
an ungraciOus business. II is like good many
other things that We cannot have exactly as we
should like, but that we have to put up with.
One thing is very cortain,-t the refusal Of
the Mayor to grant reception did not Justify
tho letter of the Grand Army officers insulting
Mr.. Stokely by withdrawing the invitation to
their banquet that was previously rendered him.
That was an altogether gratuitous affront, and
has turned the popular sympathy very much
towards the Mayor. / don't think MIR. Stokey
has lost any caste in this matter. People appre-
ciate the problem and his motives
Our exceptional political fight wakes hot and
furious ;-of course | mean that little dual Re-
publican contest in the Fourth Senatorial Dis
trict. Mcclure stock seems to be above par and
the - reformers. headed by Barton III. jerks,
the Coloners right-hand man. aver that they are
carrying all before them. MIR. jerks has pow
erful influence in the district. As Shakespeare
observes, "his name is a tower OF strength
which those upon the adverse faction want"
Wonderful smart chap, Mcclure For one thing
we see how he has manipulated the newspapers.
Call him Colonel He ought to be a general.
He is smart, but there are a few people who see
through him, although cannot say that their
suifrages are numerous enough to affect the re-
suit. / live in that district myself, and know
a coed many average sort OF men who are not
30 deafened by this cry Of " reform that they
cannot take Mr.. Aleck Mcclure at his true value
Those chaps intend to cut the knot by not vot-
ing at all. The Democrats are in a pretty pother.
They have chance, if they nominate, of elect
ing Democratic Senator in the 4th District
while they are rather certain il they let things
take their own course OF defeating the regular
| Republican The managers have found it hard
| to choose. Mcclure made a great point ON Gray
| by challenging him to meet him on the stump.
| He knew the little man woud not dare to do it,
| for he is no match az a debator for the willy
Colonel. This was specious move. for man
| might make really good Legislator and yet
not be a ready stump speaker, but it told i'm
| mensely ON the public. What helps Mcclure
more than anything else, even, is the apparent
spontaneity of the whole movement. 1t sounds
| like a yeritable blast of the VOI PopuN, but do
| you not think it barely possible that the leading
/ performers may have known how the piece was
| to be cast and acted long ago
1t would be difficult to recall more complete
instance of the power of the Press in Philadel-
| phia, than the victory over the militia tax mana
| gers. Three months ago that small bat hefty
| :" ring bade detiarce to public opinion levied
| it's mean impost, and sold out poormen's house,
| hold goods, without opposition To-day bill
| has passed both houses of the Legislature, and
| only awaits the Governors signature to become
| law breaking up the whole system and provid-
ing for raising the money required by the militia
in a satisfactory manner. Certainly if the entire
/ community has militia protection, the entire
| community should foot the bill That it did not,
was the radical defect of the old tax swindle. 1t
was notorious that the dollarper capita assessed
upon men :" liable to military duty could go but
| little way towards defraying the expenses Of the
Department. yet still the people bore it " with
| the patient shrug that has become 30 natural
to the free born American citizen. But the papers
started vigorously in and behold he result! II
must be adnitted that there is something very
| real and tangible III this. The SAMSON street
coterie would have continued to rake in those
little round wheels (or their equivalents) for ar
indefinite period had it not been for this inter
ference Of the press ;--of that there can be nc
| doubt, and the case as it stands is clear and
undiuted triumph for Philadelphia newspapers
Readers who are fond Of lecture going viii
| hear with interest of two entertainments of al
| exceptional character given this week lecturer
| by the artist, James Hamilton-and by Mr. Cole
| man Sellers, prominent bueiness man. Boil
these gentlemen are persons OF fine intelligence
but they have never been associated with thI
| Lyceum or with any literary work. Mr.. Sellers
had acquired quite a reputation in private fo
his feats of legardemain, and it was proposed
that he should give public lecture explaining
many current delusions and illustrating his re
marks with experiments The lecture was highl,
successful and his exposition of the cabinet
tricks by which the Davenport Brothers, Laur
Ellis and others, are swindling the country wa
greatly applauded Mr.. Hamiltons lecture wa
mot of 30 popular a character, but it was yer.
earnest and eloquent effort and one which vii
bring this favorite artist added reputation. Hi
| subject was "Art and Religion" and he lahore
| to show that Art whether in the shape of Paint
ing Sculpture or Architecture, invariably reflect
ed the religious spirit of its time. 1t was
scholarly and thoughtful essay, one worthy o
his genius, and he has already had invitations
repeat it.
We have had our Burns Celebration too,-
though it ddnot amount to much. The Scottis
element is small in Philadelphia, and the Burn
supper finds the same little body assembled yea
after year Except where some have in the mean
time gone the inevitable road) and with no ne
comeTs to swell the ranks. Since the last ann
versary the genial Mr.. MacIntyre, ,formany year
/ President of the Society, has died and his los
was greatly felt. They have the strangest idea
} of convivality, Scotchmen. / was at on
of their dinners once, and it is the fact that |
5 o'clock in the evening two-thirds of the comp
ny were roaring tipsy. The only liquor on tab
| was "Usquebaugh"-a fiery sort of whiskey-
and this mild beverage they drank with evel
course soup, fish meats and removes. 1 WI
\ never in such party and do not care soon
= | get into such another
One Of those mockeries of Justice for whiC
our Courts are becoming famous, is proceedir
in the Oyer and Terminer. II ever there was
cool, deliberate and heartless murder, the KILN
e of Mrs. Oskins by her husband was that murde
= 1t was a crime without one extenuatiug oi
cumstance, and yet there is no probability Of
= verdict of murder in the first degree Thei
4 things are cut and dried in.advance by the la'