Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-12-28
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATURD LETTER.

The Lane-Taylor Libel Csse-A Warning TO
Reckless Writers-Christmas Celebration
The Masonic Grand Lodge-Gambling and
Lotteries-Efiorts for Their suppression-The
Great sn0w Storm-The 0peratic Collapse, Etc
Etc.
Special Correspondence ofGe Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.
To no field Of effort does the Davy Crockett
motto-hrst be sure you're right, then go ahead
more apty apply than to newspapers. With
fact as q basis all debate is allowable; without
fact liberty becomes license. The defendant in
the Lane libel case has just found this out to
his cost This case has caused considerable
talk, but some readers may not know just what
it is about. Mr.. O. Taylor, reporter Of the
Press, published in that paper, some weeks since
an article protesting to give the inner workings
OF the notorious Whiskey Ring" which plotted
the attempted assassination of Detective Brooks
and afterward, and with more SUCCESS got nd Of
some Of the poor tools OF the conspirators Hugh
Morrow, the most dangerous OF all, however, still
remaining to tell what he knows Of their villainy.
That there is vital secret in this matter all inte
gent citizens know, but they know, too, that to
make reckless assertions on the subj ject implicat-
ing people against whom there is no just cause OF
suspicion, can be productive OF no good what
ever, but rather the reverse. Mr. Taylor chose
to take the word of one Mountjoy, well known
character in " whiskey" circles, for the so-caled
fact that MIR. David ii. Lane, local Politician
and Chief Clerk in the Recorder Of Deeds office
was instrumental in raising the blood money for
the Detectives taking off, Mr. Lane was nno-
cent of the charge and Of course would not al
low 80 outrageous an attack upon his character
to.pass unchallenged. He brought suit and has
won his case, and the people say, Amen. 1t
WAS a rebuke especially needed at this time.
The rage for " Sensatonalism is growing such
a CRYING evil that stern check is the most
friendly turn that can be given writer's who
think their first duty is to astonish the public
There is a kernel in the big sized nut and it
will be cracked in time, but to attempt to smear
away mans reputation on surmise, or upon
defective evidence, is supreme folly.
Christmas had a right royal celebration with
us. 1t is not one of the Holidays which makes
much outward shown this country, at least
and perhaps tho best way to judge it is in inverse
proportion to the amount of public commotion.
The less one secs Of stir and popular parade the
more, ii may be certain, il given to home pleas
ures Aud 30 il was with us this Christmas IL
is the general remark that business was more
completely gwen up, and that the day was more
generally spent at home, than has happened for
many years. In the morning there was rather
general church going, and the usual benevolent
gathering at the Northern Home the Bedford-St.
Mission. &c, were even more gratifying ana
successful than usual. The day was gentle,
far-reaching success, unmarried by rioting or
trouble, and carrying peace and happiness to
many weary heart. Would there were more
such days in the too-busy year Ii 1t were pos
sibe to have q Christmas every month, and we
could write on it with as much unction as on the
yearly festival, the world would be the better
for the relaxation.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania met to-day,
an event Of mark among Free Masons. This IL
one Of the leading lodges not only IN this coun-
try but in the world and its dOings are a matter
of great interest to the Fraternity generally
As far az made public however, the proceedings
to-day related only to the appointments OF the
Right Worthy Grand Master for the year 1878
These appointments make large list. being
for the entire State, and include the District
Deputy Grand Masters, Almoners OF the Charity
| Fund, and Stewards of the Stephen Girard Fond.
As the appointees are taken from every section
| of the commonwealth, the choice becomes one
| OF widespread interest. The new Masonic
Temple is nearly finished and preparations are
making for its formal Inauguration before many
months 1t is one of the finest editices of the
kind anywhere existing, and It's opening Will
create a great excitement in Free Masonry,
A commendable effort is being made to sup
press gambling and lotteries in Philadelphia.
| The Mayor has issued brief but earnest ana
/ effective letter on the former subject, Calling
the attention OF Councils and the Courts 10 a
| great and growing nuisance He shows tnat tne
| Gambling establishments pay large sums yearly
Il to evade being brought to punishment, anu
| shows also how they can be effectually banished
| il the authorities display the proper energy A.
| relates to lotteries it may surprise some people
L
| this subject al in Pennsylvania, there should BE-
any loop-nole by which ii can be evaded; Yet II
| is eyaded and so subtly that for years LOTTERIES
| in one shape or another have been carried on
| here Not that there has been any monied plan
| similar to the Kentucky or Missouri lotteries
| but that unlawful chance has been mlngleH VIII
| a pretence to legitimate business. Frlze
stores these establishments are called, and so
bold had the operators grown that large shop'
on Chestnut street and other prominent nelgh
borhoods have been devoted to their uulawtul
trade. The party to this game OF chance Duyl
some trihing article with RISK (and bucn IL rs
indeed) of drawing something OF value; Ihh
this is direct encouragement TO gahplinB II
many worse forms cannot be doubted, ant
therefore it is pleasing to note that the law !
| finally getting the better OF these spectators
weakness and credulity. -.
The storm has naturally been great event o
| the week here as elsewhere. 1t was the bigges
thing in its way for ten years, and everybody
agreed in hoping it may be ten years more Deior
= | such another is seen. 1t is strange enough qua
q city should go to bed betimes. with all lts way
OF traffic and travel open and unobstructed, an
, wake up in the morning to lind itself 30 cloBBe
J and choked as to make the simplest getuh
l along a trouble. So much power have those teAti
} cry particles which floating through the ar seer
I to have no greater resistance than sthat Wilicn
, | breath can remove Yet are they cruel reenl
less as ready to swallow up the exhausted tray
eller as to minister to the ipleasure OF the cml'
4 | But does not all nature teach the same lesson
A What mischief this wintry yisitant can play
business For full day and half trade her
was at a perfect stand-still, quite as much :
as during the helghth of the horse disease. CON
a pute II YOU car, the losses to a single commuh
a ty so visited, and then remember that the sam san
q state Of affairs prevailed North and South, Eai
I and West The result is something too stupel
l. dous to be even conceived, Reflect further upo
+ the dire calamites occasoned by the storm, an
Q Of the suffering it throws upon the poor alWay
a oyerburthened at this season. Not the least
/ the incident discomforts (although Il may see
| 1 tv;aina oornparad In tho auffarinu inst Alluut