New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-05
TIE PHILADELPHIA FRAUD.

One hundred and sixty-ave thousand regis
tered voters in population one-quarter less
than that of New York Such is the note OF
defiance which the engineers of Fraud in Phil
adelphia send to the world without In absO-
lutte insolence, it has no parallel, and it only
remains to be seen in what spirit 1t will DO
confronted. If among those who, with 80
much energy and ability, are conducting the
Reform canvass at the point where fraud IL
not only apprehended but OstentatiOusly prom
ised, there is any of the untiring industry
and zeal. in masses as well as individuals,
which was manifested when the last inquty
was unearthed, there need be no fear as to tho
result. 1t will be fierce contest, this
fighting the birds of prey in their eyre; but
if the assailaDts be moderately true TO them
selves, there need be 10 fear of failure. Ii
would be wrong to underrate the strength OF
our adversary, fighting as he does on his
chosen ground. Every adventurous matter III
Philadelphia cOnduces to the strength of those
against whom the Reformers are arrayed.
Office and patronage, in all their forms ana
influences, from the Federal Judge down 10
the city lamplighter, are in the hands OF our
opponents. Federal and State and municipal
power is thoroughly interlnked. Except the
District Judge of the United States, and he IL
helpless, and one State Judge, who Ii
irresOlute, every one in office is pronounced
Administration man. The remarkable exhlDi-
ton is thus made of a Federal Postmaster.
retaining his position and marshaling his
subordinates being a candidate for local
Office on the State ticket, and this without
any apparent consciousness OF doing wrong.
These are the mercenary forces which are ar
rayed. They are well drilled and well COM
handed The accredited leader of that host
is one whom no scruple perplexes-no common
danger daunts. He it is who for years has
domineered over the decent and respectable OF
his own party, secure in the obedience OF ma
especial and sympathetic followers. lie IL Is
who by mere force of will, exacted nominal
ton, time and again, from those whose IN
stincts revolted at the degradation, ana then,
more than once, counted himself III at an
election when he was cOnfessedly beaten, or
managed to manufacture competitor willing,
for share of professional plumber. to be de-
feated. He it is who, i'll violation OF the do
cencies Of his position, took open part IN the
supervision and manipulation of official returns,
and when violence in his opinion and that of his
fellow IufiianS become necessary, gave the
fatal word to shoot,n and an unavenged
dying man, with words of just inculpatiOn on
his lips, lay bleeding at their feet. He it is
who knows all the secrets of the murderous
plot by which a Government official in broad
daylight was nearly shot to death,-knOws
that an Administration candidate for local
office now was one of those accessories before
the fact, and that the man who did the deed
of blood was pardoned for fear he should tell
the perilous secret. He it is who now has that
ruffan in custody for another attempted muir
der, and dare not bring him to trial lest he
should peach on his confederate and his
employers. We live, thank Heaven, in times
relatively blOodless, or we might realize
painful parallel between the bold bad man
whose only principle was raudGce ct tOujOurs
rdudace, and the Philadelphia DantOn of to-day.
Thus marshaled, the engineers of fraud and.
if need be, violence, i'll the city which once
justly claimed TO be of brotherly love and
trust, are contemplating the exigencies of
next Tuesday. They see before them
what for years they have not beheld, an
aroused, indignant, distrustful community.
They see in the adverse array not only the
Democratic masses they are used to encounter
and by stratagem defeat, but their own former
friends, who have deserted in disgust They
see leaders in the Reform ranks who know
their tactics and their secrets, and knowing,
have no fear More than one Stanley has
gone over. The realization of all this may
possibly unnerve them, but we do not antici-
pate it. Like the evil-doer of old whose
wicked courage failed not to the last, they
are cited to a stalk and must fight the
"coursen Let them be encountered with cor
responding spirit, purified and strengthened
by the power of integrity and truth, and we
have no fear of the result. But courage, more
than aught else, is needed.