New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-05
GENERAL POLITICS.
REFORM IN PENNSYLVANIA.

On Tuesday night, COl. n. n. McClure au-
dressed large and enthusiastic audience in the Ist
Senatorial District Of Pennsylvania ably discussing the
questions which are prominently before tue peo-
pie Of that State. The following are extracts:
WORSE THAN IDIESEss TO DELAY REFORM.
Citizens OF Philadelphia let glance dispassionately
at the great that has been forced upon us In this
election. . IL is idle, worse than idle, to urge
that at another time reform may be inaugurateu::
sea s0n in which TO enforce the manifest will OF the
people 1t been urged from year 10 year in the past
Pform has been promised profusely in the very temple
OF corruption and there those whose faith was equal
10 the acceptance OF the pledge. .
Inok at the anomalous political aspect presented in
our city. The entire daily press OF Phiadephia has as
with one voice. demanded just @hat am adVOcathB o
night They all protest against the disregard OF the
popular will and the defiance OF al pubic interest III .
noitical control OF Philadelphia They nave taught tue
t.x.nsvers that bad nominations and the prosutu-
lion OF Official power not accidental nor excep-
tional but that they flow continuously from ioun-
I'm 'nolnted by deliberate, systematic, and Or
yanjzsd wrong Whence comes this moral pestl-
The fountain of an our corruption, and Of all our
ARBITRARY power and Of all our msruIe, IN fha0slVa
10 the Legislature
HOW THE RING GAINED ITS POWER.
Let rs Glance at the facts The consolidation charter
left the power OF the municipality in the hands Of the
people, as far at all practicable, and none but abb
solutey necessary offices were created But the ponca
managers soon found that they were uhsae m ~
call them TO account every two years ana at season
wi pn
them First the head OF political and municipal power
was egslated into an extended term ana the elsct0ns
fixed with the regular political elections m the fa
terms OF Councilman were next extended lhen 9e aisa
another followed special enactmentS e&lenulns the
terms of subordinate officers and the WORK OF leg a
tive extensions Is not yet quite finished as en0s nave
recently been made TO extend the terms Oh t Is
financial officers OF TINS ey pd TsS I 6T
procuring arbitrary power Dnt mstdo oD1d
@ % Sm have yea Been quietly 5ass IN
most subtle manner, while nearly every departneh' VI
power-smbracing the collection, expenditure, anu re- re-
Phiadephia-has been transferred to those wAo nave
little or no accountability to the people.
THE RESULT OF RING CORRUPTION.
But the most appalling result Of this gradual concen
traton of power the hands of political officials is
the absolute denial to the people of the right or power to
easy for themselves they have guarded with most zeal
Gus every avenue Of popular approach TO thelr
satute-waed citadel OF power. Inc enoee was pte
sened then 10 give place to acceptable plDhc servants
practically disfrancnlse the people Dy corruPen5
the ballot. For reasons now obvious W s'I ra
citizen, they rejected the first proposition ana re-
solved to accept the second because 1t was the only
plan that promised them political SAFETY III denance on
change their rulers III was dellDerdIeiy rcsosSU ~ @
rings OF Philadelphia that law must De passed Ve5tbg
in them aud their creatures absolute Oh ne
facture returns and declare themselves elected, even
though the people should vote against them by thou
sands AS crime usually does Wleh ~ must % IN so s
measure visible to tue community clanOf was nde ZOE
honest elections, and the ar was fnli Oh cnaTges VI
Democratic fraLds. Ballot-b0x suffers, reporters
and FOUNDERS made themselves hOarse camol-
lag for "hOnest election laws" lLaushteI anu anu ap
pausel The upright portion OF our cuzens Ieauy up
preciated the necessity OF restraints upon eecuOn
frauds and with professions OF n0sthy 70 crime upon
their lips the Ring leaders framed the registry law SO az
to honest elections Impossible as long as Few pau
men maintain their power IL Is the most ingenious,
plausible and monstrous fraud ever imposed upon free
people Ii exquisite IN its perfection OF suDue, sys
tematic and wocoaked yllany and 10 tha5 law many
more than doubtful repuaIlonare lhaeDteu Sol1
for the Official positions they hold to Cypress snd
shame tne people. Renewed appauSe.I
A DIsREPUTABLE LIST OF CAsyAssERs.
Itvffn ifa I'm
might have been made benehcent statute but its great
defect is that it purposey and ngeDiousy opened the
way for bad men TO perperate the most shameful frauds
under color OF the law itself Under the law canyassers
have been appointed of the most dsreputaDe charac-
ter and wholly unfit to decide any respect upon the
Qualifications OF electors For three years large pro-
portion OF those appointed were Legally dlsquaneI anu
many morally united for the trust; Dut
is an endless task 10 canvass each division, prepare
testimony DC, and but Few OF them nave Deoh
removed They nave just announced the can,
yassers for the important election of next Fall. Had
the Aldermen contemplated an honest election; they
would gladly have accepted the request OF the Czeh
Reform Association 10 give that respectable and faithful
organization voice In the important duty or pertecunY
the registration Of the voters OF the city, Wnat coud
be more Just honest public or private interest
than the Of each precinct 10 consist Vi
one Republican,, one Democrat, ana one kefOrmerl bu5
it would arrest false registration aud would thus END
the hopes OF many most unworthy candidates Ine
puDlicsn partsans compose two-thrds OF each board
oIr many disreputaDle repeaters, FOUNDERS
prison birds and petty 0lcas nave Oet seie~tou ~
decide upon the right Of franchise OF our Citizens
TIE CHARACTER OF THE GRANT TICKET.
Look az the ticket The members Of the Constitutional
Convention at large are highly respectable and emil
nenty qualified AS the did not hope to con-
troll the Convention, and as their immediate interests
are not in that direction they threw Carey Knight and
Wetherl as tubs to the whale The city ticket IS toera-
bic and as good as could have been made by the men
VINO manufacture ballots by machinery. (LaughterI
Thev are the men VINO will make all out OF the Offices
that is III them and they Will contribute hoeray 10
maintain Ring power and to prevent any legislation
adverse Ring DOMINION or that aims 10 relleVe the
people from Row extOrtOns. .
But the officers VINO control the destiny or Phladel-
phia are the Governor and Senators and Representa-
lives. You ind Meredths, or Wethernllls or Carey
or Knights the lie slatye part OF the ticket That Is
the reserved right OF the Rings for as special legislation
is fountain OF all our municipal woes, the LEGISLATURE
Will perpetuate overthrow the present Infamous rue
OF our city, Glance at the Legislative ticket No one
can doubt how or why such men have been nom
mated. III had honest election laws, GER
taiuly not five out of the Is would have
been thought of Tor nomination. and not as many cou
have any hope or election. lApplause.l These men
want h place. wanted there by Others TO eject
United STAGES Senator, to pass the new crop OF special
acts invented each year increase the profits OF our po
nca anagers and TO guard against the enactment OF
any law looking TO reform what one or the whoie Is
viii to gave US a fair election saHf WhaC Que
will vote To salary the Row Olicesi What ono Will
vote enforce proper accountability from cur pub
lie trussf What one will vote 70 relieve us OF our pres
ent dlsgracetul police system what one VIII vote
against simon Cameron, the veteran OF the Rings Tor
United states senatOr There Is not an hteuSent cIl
zen OF Pnade phia-RepuDlc an Liberal, Ok Democrat
who does that nearly quite al Of these leg
5latye candidates Will vote against every proposition
designed regeneration Of city VI tue rche OF
our tax payers from Ring extortions
THR Remedy.
But what is the remedyl The election OF an upright
and Independent Governor. 1t is in vain TO make wal
against dsreputabe legislators il Executive shall b'
chosen who dare not approve reform measures without
giving mortal offence to the men who made him candi
date and exhausted fraud elect him. Tho election
a Reform Legislature is an indispensable WORK Il
give hope reform The enormous eXactions IRON
the people the shape illegal fees by our Row officer
must DO ended. Our municipal political system mus
be torn up the We have tried 10 prune the
diseased limbs aud To heal the ghasty scar
corruption has given us, but all has been vain
Eacn diseases. scars, and new
running sores have been legislated upon us
until our city Government, excepting only it
i,,g,c ia f..r. IN Tur