Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-02-03
PHILADELPHIA.
our sATuRDAvlErTER. R.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. ID
Well, Gray is elected although Mcclure says
hs isn't, and a pretty turmoil the election got
us into. One has to say of Mcclure that he ID a
most uncomfortable man to fight with He never
knows whom he is beaten aud is altogether
as pugnacious an individual as can be met in
days ride He has the true lawyer-like tempera-
ment and is never 30 happy as when involved in
some inextricable wordy quarrel. Disputes that
would give another man headache are to him
Ready Relief from the stupor and stagnation
of period Of too great ease. Just at present.
with his bustling vigor, his humorous acerbty,
his interviews" with reporters (Which ID
may be feared he, himself, fixes up,-questions
and answers complete,) he is befogging one class
of the public 80 that they could not say on their
oaths that Aleck was not elected President So
great is assurance Mr.. Mcclure understands
that as well as any man alive, and as he never
had such chance as this of disporting himself,
he is making the most of it.
Emerson has written poem about the god
Brahma which applies with startling distinctness
to Mr. Mcclure. l will quote you verse;
al the Red Slayer thinks he slays,
Or the Slain thinks he IL slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
l pass and turn aud come again -
Never was their greater appositeness For
they know very little of the gentleman under
consideration who think that this STATE Senator
ship, even supposing him to win it, ID anything
to Mcclure except as stepping stone. He is
going to be governor of Pennsylvania and he
il going to the United States Senate; at least he
is going to try to, and there is more try in him
than in any Philadelphia politician know Of
1t may be doubted if this defeat has not done
him twice the good a victory would have done.
He is the best advertised man of the time and
he understands how to keep ii up at triling ex-
pense He is the leader OF the I" refurmers :"
from this time out, and a very troublesome,
peppery and factious commander he il capable
of being.
Another disgraceful act in the City Treasury
Defalcation business was played in Common
Councils yesterday A resoluti.n was offered
nstructing the City Solicitor to proceed against
ex.TreAsurer MRrcer and ex Cashier Jones in the
Court of Bankruptcy. Although previously to
Offering the resolution a full chamber was pres
ent, yet at the proper time it wanted one of
quorum. This was very mysterious, but PreHi-
dent Huhn il he had chosen to respond could
have made the quorum complete, and by voting
could have passed the necessary measures.
Three different attempts TO secure action were
made and then Mr.. HUM declared the chamber
adjourned. There Ii universal howl this morn
ing, and no wonder Everybody knows that Mr..
Huhn is one of Mareers securities and the i'm
preston is general that he desiers to save him
self and his colleagues at the expense of the
city 1t was essential that the resolution should
be passed at that meeting, as proceedings in the
Court of Bankruptcy must be commenced during
the first week in February The Mayor has au-
thority however to call special meeting OF
Councils at any time, and il is hoped that we
will find this fitting occasion to resort to that
extraordinary proceeding. Whatever happens
Mr. Hnhn is done for. remember me that
paid him compliment in this correspondence
not long since which L desire to apologize for
and to abjectly take back. How We 30 get fooled
ON men to be sure intend to refrain from
backing up any Of these shining marks in future.
They shine, but they shin it, too, upon occasion.
Mr.. Huhn's notion Of going security seems to be
to make himself secure, and he hasn't the slight
est intention, il he can avoid it, of suffering q
penalty. the possibility OF which he 30 lightly
assumed.
The ordinance introduced in Councils to levy
a tax Of one-tenth Of one per cent. on all sales.
has produced a lively excitement among our
merchants and traders. One OF the largest meet
ings of business men ever assembled in Philadel-
phia has been held at which strong resolutions
were adopted deprecating any such course OF
action as that proposed. The most effective
| speech delivered was probably that Of Mr..
| Henry O. Lea. He said among other pointed
things, that il the affairs OF the city were faith
| fully and economically Administered there would
be no need of further taxation, but that as it
was the community, II it was business firm,
would be considered bankrupt. Notwithstand-
| ing this however, it was the opinion of Mr.. Lea
/ and the other experienced merchants present,
| that this tax on sales would be the very worst
method Of relieving the difficulty, inasmuch ae
| il would have the inevitable effect Of driving
capital to seek more congenial fields. This
| could not be douted, and with the loss OF that
/ capital and all the numerous elements of pros
perity that it brought into play the city would
| be in worse strait than ever. This in few
| words is the essence of the opposition of the
merchants TO the new impost, and their argu'
ment is so imposing that it is doubtful if Coun-
/ ellis can zee their way clear to carry out the
scheme. Still, after yesterday performance We
need be surprised at nothing.
We are having the coldest weather of thu
| winter Since Tuesday it has been bitter thG
| Thermometer ranging from 109 to 15o. There il
the best Of skating, the Rink is making money
| for the first time in its career the ice men art
| gathering great harvests, and it is very propel
| and becoming winter season. But what of thu
| poor wretches who have no fire, and no overcoat
and but few bed-clothes and little to eat l
gives one the heart-ache to think of that. Mis-
cradle in all weathers, how do they evel
manage to draw breath in such a season as this
We weee talking Of public characters while age
| now / will tell you who Is my model of chris
tian and good citizen. That man is the Rev
Mr.. Long, the g Bedford Street Missionary"
| find in bin practical goodness which we ma
seek in the grand churches year at time an
not discover. Just think Of it To deliberatel
| cast your lot with the very lowest, most debase
creature to try to prove by personal contact
and by the laying aside Of every barrier ths
superior birth means and education might Great
to show these poor creatures that they are aki
with human kind and have share in the univers
j providence of God,-could you do that, reader
ls that not something to do, indeed That
what the Bedford st Missionary does and l ca
4 him Hero. Dear, good man, he comes in
, | see me sometimes and can't tell whether L Al
most glad or sorry :--pleased to have such ger
: uine goodness near me, or concerned about I'll
Small pox which am morally sure he must hay
somewhere about him. This provesexactly whi
| was saying. Here is a man who is content
live in the midst Of contagion along with all IL
| other wretchednees, while 1, revereneing b
i motives and applauding his work, even feel ne
| yous while he tells me of the good. he is tryir
Q to do. But you know Small Pox is such a De
unpleasant thing,--and we can't all OF us hay
the souls of Missionaries
You have seen the announcement that the d.
is to be made an evening paper on Monday ne1
0 The movement has been contemplated for son
+ months, and a recent change Of proprietorsh
has definitely determinedit. The present owne
2 are understood to be Mr.. Lewis Cassidy, Mr.,
II H. Brewster, and Mayor Chambers. Cassidy
the head man and the moving spirit N
al O'Byrne's name has been mentioned in the saI
l. connection but he appears to have only been
l. agent for the other parties. The change to
ternoon is the wsest thing the Day has ev
H. done. Evening papers have the inside track
Ii journalism, and every year makes their roadw
n more sure and profitable. 1t is a matter OF ge
eral remark that the Day has already improv
under its new rule and as an evening sheet