The New York herald., 1872-07-24

palaces and rear our triumphal arches We find it
necessary to build our almshouses our houses
of correction, our State prisons, a hoe genus
omne.s Modern civilization is beginning to
prove itself failure, and this International
Congress is doing its best at once to explain
why it il o failure and how the failure can be
avoided. On another occasion we hope to
return to the general subject. Meanwhile we
commend to the attention of our readers our
reports of the doings of this most interesting
assemblage Of male and female philosophers
from all the ends of the earth.
The Shooting OF Alderman McMullin.
The murder of Alderman McNIullin by one
of his followers is not without its lesson. The
deceased belonged to that dangerous class of
politicians who float into notoriety and power
on the votes of the scum of the population. In
spite of his doubtful associations he was not
wanting in generous qualities, that, in the
eyes of easy-natured people, half redeemed
his political wrongdoing. However charitable
this view might be just at this moment, when
the hand of an assassin has struck him down,
we cannot, in justice to public morality,
adopt it. His sins against the well being of
the Commonwealth are upon public record,
and the effect of his evil example is still
danger in the land. 1t is therefore necessary
that possible imitators shall be taught that,
though their political corruption and dishon-
esty may thrive for a time, in the end public
opinion will visit with scathing justice their
memory. Not even the grave shall protect
them from the moral condemnation Of an out
ragged community. There is something of
poetic justice in the fate of the men who sacri-
flee self-respect and honor and decency to pan
der to the lowest passions of political rowdies.
By violence they grow rich and prosperous,
but Nemesis follows in their track and in the
height of their success they are struck down
by some ruffianly tool or companion, whose
services have often been found useful in the
slums The shooting of the Philadelphia
Alderman is a striking illustration of this phase
of the gutter politicians career. The victim
was the well-known leader of the roughs whose
visits to our city on the occasion of elections
were more frequent than desirable. 1t was
courtesy which the Tammany pets never failed
to return whenever there was occasion. Hugh
important member of this nefarious con-
federacy of repeaters and roughs, who
render nugatory the votes of honest
citizens. He had shot revenue officer named
Brooks but through the exertions of McMul-
lin this red-handed ruf6an was set free from
the Penitentiary No doubt it was felt that so
useful man ought not to be in prison on the
eve Of great Presidential struggle and so the
majesty of the law was outraged in obedience
to the behests Of the lowest grade of politicians.
1t is q blot on our institutions and our national
character that convicted felons can be set free
to prey upon the community by such influences.
Until the abuse of the pardoning power has
ceased we must expect the rowdy element to
have slight respect for the law or fear of its
punishments
Very little regret or sympathy can be felt for
McMullin but we hope his assassin will not
escape from the just vengeance of the law. 1t
is, perhaps wise dispensation that rufians
are doomed to prey upon one another, and are
made in some sort the avengers of the
crimes in which they have shared.
But, though we feel no grief at their
loss, the interests of society demand
that the outraged majesty Of the law shall be
avenged. It is especially necessary that an
example should be made OF political murderers
at time when we are about to enter into
stormy and bitter Presidential campaign.
But, above all considerations of expediency,
there is the paramount claim of justice to be
satisfied Ruffianism is becoming a serious
danger to the permanence of our institutions,
and unless it is taken in hand and promptly
suppressed we may look forward to time
when the honest and order-loving citizens will
be at the mercy of the barbarians of the slums.
The first step in the stamping out of this
danger-as it must be stamped QUITS
q reform in the manner Of par
doning assassins. II is an outrage on
the public conscience that man like
Maria, whose hands are red with the blood of a
fellow being should be set at liberty in order
that some one might curry favor with the
ward politicians. Whoever is responsible for
this unwise leniency deserves to be put in the
stocks of public opinion and held up to the
scorn and contempt Of all honest men. Until
those who are high in Office set an example of
respect for the law how can we hope that the
ignorant and the vulgar will obey it? There
are two lessons to be drawn from McMullin's
assassination: that political rowdyism and
crime inevitably meet just reward, and that
in the case of murderers the right of par
doning ought not to be exercised in obedience
to political pressure.
Quarantine Precautions Against the
Cholera.
Although the dread Asiatic scourge, before
which the bravest heart falters, is ravaging at