Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-11-23

oPectdt Correspondents OF NE Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. %.
The news OF the Railway accident near 81
lerslie Station, last night, occasoned no little
excitement here to-day. The feeling was intei.-
sihed, doubtless, from the fact that disaeters on
this line are Of very rare occurrence. The first
dispatch stated that number Of Philadelphians
were among the Killed, and as no names were
given the excitement about the telt graph Offices
and bulletin boards became general. The depot
on Broad street was also beseiged though with
little avail as the officials there stationed refused
to give any information relative 10 the causes or
extent of tue calamity. IT IL difficult to under
stand why such news should ever be withheld,
and yet the story is repeated time after time,
when Railway accidents cccur, that the companies
refuse to give the information in their posses
sion. 1t would seem that every confederation
should prompt them to give the public all the
satisfaction in their power particularly since the
facts are certain to become speedily known,
whether they speak or remain silent The Su-
perintendent who would hold public audience at
such times, answering every individuals ques-
tions to the best OF his knowledge, and further
causing ample bulletins to be displayed for the
relief OF excited iuquirers, would assuredly lose
no caste by such action. The public would ap-
preciate 1t and his company would be largely ad-
vaneed in the general esteem. For these are
times when ordinary barriers are naturally broken
down. nor is II to say that discipline would be In
the least impaired by any honest desire to tell
the whole truth and accept the whole conse-
quence. Later dispatches from Wilmington
gave the full extent OF the accident, and when il
was learned that there were no Philadelphians
among the killed or badly wounded, the excite
ment subsided. although the calamity remains a
subject Of much, and not altogether favorable.
comment.
1t is the popular impression whether we'll
founded or no, that the Centennial subscrip-
lions are not coming out with the alacrity that
is desirable. meeting of the general finance
committee was held on Monday, at which a
number OF rich men subscribed sums aggrega-
ting $1,000 and the thing was started with
such an'air that It seemed il the end were
already practically reached Philadelphia's quo
ia in the apportionment of the funds to be
raised is 5000 000-that OF the whole State
500, 900. There were congratulations over the
fact that half Of the whole of the city quota
had been subscribed at a single meeting, aud il
would be strange indeed il the additional S1OO,-
900 could not be raised here. Bnt more remains
to be said. Judge Kelley hit the mark exactly
when he assured the meeting ON Monday, that
Philadelphia must make up its mind to do much
more than subscribe that fractional part of the
State quota. 1t is clear that there are many
sections in which there is no working interest
felt in the scheme, and others where II is
virtually unknown. Philadelphia and Penn
sylvania nave the leading concern in the
Centennial, and Philadelphia has most OF
all 1t is natural that she should do much
more than her exact share. Yet there
is suspicious oalmness prevailing. II this
were New York or OhicaSo opportunity you
can imagine hos il would be improved, bat in
this sleepy old town it seems impossible to wake
the people up to do anything. or to produce the
society leaders qualified to "stir up" the public
greater chance city never had yet 1t moves
Ia 1t to 80 little purpose that it fails to interest
a mr. fo IL s.T-
or animate the citizens OF its own State. have
said that there ls a calmness that is suspicious
but it may be nothing more than that deadly
calm which seems to smother all business, liter
ary, or tr5 effort in the community. The sub
scnption books were opened yesterday in the
Banka and Saving fu lds. 1t was the understand
ing that returns Of subscriptions received were
to be made daily at the Clearing House. but no
such return was made to day. Whether there
was nothing to report or whether the agents
thought.it unnecessary to excite public interest,
no one knows, but it may be easily conceived
now differently the matter would be managed in
New York.
The week has been great one for our Pres
byterian brethren. Philadelphia for some unex-
planned cause has always been the Headquarters
OF this sect in the United States, and the 3OOth
anniversary, on Wednesday, of the founding OF
the order, being remarkable celebration in the
Church, this centre OF Presbyterianism was
peculiarly affected by it, The opening OF the
stately and beautiful new Publication House on
Chestnut street, below Broad, added to the in
tereet Of the day The principal exercises in the
r-Oentenary held at the "Old Seventh
Church. on Broad street, were the Memorial
discourse Of Prof. Wilson, history of Presby-
terianism In Philadelphia, by Rev. Robert NJ.
Patterson, and general sketch Of the Church,
by President McOosh OF Princeton College,
These were all very elaborate addresses. II was
big day for Mr.. John Knox. II ever a man
was cracked up to the skies, Mr.. Knox was on
this occasion.
There was a solidity and completeness about
this celebration very different from the flimsy
get-up OF the Free Relgionists " who held
their convention at the same time at Horticul-
tural Hall. 1t is the most difficult thing in the
world to establish ne religio Anybody can
start one in an hours time, but it is very hard
to establish it. And l call it the most hopeless
task OF all to attempt to reconcile all sects un-
der one religious banner. That is what these
good and earnest Free Religionists woud do,
but 1t is melancholy to see two or three dozen
subdued-looking men and women passing reso-
lutions and moving for ways and means and in |
other ways attempting an Absolutely impossible |
achievement. II ID impossible, mainly, |
because it is not needed in tlis age Of |
the earths deyelopement. All Protestant |
sects are practically free and in Romanism there
is mTch more freedom than We are apt to give |
credit for. The supreme freedom Of conscience |
is granted in these days in every church, must |
be in the nature Of tthings,-and he has studied |
the matter to little purpose who thinks that |
anywhere even in the most Calvinistic Pres |
byterianism-a man s forced declare his belief |
against his convictions. What chance is there |
then for this new sect 7-and why must there /
always be number Of these good but outlandsh |
people who insist that the world is not being |
governed by conscience when in fact it is being /
30 governed more and more completely every |
year
Since the Boston Fire there has been grad |
ually growing feeling that our Department was /
not all it ought to be. l believe it has not even /
been suggested that as far as it went it was not |
a good and efficient force, but its strength has
been seriously Questioned. The central facts /
that Boston with population Of scarcely third |
of Philadelphia has Fire Department more /
than 3 third stronger than cur own and that /
even with such status it was unable to master
the late fire in its ealy stages - have had
wholesome effect upon the authorities cry /
goes up from all quarters that the Department
should be strengthened and the opening demon
stration was made in Councils Yesterday bill |
was introduced placing the Department in the /
control of the Chief Engineer and Six Assistants,
thus transferring the functions of the Fire Com.
missioners, So far 30 good,-for we thus get
practical working board, the Commissioners un-
der the present regime not being Firemen them
selves nor bound to actual duty. It is exrected
that this enlarged administration will lead OF
course to an increased force, which all, especi-
ally the insurance mon, admit is imperatively
needed,
Prof Tyndall has continued this week, and
concludes to night, the most perfect series OF /
lectures ever given in Philadelphia. do not /
know how to condole properly with intelligent
people who have missed the opportunity Afforded |
by this course 1t may be that not many have |