The New York herald., 1872-10-04
PENNSYLVANIA.
What Buckalew Says About the Politics
Of the Quaker State.
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION
The Real Issues of the Present
Fight.

venalIty or Pennsylvanin Politicians
Bargaining and Gambling with the
Sunrages OF tho PeOpie-Tho Only
Remcdys Amend the Constitution and
Introduce Cumulative Voting, Avoid
ing Abuse and Working for Recon-
ciliation and Peace.
LANsDALE Pa. Sept. %, 1872
Ex-senator Charles Il. Buckaew has every
reason to be satisfied with his reception in Doyles-
town. Popular as he Is represented to be in the
State, he has nowhere, outside OF his own county
OF Columbia, been so warmly received during the
campaign rs In this latter place. His record
In the United States Senate and elsewhere
may be OF the best and purest, but
unfortunately the Globe Is not taken text book
by the voting population OF this any other State
and hence the necessity OF the appearance public
OF the men who, although they may have achieved
the greatest feats In craftsmanship desire further
favors at the hands OF the people. Buckalew has
had, therefore, to undergo this ordeal In proprta
persona, and 1t is while going from county to
county In this way he is enabled to form at
least superficial idea OF his popularity ana
consequent voting strength. He has made thirty
speeches In less number OF days. each time
addressing O different audience, and In many
instances employing language the reverse OF llat-
tering to majority OF his hearers. Pennsylvania
political gatherings usually express before the plat
form their acquiescence or di5apprObation of q
speaker or his subject and, In some cases, the dis
appreciation is expressed in most unpleasant
manner 1t is but seldom man applauds at
the wrong time. In accordance with this stand
ard, then, Buckalew's strength can be estimated.
And he has not addressed audiences composed en-
tirey Of democrats and liberal republicans, but he
has been compelled to enter republican strong
holds, offend republican ears and receive republican
lances
THE COALITION dUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE
for such in reality he Is, is not what Bacon would
call man OF large parts. He Is about five feet
nine or ten inches in height, OF slight build, has
face and head highly suggestive OF the late Abra-
ham Lincoln, as a rule wearing his hair as though
he were in the habit Of constantly pushing his fin
gers through 1t straight above his forehead. His
method OF speaking is deliberate and impressive,
giving one the Idea that he seldom allowed an ex-
preston to escape his lips without having previ-
ously ''slept over it," Seating myself by his side
in the cars while en- route to this place
this morning, I entered into conversation
with him touching the present condition of affairs in
this State &c. Among other things he said politics
In the State of Pennsylvania had for several years
past been nothing more than gambling. II man
could collect a few friends together and desired
them to put him In nomination for some civil office,
a s st sag to S Se dSae % e % n9w
calculations always being carefully made, also, how
much the other side might pay for securing his
overthrow and accepting man Of opposite views.
II man got into power he wanted to be paid by
fees and make what should be s8layled position Of
coed standing the means of amasslhs 4 large
fortune In very short space of time.
There are onices in Philadelphia supporting their
officers by fees which OF themselves would corrupt
any system OF government, and 1t is for their pres
ervatlon that the republican party Is fighting It
was not matter Of surprise to him that their best
educated, most Intelligent citizens refused to take
any part in the government. TO be connected
with political organizations man risked that
Ss MsGa and Me ay qSe nsy
be denounced as an abettOr OF
BLACKMAILERS AND ROBBERS,
the companion Of blacklegs whose whole lives were
devoted to lying and stealing From one end OF the
Commonwealth to the other the same objections are
peculations from the public purse. AS an instance
OF the villany resorted to to secure oflce he
own tetwn in Columbia. There were there $40
voters, about $40 democrats and 800 repub-
naa m order 9c ess S or ne tos oa@ majority tsr sn,ss
II the democrats desired to secure their right
Of representation In the Town Council they
had to look around and count their strength before
the day OF election, and place their wires so as
TO be worked in securing the available majority.
matters, or perhaps they wanted new street
opened or improvements necessary to the health
and Wen Libel being & Of the people made. Their oppo-
were made test. II the latter could by any means
buy up or corrupt the ten men they could afford
OF the people, defeat all proposed improve.
ments and deprive more than one-haf the citizens
OF their right representation. In order to
defeat the republicans the democrats were
compelled to resort to all kinds of manipu-
voters some might always be depended on to vote
for measures proposed by their opponents, not be-
cause they desired to cooperate with others IN re-
Sisting their own party from motives OF honesty
and cOnscientOusness, but because some "busi-
ness' argument had been used for which he was
renee. 1t was matter Of bargain and sale all the
time. Supposing ten votes were bought, or Sc
cured, to use less onensye term, the 500 honest
men were deprived OF their rights. He could not
defend
SYSTEM OF CORRUPTION
like this, and honest men everywhere demanded
Its overthrow. IL was within the power OF the
people 10 put an end to a system that was running
monwealth. AS New York had decreed, and would
ultimately have fully to carry out, reform must
Philadelphia and gradually bringing Within her
control the government of the interior our mu.
nicpal affairs in Philadelphia are standing dis
grace to us; dshonorable men become
onice, and by their debauched example scatter
broadcast the seeds OF yenality. The legitimate
business machinery OF the city has been used for
maintaining corruption in the seat OF government
ing the dignity Of the law, the preservation OF
orderand security to person and property.
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
In case OF his election asked how he proposed
to change all this.
He replied they would fall back upon the Consti-
tutionai Convention. This body would immediately
proceed to propose some changes In the constitu-
tion. The municipal laws IN Philadelphia would re.
ceive special attention. and the infamous Registry
law now In force would have to give place to some
thing more worthy OF one OF the greatest cities In
the Union The leading interests demand, he re-
peated that the system OF paying public officers by
fees instead OF giving them salary to be regulated
by the Legislature, be done away with, Politicians
on the other side, who pretend to possess such an
immense amount OF patriotism and such strong de-
sres to serve the people, cannot surely object to
this.
.'what is their defence of the system ?. asked
He could no defence IN a case already pro-
nounced by the people TO be fraudulent and detri
mental to their best interests. Theirs was not
policy of hatred he SAID, but one of reconciliation
and peace. II was not his desire, or the desire OF
the party he represented to be constantly abusive
to sit down and preach the doctrines of everlasting
hate; to answer calumny by calumny, charges by
counter charges, and enter into polemcal discus
sions with men who have shown themselves un-
worthy or the confidence rep0sed In them by the
people. To do this would be lighting the shadows,