Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-05-24
FIRST EDITION..
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR sATuRD LETTER.

CORK BuhINEbb, ETC.
Special Correspondence of1e Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, May %.
II there is anything in having long start, the
Municipal Reform Association are booked for the
Fall race with the best of prospects. They have
already held their Convention and nominated
candidates for city offices to be elected in 0cto-
fer, while as yet nothing whatever has been
done, in public way at least, by the other par
ties. For matter of so much Importance it
has occasioned very little comment; it may be
doubted, indeed, il any considerable proportion
OF the people are really alive to the fact that
q ticket for local offices has been nominated.
The thing was done very quietly and there is
every reason to suppose that the gentlemen
chosen were virtually decided on in advance.
that the ticket was in fact 'cut and dried" the
favorite whitening expression OF the people
whose mission 1t has been for years, to find
fault with the Republican nominees. There is q
lesson in this for Ring" fighters, and
for admiring partisans who applaud with
out even knowing why. 1t only proves
even more fact that needed no proof, that in
Politics, as elsewhere, the mon will rule who
give it the most attention and who are fitted for
the occupation. 1t is in no sense practicable
for the entire body OF citizens to be active in
nominations. few bold spirits, natural lead
ers, will plan the work, aud il is only when this
small body becomes corrupt, and effects close
organization resolving to exclude any citizen
Whatever who chooses to become an active po it
cal worker that its influence is to be feared The
Reform Leaders-Mr. Lea, MIR. Rawle, Mr. Run
die smith and the est..-make as decided ''Ring"
as eau be found elsewhere. They knew when
they met on Monday last that they intended to
nominate Gen. Tyndale for Sheriff, bnt the voters
who are expected to support Tyndale did not
know it. Any man OF sense ought to see these
NTnkt thRVaa
never think of them.
Much the same problems offered to voters
last fall az promises to be presented this year,
except that last year was the State, and after
wards the National ticket to be considered. But
the question whether Reform should not be ef-
fected within the Republican party instead Of an
attempt to break up that party, was pres ented
then it Is now again. That some abuses have
crept into the Republican Party is to be admit
ted, but 1t is still the controlling power of the
country, and to restrict the field to the matter
in hand, il still represents the political faith of
\ vast majority of the intelligent and respecta-
bio men and women of Philadelphia. Has the
time come for that party to die And this, on
the other hand is certain; II Mr.. Lea's recruits
would throw themselves into the fight on the
Republican side they would win They could
not help but win. SO much purity, resolve and
executive power upon the side OF tho people
would compel SUCCESS, whereas by mere factious
opposition and by inviting the corporation Of
the Democracy, 1t has no chance Of it. The
managers have nominated General Tyndale for
Sheriff; Joshua L Hallowell, for City Treasurer;
Joseph A. Clay for Register OF Wills John +.
Belsterling for Clerk of the Orphans Court
aud VIM. y. Ward for City Commissioner. These
are all good mon, but no better-nor as good
as many whom the Republicans can put for
ward But they are too good for the Demo-
Gratis. Tho hope of the reformers, and this is the
point of the movement which is most offensive
to some of us, is that the Democrats will join
with them to defeat the Republican nomieees.
But such an anticipation has but slim founda-
tion. 1t Yonld indeed be a spectacle to see Io-
cofocos Voting for old abolltiOnists like Tyn-
dale and HallO8ell. 1he deluge would be an APP
proprate finale to such II performance. The
Democrats cannot fail to nominate their own
ticket, and the reformers will have the proud
satisfaction of knowing that whatever votes
they get will he from the house of their old
friends. Fortunately there will not be enough
such votes to do any damage.
The attentive observer cannot fail to note at
this time a most unusual and gratifying activity
in our Affairs. Some OF the evidences OF this
awakening are patent toeverybody but more sig
nltcant even than the building improvements
etc which are seen on all hands arc the enlarged
Vows OF affairs which are noticeable among
business and professional men. This, too in
spite of ali Immediately dull trade. 1t s hard to
give shape to this feeling and yet 1t is very real.
No doubt it is the result OF anatural growth, but
a conjunction OF circumstances at. this time has
given direction to the development. Among
these 'cauhoe are, prominently lub 1eulbtlllhl
movement the varied enterprises OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad Co; the Ocean Steamship
Line (of which the pioneer vessel, the Petttisyt-
Udnid sailed for Liverpool yesterday the
erection of the Public Buildings and tho new
Post Office, and the activity i'll private building
on our main thoroughfares. The extent OF these
last named improvements is something extraor-
binary, and Chestnut street, not to name other
localities, soems Is lDel OF destruction an
reconstruction from one end to the other. b.
tUa lrl and nth Htrapta these mHmmOtl
provements are in progress, which 1t Is promised
shall result in raising the Architectural STANDARD
of the city. One of these is to be the new Build
ing OF the Adams Express Co. Further mp the
street woIkmen are engaged iii denlnlishlng the
old United states Hotel, one OF the distinguished
hostelies OF tho country in times long before
the continental" or - Girard." This Is com
mon remark to hear now why, there is quite
a New York air in the streets !" And so there is.
blind motions of the spring stlr the blood
of the Quaker city, and lead her to possibilities
and results of which as yet she has not even
dreamed. Nor is this counting in that wonderful
ocean-snbGuing scheme OF the headng haliroad
of which nobody--the company lncluded-know
anything. AS TO Now York, we might probably
copy her in many things, but should avoid her
in as many more. wopld sec here all New
York's energy and public spirit, without her
WeAkHes and follies.
Relatiye to building, naturally reour to the
Philadelphia Library and the Rush Hequest, m
asmuch az our noble adornment OF the city Will
speedily grow out of the settlement OF the Will
case and perhaps two. The supreme Court has
decided to reverse the decision of Judge Mercur
and give the Executor, Mr.. II. +. Williams power
to carry out the testator's verbal instructions in
the matter OF building upon the lot at broad and
Christian streets, bought for that especial pur"
pose You will remember that DIR. Rush made
beuuest of a million dollars to the library on
condition of its moving to the site named. The
library wanted the money, but did not want TO
move to Christian street. and tho result WAS
some of the most shameful proceedings ever
known in law. have, however, fully discussed
this question at other times The Court OF high
eat aipeal now settles the matter, and settles 1t
TO the satisfaction of all honest people who be-
lieye man should do as he likes with his own.
DIR. Rushs executor will at once proceed to erect
at Broad and Christian streets magnificent
granite structure, with facade OF classic col
uulnA similar to those which grace the custom
house. Dr, Rush left full Instructions for tho
kind of building he desired. The library COM
pany have still the choice whether or no to ae-
cent the beduest, though in strict Justice they
should have forfeited it after the shabby effort
they made to obtain it, despite the conditions. II
| they do not accept they will build upon ground
| of their own at Juniper and Locust streets.
Other extensive bequests have been made pub
lie this week to the qualification of various classes
Of people A rich and eccentric German gentle
man named Nisbach, died several years ago,
| leaving property Of over million, and which
now reaches nearly two million dollars. His wife,
who is a very old lady, is TO have the money dur
| ing her life and afterwards it was to have gone
| to AN Only child and in the event OF her death,