, 1873-09-17

PHILADELPHIA AH a FREE CITY.
Tho City of. Philadelphia boing the point from
which the Declaration OF Independence Was pro-
claimod, Inns with proprioty assumed to ba the
seat Of grand centennial celebration Of that
event. Sho has scnt forth appeals to nil parts
Of the country for material MD to enablo her to
mako the celebration worthy Of tho occasion aud
OF tho nation. Tho country generally has not
responded very liborally US yet. Nearly all thRt
has beon dono 80 fur has been done by Penneyl-
vana.
There is way in which Philadelphia can arouso
national enthusiasm and oxoito throughout tho
country an earnest and substantial interest in
her welfare and in tho national celebration.
This can 10 done BY general uprising Of hcr
poople to overthrow the corrupt md shameless
doepotism which rulos that city. II is no longor
denied, oven By tho most intonso partisana, that
tho City apd County of rhiladclphia nrc the
most Acknowledgements communities within
tho Union. a Philadelphia election 10 but pro-
vorbial namo for an acknowledged fraud. Phil
adelphia tustico is held in as little ropute, and,
though thore may DO decent and m honest
man left in somo Office or another, tho general
character Of Philadelphia officials il such TINT
no man thinks Of an exception, but treatB
tho who1o Goyesnnent, in all its branches,
from top to bottom, as utterly rotton
and dopraycd. OF rhe dishonesty OF tho
Government, Of tho shameless characters who tlll
tho public Offices, Of the thioying and robbery
and assassinations that are openly per-
potratod md pardoned, OF tho rapidly
! ncoumulating public dobt, OF tho terrible
machinery by which tho officials maintain their
and bludgoon upon those who dare to oppose
tho ring Of all these things there Is noithor
| denial nor apology. There Is not ruftlan nomi-
| mated for Office by d convention selected by hia
associates who has any fear that ho will not bo
declared elected; tho machinery Of a phiadel-
phia election iB such that 1t is to elect tho
men who control 1t, without reference to their
character Or fitnoaB or tho number Of votes that
may bo polled for or against them. There
Is not an Intelligent cltizon Of Philadelphia who
is not aware Of this condition Of affairs. Though
| all this ia done In the name Of tho Republican
|
No ono party could carry it out successfully.
| Tho great bulk Of the Democratic managers Of
wards aud precincts arc eubaidizod By the other
party, either in the way OF direct pay, or by
distribution Of plumber, or by diyision Of Off
cea. Certain locatios in Philadelphia are as-
signed 10 tho exclusive pillage Of Democratic
thieves, who In return give their votes to per-
potuate, tho Republican thieyes in their poases-
siona; and, though sham fight upon general
politics is 1opt up, tho persons elected aro al
ways those acceptable to both tho Democratic
and Republican scoundre!s who folio" politics
for living
philalelphiang Ahonld remember that they have
invited tho country and tho world to unto With
them In celebrating the ccntennlM anniversary
OF tho establishment OF aelf-goveln,nont by d
FREQ people, aud that this celebration ia to be
held ina city where the theory Of Helf-gogolnmont
ia an acknowledged failure, and whore, II such
thing cali over DO justilable, tho nccoaaities
Of tho case demand tho establishment OF tribu-
nal to moot out summary punishment upon the
public oificora, and the expulsion Or hanglng
Of large nnmber Of tho aHAasHins, thioycs,
aud bnltot-sturors, by Whose efforts these
mon laye roaohed and arc lopt In power:
In tho exhibition Of the wonderful progress
made by FREQ people, there Is no portion Of tho
country tint 1as my special acsIre to hayo tlie
Government Of Philadelphia presented as d
model. 4 city Of 100000 people, for tho most
! part oducatcd and roAnod living year aftcr yeas
under a dynasty compared with which that ot
George tho Third WAS raildnoss itaolf, ls not cal
culatod to inspire enthusiasm among Americans
or respect among Foreigners. II tho people oi
, | Philadelphia want to create national enthusiasm
lot thom rolnoyo tho torrlbla disgraeo upon fro<
, government which they conspicuous7y maintain
The country is tired of hearing plaintyo ro1non
atrancos against official orlme aud the domina.
, tion Of rutl!anB In all departments, AMI
500 no effort malo by any considerable portion
Of tue respectable people to throw or tho inou
bus. Year attor yaar, tho same acounlrels ar'
, elected to ollloe; tho only change made is whot
. aomo incumbent is murdered by another Of thu
gang. There can hardly be sald to bo any sucl
thing aa criminal law In Philadelphia, Tho tor
ror which s foil by respectable citizens ia showr
. In tho fact TINT largo number Of them wore TO
1 Gently oosreod by tho mob into signing an ap
, peal to tho President to pardou q nun whos,
| crimes we're 10 confessed aud 10 glazing tha