Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-22
FIRST EDITION..
200 p. M.
PHILADELPHIA.
our sArURDAY LETTER


Special Correspondence Of he Commercial
PHILADELPHIA, March 21.
1t is not election day here. although 1t is in
most parts Of the State. But II we are not vo-
ting, the thoughts and hopes and wishes Of
some Of us are actively with those citizens who
are granted to-day the privilege of doing
what they NAV towards overthrowing the
great Rum King. For to-day the major por-
tion OF Pennsylyania is to decide for or against
the licensing of Liquor Sellers. Judging from
the tone OF the inland press there can be no
| doubt what that verdict will be- that 30 | arRe a
| vote will be polled against license that great
| lift from Philadelphia would complete the
victory and Danish rum selling from the Common
wealth, At least in public and unblushing
i way. But will Philadelphia give that assistanceS
That is the vital question and upon it there are
| grave doubts. The decision here has been post
poned until the October Election, an unfortu-
nate thing fer the Prohibitionists. II we
might vote to-day with the balance OF the State
think it entirely probable that majority
against License could be had voting, as we
ghAll, in general election, and with numerous
other interests pushing in to distract attention,
and with all the ties OF party strengthened, the
view is.not 30 hopeful. Speaking generally, the
Republicans are the Prohibitionists, and the
Democrats the favorers Of License. There are
exceptions in both classess but that is the main
fact: In special election, with politics in no
License on principle, though II would not be
principle strong enough to induce them to
"Bplit the ticket, when running candidates for
Office In general contest There, take it. is
where we go down, but we shall nevertheless
make gallant fight.
Rightly viewed, this day presents a nobler
spectacle throughout the State OF Pennsylv ania
than though 1t pronounced the election of citi-
zens to any office, however high. There has been
response to the call in favor OF Local Option so
general, 80 earnest, SO evidently and directly
from the mind and conscience Of the people, that
every man who wishes his brother well may just
ly feel encouraged. When the agitation first
commenced the Bourbon party only sneered
but speedily it found that all the
moral strength and worth Of the |
community was opposed to it, When |
the Local Option law was declared constitutional |
and valid by the Supreme Court Chief Justice |
Read in dissenting opinion could find no better
argument against it than this: that when the |
Declaration was signed its friends drank success
to it in rum, and in 1876, il Local Option Is /
adopted by the people, the participants in the |
Centennial can drink continued long life to the
Nation in nothing but ice water Auy school
boy will call that silly, yet 1t is the principal
point in an argument Of the Chief Justice of
Pennsylvania on the Temperance question. It
is pitiful enough and yet it shows precisely the
status OF the objections to this great reform.
One OF the most completely disheartening |
things in our city affairs is the management Of
the Gas Trust. No one knows anything about |
its affairs it is not intended they should it is
quite impossible to get light upon what should
be very light subject. little party of politi-
cians-a dozen or so IN number-control Ten Mil
lions of thepublic money as absolutely as il they
owned il, (which, indeed they do to all iutents
and purposes,-and it Is no more possible
to tell where the profits go than it is
to state who inflicted that mysterious blow
Upon William Patterson. At certain intervals the |
"Ring" issue a manifesto which they call Il
"report." but it is q document from which no
nl,arf aA
tract particle OF information. Some conscen-
tious people are just now puzzling themselves
over the latest OF these farcical reports. When
they give their attention to a few more OF them
they may discover that language is in sober fact,
a contrivance to conceal thought with the Gas
Trustees. In the meantime the gas furnished
Is so wretchedly poor that many people have
taken to candles and coal oil in self-defense.
In the section where 1 live the street lamps
are 80 foul and begriined by the smoke as
to give scarcely any light, for this iu miuating
agent has the faculty OF smoking like badly
trimmed oil lamp. 1t furthermore, from some
undue pressure on the gasholders, has a blow
ing on property, large proportion OF it escap-
ing from the burner unburned. Bills have from
this reason, risen to outrageously unjust figures.
Every householder makes the same complaint.
that for the last quarter bills were from 80 to |
so per cent. higher than for the three months
These, it must be remembered,
were all winter or fall months where there could
be no great difference in the amount OF gas
uheu. IL Is u mOnbtTOub DuL Mndb 10 W I
be done The T" Ring is master, and the rest
Of us waste our breath to no purpose.
st. Patricks day was celebrated here inla fash
ion calculated to warm the cookies OF an Irish
mans heart? 1t lis absurd, this using over and
over, OF words nobody understands. Yet we all
do it, 1t is agreed all around that the green"
never had such " wearin'" 10 these parts. The
parade, the meetings of the Benevolent Socie-
ties, the Hibernian Banquet, the Dougherty ,
oration, were all immense. For wonder it did |
not rain, the 18th being the finest of the season.
This Of itself was enough to give the celebrar
tion sort OF miraculous air. The best Of feel
ing prevailed and the holiday was in every
sense success. II is pleasant to note this, for
it is an added assurance that America is large
enough and liberal enough to make citizens, and
good citizens, out OF all manner of opposing ma
and creeds. The Irish themselves
were very jubiant over the interest felt in them
on Paddy's Day, the more thoughtful ones enjoy
ing themselves as much on the 18th as they did
the day beIore, The Sheady thought then came
in that this, in truth s,s free land-a land where
superstition and bigotry are-if not to say dead
at least not permitted to override the public
peace, or hinder any man from following the
path that seems to him best
The Artistic and Literary Club OF which spoke
to you some weeks ago. has at length taken
shape but in somewhat different form than was
first anticipated. The original design was to
provide simple and rather informal organiza-
ton, by means Of which parties of the above in
dicated tastes might enjoy the pleasures OF ar
tistio society. The best kind OF goodfelowshp
was intended and nothing more. some of the
gentlemen interested however, have giventhe en-
terprise more ambitious turn and intend placing
the new organization on q line with the League
Reform, and Philadelphia clubs. The claim
was that wealthy merchandising and Art
Patrons-must be invited to take part in it,
and that to do this everything must be accord
ing" The main object of the. club is the furth
erance of artists interests, in bringing them and
the buyers into closer relationship. The scheme
has naturally therefore taken an enlarged and
fashionable form. The club is called the "Aes-
thetic," and in its organization and aims will re-
semble the "Lotos" and "Arcadian" recently es-
tAblished in New York. 1t will undoubtedly
exercise a wide influence upon Art. Literature,
and Society in Philadelphia, inasmuch
as the most prominent men
in their walks are expected TO be active mem-
bers OF it, Mr.. Simmons the architect is Pres
ident, and VIM Rothermel, the artist Vice Pres
dent. Among the Directors are Mr.. Henry o,
Gibson the wealthy art patron, Mr.. James L.
Clayhorn, and other equally prominent gentle
men.
An accident happened this week at Fox's Old
Variety Theatre on Walnut st. (now known az
the "Centrar') which 1t is wonder has not hap
pened before. 1t grew out Of the mismanage-
ment Of one Of those dangerous stage traps"
which it, may be too much to
theatre, but which should at all events be- con