The New York herald., 1873-12-19
PENNSYLVANIA.
THE NEW: CONSTITUTION.
History Of the Instrument, the Necessity Which
Demanded 1t, the Opposition 1t Encoun-
tered, Its Triumphant Adoption and
the High Hopes for It's Benefits.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. II, 1873.

Gettysburg. IL is triumph OF common sense and
public virtue over combinations of all that was
s0rdid and venal. At no time was there doubt OF
the earnestness OF the people OF the interior for
reform; but since last spring, when our Ring in
sOenty boasted that, by means OF the machinery
OF the infamous Registry law lodged in Its keeping
IL could ''smash things,n and that it would make
the city return majority OF 10000 against "any
Kind OF REFORM there has been much fear about
the final result. And when the Supreme Court re-
Gently overthrow the special ordinance OF the Con-
vention providing or fair election in the city,
and Temanded voters to the tender mercies OF the
bandtti who dominate at the polls, the apprehen-
siOns OF all good citizens Increased. 1t appeared
if the Ring had become as potential In the
highest tribunal OF the State as it was known
10 be in the lowest and in the Legislature.
A word as to our Ring. Yours never was as
widespreading. Ours is a composite affair." made
mp about equally OF national, State and city Office
holders, with their innumerable satellites and re-
tanners, cemented by the cohesive power OF public
punder, and, despite Its triplicate nature working
as smoothly as unity Itself Your most monstrous
and engulling band never rioted in triple-headed
power, nor
Barked with wide Cerberean mouths,
ike ours; nor controlled as easily at Washington
as at home; nor had grave United States Senators
" PotSCt, VI CaiOu ICdBuCo W suStaiu 1Au uS-
fend it's vilest men and measures. Your Ring, as
we observed it, was an audacious set OF magnificent
scoundrels, few in number, all OF one party, bold
In design, desperate in will and as lavish OF their
own ilgotten wealth as OF the public treasures
Ours is a numerous body OF mean, mousing repub-
iican politicians in affiliation with like set OF
sneaking rogues OF the democracy, between whom
there is a compact to combine cheat and divide
Your Tweeds could prevent the conviction
OF their guilty tools; but our master
spirits open the prison doors OF condemned
1elons, commanding at the White House with voice
potential as at Harrisburg. Your Ring rested on
bribery. Ours relies on patriotism. Heaven save
the mark 1t exhorts, cajoes, intimidates, always
IN the name Of the ''great republican party the
''sacred cause OF equality and humanity'' and
ike clarion calls. Thousands of dull, timorous,
but truthful, welLmeaning men, who take their
cue from the League, permit themselves to be de-
uded with the idea that the welfare of the republi-
party is indissolubly associated with the su-
premacy Of the Ring.
The decision OF the Supreme Court amazed the
people. True, the people might have remembered
that two at least OF the judges not renowned for
legal acumen research or lofty principles had
been recently elevated TO the Bench, and repre-
sented nothing so well as the degraded tone OF the
party that elected them. They might have remem-
bered that Supreme Courts have never been favor
able to progress or reform; that jurists who are
but jurists- "only that, and nothing more"-never
yet did augnt but strive to embarrass and cripple
the provision OF statesmen. Coke could not discover
the vastness OF Bacons mind and the wisdom OF
our Binneys and Merideths enlightened not the dun
minds of the judges who crowd Supreme
Bench. We forbear further lamentation over their
1imness for Is this not the fifth year OF the bssul
original profound is to be neglected aud repudi-
.Rted
ORIGIN OF THE INSTRUMENT
The history or the new constitution Is interest
Ing Hon. A. K. Mcclure, in the fall OF 1869 and
winter OF 1870, traversed the State impressing In
nuential men OF both parties by his speeches and
writings upon the necessity Of having the organic
law remodeled and reformed In october, $780,
the directors of the Union League, following
McClure's suggestions, convoked the League in
mass meeting within the pslatial League House,
10 take action in favor OF the new con-
stitution. The usurpationss. OF the Legisla-
ture, the bribery and corruption and
frauds and forgefies which polluted its halls; the
nnappeasable rapacity Of railroad corporations and
their absolute control Of the State legislature;
the abuse OF the pardoning power and other
Migrant wrongs were exposed and denounced.
nuence in the State-appointed committee Of its
.ablest members to meet similar committee OF
democrats, and to act jointly with such committee
in obtaining from the Legislature an act submit
ting the question OF calling convention to
vote OF the people. In October, 1871, the people
decided this question in the affirmative by an
overwhelming majority. In 1872 delegates were
elected TO the Convention, under q wise provision
OF law, which secured for the minority repre-
sentaton but little less than that of the majority
During the sessions, covering 10 months time.
the discussions were marked by an almost entire
absence OF party acerbity and prejudice. The
labors OF the Convention were submitted to the
people some six weeks since.
THE CONTEST.
Immediately good men OF all parties ayowed
their approval OF the work. On all sides one scarcely
heard anything but commentator, and the al
vices from all parts OF the State were OF enthusiastic
assent, approaching unanlmity. Even the Ring
appeared to be abashed. II was silent, but not
idle. Some six or eight OF its prominent managers,
holding "row-oficesn yielding over half million
dollars per annum to them In the shape OF salaries
and fees, besides pickings and patronage without
limit, could not contemplate the destruction OF
such princely revenues, and the substitution OF
liberal sal aries only in lieu OF them. without re-
solving to fight. The Convention, mindful OF the
despotlsn Of the Registry law and the nagitious
character or the men who enforce it, appointed
nve wen known citizens three OF them repuba
licans, TWO democrats) 10 conduct the special cleo
ton oil yesterday independently of this abominable
law, Wnicn has reduced our elections TO empty
mockeries. The Ring determined to have these
Commissioners put aside, and the Ring accom-
p1shedlts OBJECTS how, by what means will best be
known when the Initiated fall out and bab OF their
crafty combinations. AS soon az the Court enjoined
the Commissioners, and the election was ordered
10 pe.eld under the Registry act concerted action
against adoption was evident in every quarter
and the friends OF the constitution were lled with
alarm. The first hope OF the better portion of the
republicans was In their idolized Union League il
had naugurated the movement for new constitu-
tion. and, never blind or dumb to its merit had
glorifed In more than one annual report, its saga
city, purity and enterprise. There the citadel
80 which the discounted might repair; there was
The arsenal full OF the material with which to hght
corruption The League press would work-the
League pamphlets would doubtless issue by tens
of thousands. urging eaguers 10 be leaders, as OF
yore In the good cause.-the Leagues cause.-the
most important cause she had ever espousedl
Her Boanerges-and she has many OF them-w0uId
surely thunder against corruption and conserva-
tism, and for the constitution, the child OF the