Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-22
FIRST EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA.
OUR RDAY LETTER,

pHrLADELPHIAs INFLUENCE IN THE REPUBLICAN
STATE ooNvENTIoN-aENERAL HARTRANFT FOR
| PREsIDEHT-ruE DoBB1Ns CONTRACT FOR THE
MEMORIAL HALL-THE 'RED STAR LINE" I'M
pRoyEnTENTa ON THE DELAwAnE-THE RAILWAY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IN HALIFAX, &c.
Special Correspondence OF the Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, August IA.
1t is clear that the ambition of the Republican
managers in Philadelphia is no longer satisfied
with the mere administration of local affairs.
Eney aspire, and it would seem successfully, to
rule the State. Th,y "ran" the Convention at
Harrisburg on Wednesday, and to such purpose
that the country" was run off its legs, clean
bowled i'll the first innings. The chef prize
| the Supreme Judgeshp-was won by Colonel
| Mann's wing, and for Philadephan, and other
points in the proceedings showed that tile dlsaf-
lection Ill the central and western counties stood
no chance against the discipline and courage OF
the city organization. The struggle had its
crisis in the reception of the report on perma-
nent officers proposing Hon. j. s. Rutau for
chairman. The opponents of the Philadelphia
party attempted to take stand here, but were
| routed, and Col. Mann was henceforth the ad-
mitted leader-as he is thus virtually allowed to
be the leader in the State to-day.
Bearing all this in mind even no apparently ex-
treme an action as the nomination Of Governor
Hartfanft for the Presidency has its significance,
and shows that the people who made haste to
rldcule that action. spoke without thought.
| IenDHyINhnA has more tflan once SHOWN heIBelf
able to dictate policy to the country, and ex-
travagant rs the idea may now seem to some 1T
1 is quite within the range of possibility that the
Hartranft nomination may be one Of the main
points of the next Presidential campaign. Some
critics are at once to the front, with the objec-
ton that such Il convention RS met at Harrisburg
cannot nominate Presidential candidate, but
that kind of talk is trling. 1t is understood, of
COURSE that the word nominate is used in the
sense Of "naming," or the expression of pref
| Evary individual paD uo IN in tha
way, that ls he can present the name OF the cti-
zen whom he thinks best qualified for office.
When all named public opinion acts upon
tho persons suggested, and raying around cer-
tain names of peculiar strength press the n-
terests of such persons that delegates to the reg
uar convention go thither with a definite aim.
In this process the little men drop naturally, and
and only those of acknowledged strength remain
to stand the final test. This naming of a choice
OF Pennsylvania for the Presidency is all the
convention essayed to do but in itself that act is
full meaning.
But what is especially to be remarked il that,
while the State has taken this action, the real
mover was the city of Philadelphia. Shall We
say then that if Genl Haltranft became Presi-
dent he will have Philadelphia to thank for it
and that at the centre of that gratitude wall be
need of thanks to Col. Wm. Is. Mann | have
remarked upon this point as being the essential
matter OF interest before the convention, but the
business proper OF the body was carried through
TO tho satisfaction of everybody. The nomina-
ton of Judge Paxson for the Supreme Judgesnp
in in the highest sense gratifying to the people
of thus city who know the nominee to be II first
class lawyer and iurist, and an Official whose
honor is beyond reproach. Has nomination is,
of course, equivalent to an election.
The Dobbins contract for the erection of the
Centennial Memorial II al has been published
III full, and considerable to-do ia made of the
fact. The public however would be much bet
ter satisfied to hear of something definite about
the main Exposition Building have before
Had ta In lln
pears to be given to be given to the Memorial
Hall, but that the public would gladly see diff
ferent disposition manifested. The Hall con-
tract is satisfactory 30 far as it goes Mr. Dob
, bins agrees to pay $1,000 day forfeit for every
day after Feby 1st, 1876 during which the build
ing shall remain unfinished On the other
hand he is granted premium of $1,000 for each
\ day prior to December 80. 1875 that the building
\ | shall be finished. The commission also claims
a the wight to take the contract bodily from the
builders hands il il sees reason to suppose that
the work will not be done in time or that it viii
be nsuficiently done. Work ia in active progress
= III this direction and there is every prospect OF
l. its being finished i'll good season.
. The 1" Red star steamship line ii making
ome very important improvements on the Della
ware which WILL have striking effect upon the
II commerce of the port. These consist in the
:, construction of wharve5 and docks at u spo
e known as Girard Point, near League Island
/. More than half million of dollars will bt
spent npon these imp ovements, which are O
the most sub4tantl description. The mali
10 wharf will be 500 feet long, and $50 feet wide
p, and the docks upon either side will be 200 fee
~ wide. The intent iH to connect with the Penna
rs Railroad at Point Breeze, and thus secure
through shipment OF heavy ireights, especial.
. of grain, with as little handling as possible
a Mammoth elevators will be reached at Girar,
- Point and one is now nearly ready for business
-, | The growth OF our ocean commerce IL indicated
-, | by these evidences of progress. The "Red Star
:" Line s substantial suce ess, and other enter
afr fhau unpto f,rnt nrfin
d. by it.
-. The accident to a Noriistown excursion part
iii on the New York Railroad caused pa nful fee
NJ ing here in the early part of the week. The Gil
! cuInstances rendered 1t doubly distressing. Th
W arrest of a pleasure party IN such grim fashio
is more horrible than accident OF the ordlnar
l. sort, even if the suffering occasioned be n
n, n greater. The propo tion of women and childre
M M | Is always large upon such excursions and
Ill them tho first thought goes, although in th
so case all the killed and wounded happened to
We men. When the accident WAS first reported tl
= thoughts of everyone flew back to the awful a
fair on the Moth Penna. Rail Road, many sun
mers ago. The most extravagant rumors WEI
a ut once ailoat of the immolation of the who
10. excursion train, &c and for short time the e'
TO cltement was intense. Finally it appeared tina
,re although fad enough, the first report had bee
ks. greatly exaggerated. There we're about twenl
ht- casualties, four of which were fatal.
There was another hope raised this week thf
Charley Rols had been found, this time i'll Iii
- tie town Ill illlnOls, Dut upon luFentlBhtlol III
NJ report was found to have no better foundato
III than the many others which have raised and d.
er- pressed the hopes OF people 30 many times du
py ing the past two months. The case grows MOI
'rs perpexing as time passes and nothing
learned of the lost child II it is really ca
.o of outrage upon family it lis the cruelest thir
ny ny ever done in our history-many times wor
d ap than mnrder But the feeling grows that it is II
i, 'a such an outrage. You cauuot stop people fro
I l.n talking nor will all the affidavts as to go'
gu, character avail while the suspicious charact
ay' Of some points of the business are allowed to
H. main uneIp planned
'ne We have sent another party Of athletes to
foreign land-if it is fair to term Canada such
MI | to show the inhabitants thereof something
nu sa our proficiency in out door sports. The Phil
'in IL, delphians in England arc not only showing q
Nd Cookneya how toi play base ball, but are al
st; beating them at their own game of cricket al
ras Ss now Germantown has sent delegation to Ha
o fax to contest with of the best English al
'nd Canadian players. The Eleven has three OF q
! Of Newhalls (lncluding Charles, the best Amerc
, IL; in bower), together with other members of .
I" Young American Club, and members OF .
Germantown and Philadelphia clubs. They ha
won two games, and have good prospect
coming out ahead of their competitors.