The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-10-15

Pennsylvania, by the adoption OF new
constitution, has abdicated the pernicous pre-
cedence she had in the politics of the country.
Radical journals, once democratic, such as
Forney's Press, which shuddered at the name
of Hamilton, see in this coincidence OF cleo
tons, new illustration of craving for Hamii-
tonian unifcation. To us of the outside and
independent world it is simply matter Of con-
tentment that the unfortunate influence which
community VIGOROUSLY in it's politics cor
rupt was able to exercise is at an end for
ever. All such phrases as GAS Pennsylvania
goes so goes the Union" are obsolete She
votes with the other States in November, and
her agents. democrats or republicans, need
not come here any more for tribute. Still
Pennsylvania is too important an integer in
the political sum to be overlooked, and this
year her crisis is an interesting one. Why,
it may not be amiss to show. For
the first sixty years Of her constitutional his
tory, democracy-old-fa honest, pref
udiced democracy-h sway. The elections
Of Hester, and Ritner, and Johnston and Pol
lock were accidents and exceptions. Democ-
racy proved itself corruptible when Mr. Bddle
bought eight or ten Senators in 1896, Simon
Cameron largely assisting, and Old Thad
Stevens playing Hecate at the caldron. Thus
inoculated the disease spread and both parties
soon showed very purulent superficial sp ots
In 1860 radicalism captured the citadel, and
has been intrenched there ever since. The
war came, and CALAMITY as Pennsylvania
soldiers behaved at distance, at home cor
ruption reigned supreme, until, as now, mis-
government, which the familiar word ''ring-
hatefully oppressive that revolt outside of
mere party organization, in fact extending to
both parties, threatens to make itself felt
The first symptom that signified anything was
the adoption of this very new constitution,
which, from one end to the other of the State,
was bitterly opposed by the corruptionists.
For the Ring Convention at Harrisburg
which nominated Paxson and was manipu-
lated by an audacious leader like
Mann, to pretend the constitution was
their work was the most grotesque i'm
pudence. 1t was the work of the discontinued
masses, and there is no reason (and hence
one element Of interest and hope) to suppose
that preliminary victory will be thought suf-
6cient If any considerable share of this feel
ing can be infused into the coming contest,
strengthened as it may be by aversion to
ssthird termism,' and to "Credit Mobilier"
and ''salary grabbing" in which Pennsyl-
vania republicans with one or two demo-
crats) largely INDUCED, there is every reason
to anticipate decisive opposition victory in
November. On the other hand, there are ele-
ments at work which foretel different result.
The local municipal ''rings," controlling cleo
ton machinery and with obsequious judges
to back them. will not surrender without
desperate struggle They know if once dis
lodged the fate Of Tweed is theirs and that
even Philadelphia justice will be memorable.
Then, too, the control of the Legislature has
especial Importance in this that on it devolves
the duty Of electing Senator on the expira-
ton OF Mr.. SCOTS term. This raises peculiar
tangle. Mr.. Scott, though elected as Cameron
man, has proved FESTIVE. His intelli-
gent sense of duty to himself and his State has
prompted him to revolt, and it is perfectly
well understood that, in his subterranean way,
his colleague is moving heaven and earth to
defeat him. This time General Cameron has
q more sentimental motive than usual, which
we are not inclined to condemn, and which,
possibly, is as intense as if it were matter
Of personal ambition. He sees in public life
q succession Of Adamses and Stocktons and
Frelinghuysens and Bayards, and why not
Camerons? He wishes to attain the unusual
honor of seeing himself and his son in the
deal Of power Of mischief still survives even
in the ashes Mr.. Scott is not, we imagine,
ready to be sacrificed on this account, and,
doubtless, is busily at work. Hence new dem
ocratic hope, though it may be a matter of
policy to help Mr. Scott. A decided demo-
cratic majority in the Legislature would of
course, choose decided democrat, and we
may see Mr.. Buckalew restored or Senator
Wallace elected, or it might be Judge Black,
or the recluse, Mr.. Cowan. 1t may be that
Mr.. Scott friends will hold the balance, and
then, it seems to us, obvious policy would
point out the clear path before those who have
to make the choice. These, then, are the
most striking aspects of the coming Keystone
contest.
AMERICAN ARCHITECTS IN CoNvENTIoN.-It is
good sign to see the members of the Archi-
tects Institute endeavoring to call public
attention to the state of the Building laws.
One of the great sources Of danger to our