New-York tribune., 1874-10-14
NO REFORM FOR PHILADELPHIA.

THE DEMOCRATS BLIND TO THE ADVANTAGES OF
ALLIANCES OF INDEPENDENTS AND REFoRMEhs
THE USUAL RING JOKE OF AN ELECTION TO
BE PERPETRATED-A MOST DIsREPUIAbLE
TICKET NOMINATED BY THE REPUBLICANS.
lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBuSE1
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 10.-PhiladelphIa ap-
pears TO have postponed the day Of her sal
vation triumph of Dec 1873, has lost It's sisnh
cance and the participants in that victory are scat
tered FOrDey is courting foreetfuness OF feoruay "
the sober pleasures OF London OctOber mcclure mas
temporarily retired from any active participation III
public affairs voluntarily, he says, per force MS
enemies declare The Citizens party has melted away
as completely the December sDOwbanks amid whicn
1t was Graded. The November election will be simply
q struggle between the Democrat and Republican, the
man who out Of Office and wants to be in again, and
the official who enjoys power and intends to hold IT,
There Is no indication that the result will be more IA
vorabe to the Democracy than during its past iour-
teen years Of constant defeat 1t is the regular bull
bait and the usual knock down which we are 10 see.
As is the Democrats deliberately throwing away
their chances Let what were their opportuni-
ties The vote cast Or the Citizens ticket In February
was about 49OOO Republican 000 in excess OF that
The majority these votes those OF 1ndepen dent
Republicans shown by the fact that in one OF the
strongest Republican wards IN the city the vote for
stokley shows q loss of 1900. The Democrats
did not poll half their strength. as their leaders
now freely acknowledge Nothing has occurred since
that election to win these independent Republican
to the Ring they might as easily be poled
against Mann in November thoy were poled against
stokley February for the Constitution in De-
cember. But the Democrats have chosen to ignore
them entirely aud have neither recognized them on
their ticket or in their committees With like sefcon-
dence that party has turned the cold shoulder to the
Reform Association, which was never so willing TO make
what Mr. Sheppard terms rafting hght.' IL mas
money and leaders. but It lacks organization at the
polls This Democracy could supply, but it chooses
rather maintain stupid independence and to trus
to blind luck.
So far the work Of exposing the shortcomings OF the
Ring officials has rested entirely with the Reformers 1t
must be Acknowledged that 1t has been thorough IL
expended money freely to prosecute cases OF election
fraud and, though the DstrictAtOrney has In almost
every instance blocked the way TO punishment 1t Is
pretty understood by this time through whose in
famous practices the Penientiary is continually cheated
Of its ducs In it's last report presents such an array
of facts against Mann almost any other city would
drive him from his ticket without election. And yet
these direct issues deliberately avoided by the
Democracy, and the fight is TO be made upon party ques-
tions such H. G. Lea, W. H. Rawle, j. j. Rdgway, jr
W. p. Tatham Henry Armitt Brown, and other distin-
guished leaders OF Reform will not-cannot-make any
campaign upon. What moreover s constantly source OF
dissatisfaction the fact that the Democratic ticket is
~
not manifest desire TO put the best man in nomination,
but 1t did display party seshness In the most sienin
cant For the Office Of Judge Of Common Pleas
q nomination equivalent to an election under the
minority law, and 1t would to most people that II
the Democrats had been honest in their clamor TOR
REFORM they would have gladly seized the opportunity
place their most disnguishedawyer upon the bench
That the Convention did not do but passing by all the
usrious in the party, chose lawyer OF medi'
ocre talents sparse experience, and wholly devoid OF
fame 1t is held as an for this action that had 1t
not been such as 1t was worse nomination must iney
tably have been made, but the ex-
cuse hardly paates the offense. Quite
recently q movement was organized TO
take advantage Of the disafectiOn produced ny the
equally judicial nominations OF the Democrats
aud Republicans and place independent ticket IN the
field The Law Association body OF historic influence
had issued manifesto previous to the meeting 0f the
Convention. declaring its determination to name ticket
of Its should the regular ones not meet its appro0a
ton. That which 1t f0resaw happened and on Monday
evening last meeting was called 10 consider the sub
ec The attendance large and the advocates OF an
Independent ticket confident. They met and ad-
journed. Nothing This then Is the outlook with
as disrepuable ticket they had the Ring Re
pubcans will perpetrate this November their usual
oke of election and the Democrats experience their
customary defeat, while 2OOOJ honest citizens Will be
forced to sit idly by and see the play 90 on.