The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-02
THE QUAKER CITY.
Serenity After the Disenthralment.
How Affairs stand I'm Local Political
Cfrcles-The Work To BE Done-Post>
ton OF the Union League Club.


Cfrcles-The Work To he Done-Posia
tion OF the Union League Club.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 81, 1873.
We are still rejoicing over our disenthralment.
The better portion OF the press that opposed the
new constitution gracefully acquesces In the wis
dom and the sovereignty OF the people. The more
intelligent and least selfish OF those who voted
against adoption begin to appreciate the merits Of
the new instrument. But for the cursng and
gnashing OF the Ring-we have scotch'd the snake,
not killed it-one might think, so ocund is the air,
that the primal virtues OF the fathers lived again as
In the brave days of old,
When all for the State.
We can allow but brief period for congratulate
ton over our transcendent triumph, for there is
much work to be done. A Legislature OF unques.
TONED incompetency, nominated and elected
under the debased condition OF public morals
which has prevailed for years, Is to be watched
Irue IL Is shorn OF much Of It's power to DO evil,
but IL Is made up OF such that but little good
may be expected rom IL. Unfortunately, the ar.
rangements for giving effect to the benefits of the
new constitution necessarily had to be left with
this body. The Governor largely possesses the
confidence OF the people, and his hearty co-opera-
ton in setting the new government in action is
confidently relied upon.
CITY OFFICIALS
1t will be necessary for us to hold our municipal
election in February next, eight months eariex
than we expected and, as the Mayor then to be
elected Will be in ONCE during the centennial year.
the subject OF candidates ls becoming excit-
ing and engrossing. The present incumbenu
can hardly expect to be renomnated. He
is not acceptable to any party or to any
faction, and scarcely to the smallest frac-
ton or either. His strength and his boast.
hitherto, has been that ne was one OF the founders
s,,li,, ID
lnee and successful candidate; its most cherished
champion; its most INSCRIPTIONS adviser and
abettor, and, by means OF his police. its all
powerful protector. DaZed by the mighty up
rising OF the people-a fact patent and posi-
tive as midday-conscious OF the frauds that had
been committed during the morning, OF those then
being perpetrated ana OF others yet more stupen-
dous to be committed before night by his follow
ers and friends; aware that the people knew Of
these atrOcious acts and schemes; terrified at the
imminent prospect OF the summary vengeance Of
an outraged community. at one O'Clock, in despair,
he called of his imported gang OF repeaters, and
suddenly refused to longer connive at the ex-
IRENE villanes OF his confederates. His own
language to the reporters OF the press was "he
would not be put in hole" The rutflans OF the Ring
and their leaders and employers say he "went
back on them,' for which they curse him and give
him up. We speak OF what is averred and known;
''ior this thing was not done in corner" but in
the Mayors ONCE, in the presence OF the report
ers of the daily press. The Mayor will be left Sc
verey alone, 10 be punished by what has been
considered as the most painful of all reflections.
IMMEDIATE WORK.
Much work is to be done forthwith. There is the
large class OF unsuspectlng citizens to console,
which has for years allowed itself to be tho
dupe OF the Ring and to vote for all its men and
sanction all Its measures, under the belief that
action. These gentlemen have awakened from
their stupor and are dismaily contemplating their
involuntary completely with craft and crime. They
need comfort IN their aficton, and doubtless they
will be early cared for and consoled
THE FOSSILS
The revlvifcatiOn of the fossils of all strata from
the miocene to the very latest plelstocene, and
their very remarkable nervous energy against new
ideas and REFORM which astOnshed everybody, is
more difficult matter to understand and manage.
But these antique representatives OF long deiunct
petriactions, and they may SAFELY be allowed to
get back to tier shells by their own process with
out assistance, let or hindrance from any OF the
present age. Had we politicO-sce tifc academy
and museum we might lodge a lew cheice speci-
mems with it Tor the instruction OF posterty Them
there Is
THE UNION LEAGUE IMPERrLLED.
The recent tornado swept with raging force
prde Of Phadspha shaken Shattered d.
what by the fury OF the blast the League Is still,
perchance. sound enough in the main TO Justify ex-
tensve repairs and alterations. The institution
must not be suffered to languish and perish 1t
can be purified and restored to usefulness ana
respect despite the cynical dogma Of Taeyrand
that bunder Is wo. sc than CRIME. The people
charitably conclude that 1t has not been so much
the confederate of the Ring as the victD, and
thus their sympathies are excited. Our affections
linger around the Leagues days Of glory and her
IN
Of the annual report OF 1870, from the
pen OF its gifted Secretary. We read and reread
that marvellous production, and fOndly dwell
on its beauty and wisdom: nor do we ever fail to-
gently reprehend the directors for their strange
mendaLOns approved as they were by an enthusi-
astic and unanimous vote. 1t Is meet that this
vived. We humbly submit it now, in the present
lamentable prostration OF the League, and we nrgo
upon the members OF the institution the serious
ponderngs" it enjoins, In the conviction that they
will find in the glowing periods a solace for them
selves in these days Of their defeat and humilia-
ton; though it Is barely possible, however, that
the keen remembrance thus awakened OF those
days OF purity so early lost, may add to their
reaved mother gazing on the garments Of her loss
one, excatm with her,
o, hide them awayl o, hide them away
Anathema maranatha on the wretches who Sc
duced the League from the paths OF virtue! Alas
that, like Haidee in the day OF her temptation.
Just in the very crisis. she should not
Let the League return to its principles Of 1870,
purge itself, forswear rings live cleanly, and 1t
may be saved. The efforts OF its best members for
billions OF the fine arts augmentation OF the
library, musical sOrees and other aesthetic and In
tellectual agencies may yet De reallzeu by refill
gushing fellowship and alliance with "The Mys-
FERROUS Pilgrims the .'Od Reliables" and other
political clubs whose ardent zeal 80 often violates
law, order and decency, the League may be reha-
biljtated ''Tis contamination devouty to be
wished" We dwell on the past character and
present condition Of this institution because for
the last ten years 1t has been our most important
factor ESPECIALLY in the estimation OF the respect
able and wealthy classesl in the solution OF all po-
utcal aud social problems. whether local or
Rational.
PURIFICATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
The greatest OF Hercules abors, we believe, was
the cleansing Of the Augcan stables. The most
difficult task before the now uniettered citizen Is
the publication of the city government Under
the new constitution our city debt cannot be IN
creased, but taxes may be piled on mountain
nigh. Now that convictions for bribery and male
feasance in Office-crimes which hitherto have
been committed almost daily with impunity ana
dedance-are made attatnabe, and now tnat the
oath OF ONCE Is maze solemn and significant act,
we may expect that better class OF men VIII De