The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-22
OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.

The Affair Between Col. Mcclure and
Nat. Observation-Disclosures of Loco
motive Engineers-sherman and the
Letter-Doings of the Methodist Gene
upon the Markets.
PHIsADELPHIA, April IT, 1877.
Editor Democrat-Don't believe that you have
all the fun down in Orleans. Yeterday, about IL
NJ, we had scene in Chestnut street, near Sixth
which is an encours ging sign that all vitality is
not extinct in our quiet city. Nat. Mckay and
Editor Mcclure had nice little fight which was
worthy the days when men dared TO speak above
their breaths. Wherever Mr.. Mcclure goes he
gives evidence of vitality.
The causes which led to the fight are known to
your readers. Some months ago, Col. Mcclure,
in his paper-the 7imes-boldly charged Nat.
Mckay Zone OF those numerous contractors who
grow fat upon "soft snaps" from . careless gov
ernment) with ''stealing"-this was The word
whole boat loads of wood, brass. iron, and other
metals, from the government during his employ
ment as contractor for removing the old navy
yard from its old location in this city to it's new
location down upon League Island.
THE VALUE OF DICTIONARIES,
The charge against Mckay caused much aensa
ton, not that anybody cared whether Nat. was
"thief'-for be was man OF no character, and
nobody knew him or cared to know whether he
was thief or not-but because it seemed nov
city 10 journalism to zee an editor who cared to
call things by their right names. Of course,
Nat sued Mr.. McClure, and the courts gave the
editor q chan q TO prove his sta atement which he
failed to do. The jury did not agree, the judge
instructiug them that peculation meant one
thing and stealing snother-in short, it was q
split about the meaning OF words, Mr.. Webster
giving one meaning to the word, and Mr.. Black
stone another meaning. The jury was satis-
fed that Alexander Mcclure had made
mistake in selecting proper word, and
they were too good hearted to punish man who
meant well and had made mistake. The case
was certainly 'actionable"- az il would be
.'actionable" to call man ''thief" who had only
committed burglary or rape. An editor must
be careful-this law OF words is very exact.
Yesterday Editor Mcclure was quietly walking
along Chestnut street. with his hand upon the
arm Of ex- Governor Curtin. when the ehivslric
Nat, with three other ruff ans, sprang upon him,
md whilst one of them pounded Aleck on the
back Of his head, Nat. took cowhids from his
cost, saying "D-n you, I've got you at last; Ill
give you something to remembeii' and
began to belsbor Mr.. Mcclure over the
head. Now, Mcclure is like young Hsmet-he
ID 'tfst and shortof brsath," but he just placed
his little white hands light in MeKsy's neck and
he shock him, and he punched him, and he
soolded him.-an am satisfied that" Nat" would
have been hurt if the associates Of Mckay had
not kept on pounding with their fists ON the back
of the editors skull In three minutes the
whole party was in the magistrates Off ,e. Nc
Kay is under heavy bail for assault Mckay is
twenty years younger than Mcclure, and head
taller.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF ENGINEERS.
It is astonishing what profound feeling the con-
test between the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers and the Reading Railroad causes. The
railroad company have discharged forty men for
refusing to leave the ssUnion," and the Brother
hood have sent representatives here from all
parts tf the United States, Canada and Great
Britain, to staid and comfort" the discharged
engineers. Manager Wooten, to whom was as
signed the duty of dischargng ali engineers who
refused to leave the "Unon" complains that he
finds difficulty in moving the trains. The
"Brot therhood," during their visit here, have
won golden opinions from all SORTS of
people by their quiet and orderly behavior.
| II is said the Brotherhood have $250,000 to
contest The matter with the Reading Railroad.
The meetings of the Brotherhood are secret,
and they ask, with some pertinency. "Why has
not the railroad company just as much right to
discharge for being Masons or Odd Fellows as
| for belonging to the Brotherhood of Locomotive
| Eoeineers, which is benevolent institution de-
signed to supply us with money when we are old
| or crippled in our ngerous business" Thought
| full people bseve that the Brotherhood will gain
| q victory over the railroad company, as they are
| using every Effort, and this is to be "decisive
battle." Selah!
sHERMAH's LETTER CONCERNING THE PoPB.
Gen. sherman's letter (which somehow or other
got 10 he light) sets the ssctarian element in a
high state of tffervescence. And Jet, there ID
nothing in his letter o excite the people; ii Ia
| only such an expression as any man might make
to his spiritual superior. 1t appears that Sherman
wrote to Bishop Wood, Of This city. letter which
never has been placed before the public eye. 1t
was private letter; but since il has been made
public it may be proper to repeat iEs offensive
paragraph. The language Ii: II could be