Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-23
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.


write. The polar zephyrs reached
this region last night about twelve
o'clock, and ever since which time
everything has been chilled to con-
gealment 1t is lovely weather for
sellers Of furs and overcoats; and woe
to him who has to wear a linen dus-
ter; and God help the poor who have
no means to buy coal at IS per ton.
l am comfortably hoGsed by cheer
full fire as write; still the windows
are thickly and fantastically coated
with ice, and this a. m. the water in
the hydrant was frozen. These in.
stances will give you an idea how cold
it is. But it is lovely for dancing
parties and weddings, even though it
interferes with the usual "at the
gate" partings Of lovers after the
Xaieties Of the evening have passed
and the gay gallant has
"seen his sugar plum home"
The Maine election frauds" have
given the Radical Republicans here a
good chance to give vent to their
Zach. Chandler wrath. They seem to
forget that the frauds committed in
Louisiana by their own party estab-
1ished a precedent that would Justify
the Democrats in resOrting to any
possible means for revenge. But the
cases form no parallel. The Louisiana
matter was Simon pure fraud of the
basest type. The Maine affair, on the
other hand, is merely smart" piece
of business. The Democrats, or Flu
sionists, have acted up to the strict
letter of the law. Consequently they
cannot be accused of perpetrating a
fraud. 1t was the fault of the Repub-
lican managers in not preparing their
tickets and returns as the law requires.
The canyassers" of the returns" had
no option in the premises; their oath
required them to do as they did, and
while they may have known that the
intention Of the majority OF the voters
was in favor of the Republican candi-
dates, they were left no discretion to
change the law. Thus the Republi-
can howl should be directed against
the party managers and not Governor
Marcelon ct al. OF course it makes
considerable difference now that the
Radical Republican OK has been gored.
Morally speaking, now that the Dem
Ocrats have merely profted by lessons
learned from Republicans, and have
tasted the sweets of revenge, let each
cry quits, and all law makers endeav-
Or to institute enactments that will do
away with these silly technicalities
that cause so much annoyance and do
such injustice.
Chicago has lately lost one of its
ablest lawyers and most honored
citizens, Judge Buckner S. Morrls
the second mayor of Chicago. He
died at the good old age of79, after a
protracted illness. No man was ever
held in higher esteem, both for his
legal acumen and sterling social quail
ties He was a native of Kentucky,
and leaves behind him to mourn his
loss Kentucky wife, sister of Gov
ernor Blackburn of thatState. In 1884
he Iocated in Chicago and be-
came the possessor of much land, and
soon he proved himself quite wealthy.
After burrying two wives he married
the lady that has survived him, she
being widow Parish at the time.
Mr. NJ. was one of the most jealous of
the incorporators of the city of Chica-
go, and was its second Mayor. In due
time he was called to the judicial
chair. The Judge and late President
Lincoln were Wing electors in
1910. In 1860 he. was candi-
date for Governor on the Bell
and Everett ticket. During the
war of the rebellion Judge Morris
and his fiery rebel" wife fell under
the ban of martial law tyranny about
the time of the so-called Camp Douglas
conspiracy and suffered much in per-
son and property by the avert acts of
the party in power. He and his loyal
wife we're arrested, taken to Cincin-
natl, subjected to prison discipline
and tried before partial court
martial. etc. The trial proved
nothing disloyal against the judge
The Judge died Roman Catholic
While suffering persecution and
imprisonment at the hands of federal
zealots, he and wife were the recip
tents of countless iavors from the
Sisters of Charity and other Catholic
orders. This caused them to reat
Catholic works, and finally to enrol
themselves as members of that exten
sive family, that boundless church o
Christ. The funeral took place to
day, and was largely attended. Rev
Father Roles officiatod. The pal
hearers were Judges Drummond
Higgins. Hoyne, Scammon, Arnold
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