St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-21
JOINED TO THEIR IDOLS,

The experience Of the city of Phila-
delphia at the recent municipal election
is only a homogeneous portion Of the
larger experience of that remarkable
state in which it lies as the chief ex-
ponent in this nation Of the conse-
Quences Of overriding and denying the
place of moral issues in politics. The
people Of Pennsylvania in their pri-
vate lives are on the average, prob
ably no better and no worse in intel
Hgence and in conduct than those of
any other part of the Union. In po-
they are absolutely dead to moral con-
siderations. Any Republican can carry
the state by an immense majority, but
the peculiar fact Is that the size of
that majority seems to be directly ap-
portioned to the disrepute of the can
didate who asks the suffrage of the
people. There is probably no more
INSCRIPTIONS man in politics today
than Senator Quay; yet he is undis-
puted master of the destinies of one
VI tiC 6iCobCSI states LII lie OulOU, anu
any policy that he may dictate and any
man whom he might name for public
Office, would be accepted not only
without demur, but with a cheerful
alacrity by the voters. This man, whose
connection with politics has been a
scandal from the beginning, has just
received a magnificent Endorsement by
the people of the state, is an announced
candidate for president, and will direct
the vote of the entire state delega-
ton in the Republican convention for
any man with whom he can make
suitable arrangement
This state Of things is more account
able in the larger area of the COM
monwealth than it is when we come
down to municipal affairs; yet the con-
dition of politics in the city of Phil
adelphia is worse, rather than better,
than in the state. That city, which is
pre-eminently city of small house
holders, Of quiet and intelligent men,
has been, for many years, the sub
ject and prey of the political maraud-
er. 1t has passed from the control of
one ring to another, and it's municipal
abuses have been second only to those
disclosed in the past in New York
city. AT the present moment, it's condi-
ton in the matter of the first require
ments of civilized life is depIorable
Taking the statements of it's ownnew
papers as to the management of two
great departments, the public comfort
is destroyed and the public health en-
dangered by the shameless operations
of the ring. Only at rare intervals is
there any such thing as decent water
obtainable in Philadelphia. When CO.
pious rains fill the Schuylkill river, the
people first drink the yellow and
muddy beverage until the freshet sub
sides. Then comes a supply of ink
black water, the DRAWINGS of the
heaps of culm which have accumu-
lated along the rivers banks. After
the waters have subsidized, they have
the dregs of the stream with a plenti-
full supply of disease germs from the
polluted place along it's shores.
Every proposition to construct a
altering plant has been defeated by
the council.
The gas works, which have passed
under municipal control, are mis-
managed with equal shamelessness.
They are operated at loss with
out securing good service. and the
newspapers declare that the only gas
On which the city makes any money is
that which it buys direct from a COM
pany at one price and sells to the peo-
pie at a higher. This being the condi-
ton Of things, direct issue was made
at the election which has just taken
place, and reform ticket was placed
in the field. That ticket was not only
showed under, it practically disap-
peared in the election returns The old
city ring was not only reelected, but
retained in power by an in
creased majority. The people of
Philadelphia apparently are blind to
any advantages Of an honest and bust
aess-lil1e conduct of municipal affairs