Year: 1872

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not impossible. In the City Of Philadel-
phia itself, one of the most gallant fights
ever made against official crime was made
this very year. But 1t was not made by
talking or writing alone. AZ Col. Mcclure
himself said: 81 have to make desperate
struggle against q most formidable combina-
"tion of desperate men, and they would laugh
"at my speeches exposing them, if it was
"merely TO be war of words. 1t is a war unto
"death-a war of determination, and the expe-
rienced experts who have been by my side in
" the struggle to reach the fountain OF fraud,
through its own sinuous and polluted streams,
"haye not been armed alone with moral
"suasionp These words he uttered on the
eve of the election in which he had entered
the field against the whole army Of oifce-
holders of Philadelphia. He was candidate
for the State Senate in the interest OF he
form, and he saw all about him the prepari-
tons for tamperiug with the ballot. Ihese
illegal measures were notorious. They were
denounced in public speeches and In most OF
the newspapers of the city. 1t would seem
impossible that they should be persisted in, In
tho face of such publicity. But they were
persisted in, and although Col. Mcclure re-
ceiyed majority Of the votes cast, his COM
petitor, Mr. Gray, was counted III by S9l
majority.


The ordinary breed of inert good citizens
would have sat down and made a dignited
protest, and Mr.. Gray, thinking foul scorn OF
the protestant, would have packed his carpet
bag for Harrisburg with an apostolic peace OF
mind. Col. Mcclure did not confne himself
to such action. He issued stirring address,
giving some facts in the case and announcing
his intentions, and then went TO work. lie
fought the case through the Senate. obtained
a fair committee, and proved that In nearly
every precinct of every ward tho officers OF
elections had admitted fraudulent votes against
him, and had thrown out legal votes In his
favor; that the police bad actively assisted ID
the frauds. and had refused to assist In the
arrest of the repeaters and that false returns
had steadily been made all day from hour to
hour With skill and energy and untirlng
industry which is only to be compared
with that triumph Of sagacity and patience
10y which Mr.. Tiiden elected the truth from
Tweed's checks and bank accounts, Col Nc
Clure established beyond question the number
of legal votes cast for him at the several pre-
cincts during each of the hours of the day,
and thus demonstrated the precise extent OF
the frauds practiced by the office-holders
against him. He got his seat, and no one had
the shadow of doubt that it belonged to
him. 1t was one of the most praiseworthy
acts of civic courage and energy which the
annals of his State record. Its value can
scarcely be exaggerated. 1t gives an example
and precedent to all citizens who think
their rights worth working for.


OF course there must be many like him IN
the State, or there can be no hope of any in
vestgation into the more extensive frauds OF
Tuesday 1t will be a task requiring infinite
labor and courage from a great many men to
ferret out the notifications of that crime
against the suffrage of which their State has
been made the victim. We are not sure that
enough can be found. The fight against it
has been hot and wearing. Most of those who
engaged in it will be ready to lay off their
armor to rest, or even to enter the service OF
the victor. The way of profit and prefcrment
lust now leads through Lochiel. Nothing is to
be gained by the work of Pennsylvania re-
formers, except the appreciation OF their own
consciences and the respect of their kind. But
unless there are enough men of this temper
to throw some light on the processes which
are surely and not slowly destroying the moral
and political hfe of Pennsylvania, the settle
ment of Penn has shabby future before 1t.