telligent concerted action. Men who have nevei’ attended a ward meeting or a primary election, have vague ideas concerning the mysteries of subterranean political manoeuvres, which they fancy cannot be comprehended or combated. This is an error arising from pure ignorance. The precinct is the political unit, and by controlling the precincts the sum total of politics may be controlled. Now, in the city of Philadelphia there are two hundred and thirteen precincts or election districts, and it is perfectly safe to say that four or five reputable, disinterested citizens in each precinct could control, for all purposes of good, the movements of their party therein. When the ward meet- ting of their party is called, let them attend it. Known to have no personal objects in view, their mere presence would have a most beneficial influence over the trading political hucksters who are accustomed to manage these assemblages; but they need not stop here. Each precinct nominates its own election officers and delegates, and this a few honest men will find themselves perfectly able to do. Let them then use their influence to see that their neighbors attend the delegate elections, where usually from five to twenty votes only are polled, and they can with the utmost ease secure the formation of nominating conventions composed of men who are not aspirants for political preferment, and who will conscientiously endeavor to place before the people a ticket which no honest man need blush to vote for. All this is but the work of three or four hours, and by concerted action of this kind, a few hundred substantial men could change the whole political aspect of the city. After the nominations are made, the regular party machinery will be necessary to bring out a full party vote, and those who begin to feel an interest in the success of their efforts, can see that that machinery is properly worked. It will scarcely be denied that politics have at length reached a point where they must be rescued from the defilement of mercenary and unscrupulous hands, or the nation must perish. Each citizen must now be willing to admit his own dereliction of duty in the past, and to quiet his conscience by promises of amendment in the future. I have pointed out the mode in
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