Rothrock.] ^^ ■ [Nov. 19, 



The sixth exception was mainly in regard to corporations. Mr. 

 Price contended that justice had not been done them in the way 

 of protection. On the other hand this Constitution left room 

 for unjust discrimination, for cutting rates, for bribes in the way 

 of free passes, and yet prescribed no penalty. It is probable 

 Mr. Price recognized that even discrimination in freights might 

 prove in one way a benefit to the masses, however hard it bore 

 upon producers near the points where the products were con- 

 sumed. It can hardly be supposed, however, that even he saw 

 then the disastrous extent to which discrimination could be car- 

 ried by our own corporations against our own citizens. Loyalty 

 to his State, in him, reached the measure of devotion ; and he 

 would have spared no corporation that struck unjustly by dis- 

 crimination at any legitimate business of his fellow-citizens. 



The seventh objection was an echo of the first on the inade- 

 quate representation for Philadelphia. 



The eighth, and last, objection concerned, mainly, the methods 

 of administering justice in the city. The manner of electing 

 magistrates placed the franchise practically in the hands of ward 

 politicians. While the State was amply protected, "the citizens 

 of no city have any protection from the evils of bribery, corrup- 

 tion and fraud." Though warned in advance of the needs of the 

 cities, the constitutional convention " left us helpless of remedy, 

 as before, and thus virtually deferred to and perpetuated the 

 municipal rings, and permitted plunder to flourish." 



These strictures were made before the new Constitution was 

 voted upon by the people. Can any fair-minded man now deny 

 how just they were, or how much needed? Mr. Price was 

 warned by certain persons that he was acting to his own injury. 

 His dignified defiance of all threats was simply characteristic 

 of the man. The peaceful son of a peaceful sect, how often had 

 he proved a very lion in the patli of public plunderers. It is no 

 exaggeration to say that he would have endured martyrdom for 

 his principles. His appearance, conduct and mode of expres- 



