Delaware State reporter., 1856-08-15


Maine, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana,
! Pennsylvania, and in every State where the
question has been raised. The meeting in this
county which so enthusiastically applauded Hon.
James Al. Bayard; his bold and eloquent de-
nunciaton Of prohibition surely thought the
question anti Democratic Will any man be
so rash as to say that what is Democracy in
Maine, New York, Michigan Illinois, Indiana
and Pennsylvania is not also Democracy in
Delawareg It must then be conceded that the
| principle of prohibition is not Democratic
| Take the law itself, divest it,Df the obnoxious
| principle and there is not one Democratic in a
hundred throughout the State who viii not say
that it has not aided the true cause Of temper
ance-who had not rather have wholesome
license system, with proper penalties against
the abuse Of intoxicating drinks, than the law
at present in force e. Such being the individual
sentiments of vast majority of the members,
why fear to express them in the aggregate -
"a Democrat threatens that if resolution
is passed. there are certain men in the party
who will " make out an unpledged ticket un-
exceptionable men," lie threa tens also reso-
luton against the Delaware Railroad. AS to
the first threat. I say that members OF party
who are not willing to be governed by the will
of the majority, but who, for a secondary con-
sderation like this, threaten the party with de-
feat, are not worthy of its confidence, and arc
not entitled to be considered reliable Democrats.
| consider the temperance question Of secondary
Importance, and whatever might be the action
of the party, no word or vote of mine should
prejudice the general success of the party when
national issues of such vital Importance the
existence of the Union itself-are involved in
the success of the Democratic party.
| The threatened railroad resolution is a farce
more fitted to Brighten children than to sway
an intelligent Democracy. 1t is impossible to
make it party question. A Democratic Legis-
lature gave fifty thousand dollars to the compa-
nv Wing Legislature made important amend
ments to its charter Know Nothing Legisa-
ture loaned it the States credit. The most
prominent members of all parties are concerned
in all the aid the road has had, and IT. is worse
than folly to talk of its being made party
question. A3st ..3g ~
=" A Democrat" reminds us that the Demo-
cratic party is called The g Rum Party" To
rid ourselves of that opproJious term, and TO
show the public that we are opposed to political
temperance in orr high regard for true temper
ance, is one more reason have for a resolution
the public ayowal Of the individual sentiments
Of the party. "
There are many things in the article under
review, which breathe such an anti democratic
sentiments that, if space would permit, would
like to notice them at length. | had always
thought that one OF the Watchwords of the
Democratic party was Measures, not men,
but " A Democrat advises the Democrats :. to
select for legislators the very best men the
State will afford and leave them free to
act in accordance with their best judgment
&C.," (men without measures is a new idea Of
representative government y and he continues
"Any other course is unsound in principle and
tends to legislation by the masses before the
election, thereby making the LEGISLATORS only
tools to do their bidding, &C." This certainly
is strange language and stranger sentiment &c
profess to proceed from a Democrat What
not permit the people-the embodiment Of al
sovereignty in this republic--to instruct thea
representatives. Would you make the servant
greater than the lord Deny to the people The
right and the priviegeto express their scnti
nents at the ballot1box on affairs of govern
ments The enuncation of such doctrine by
1" A Democrat" should be a warning to the De
Imocraey of the unsouudness Of his views.
RESOLUTION.