Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-08-29
CORRESPONDENTS,


The biennial election system of Delaware gives
her citizens at least an alternate ycar's relief
from the excitements Of political cs,ml,asn
Whether the same plan would answer for larger
State may perhaps be questionable. At any rate
the song Of the corn crackers, and the crckets,
the harbingers of autumn, bring always in Penn
sylyania, the notes OF the conflict Of principles
and men, preparing to meet at the polls.
The election this year is fol local officers in the
counties, members of the Legislature and one
State officers Judge of the Supreme Court.
Tie term of Hon. Geo. w. Woodward, ut present
the Chief Justice, EXPIRES and to I'LL the vacancy
the Republicans have nominated Hon. Henry w.
Williams, of Allegheny County, and the Demo-
Gratis the Hon. Geo. Sharswood of Philadelphia.
Both are Judges of courts existing by the State
law, and both have the reputation OF possessing
fine judicial attainments, thorough legal know
ledge, aud uprightness of character Judge
Sharswood, however, is tainted with bad record,
made in the early days of the war, when upon a
question OF the legality of grecnbacks, he decid-
ed them not to be a" legal tender" The recol-
lection OF his partizan associations at time when
patriots were gathering more closely to defend
their endangered country, will defeat the pros
poets Of the Honorable George.
SO far us concerns the difference of principles
there Is no such broad line Of denarcation be-
tween the TWO parties as there should be. The
expect to succeed from the virtue OF their patr-
otic fidelity TO the Republic during the war. In
claiming the support of the voters they point to
the platforms OF 1868, and 1851 when they rallied
undcr the flag of nationality against party ac-
knowledging themselves the opponents OF the
war and consequently consenting to, II not de-
string, the dissolution of the Union. But the Re-
publican organization is the party OF progress
IL occupies to-day very much the ground that the
original Republican party Of 1850 did. 1t is de-
IN ft,1
lishment of the true principles of our popular
government, and il is not fit that ii should be
limpng and tagging by the way, pointing back
ward to old successes instead OF addressing itself
to new lab0rs In behalf Of Reform. In New
Jersey and Ohio, Michigan, New York, and
Kansas, there has been no such short-slghtcdness
of small politicians, but rather the more search
ing insight Of craftsmanship, and the leaders in
those States have placed the party on high and
enduring ground, following the logic OF great
principles wherever ii may lead. They can un-
dcrstand the great TRUTH that in this country to
be successful in behalf OF justice, n party must
be active and aggressive. To act on the defensive I;
to parry instead of striking, is to be beaten in
every encounter
1t would not therefore be wrong to say that the
campaign in Pennsylvania is a conflict of men
and not of principles. IL is Judge Williams the
loyal jurlst against Judge Slarswood, the parti-
zan; and the Union men and soldiers OF 1861 Go
agangt tile Copperheads and draft shirkers of
that PERIOD But it is quite useless to expect
such distinctions to endure efiectually much
longer. There is an odum which will always
attach to William B. Reed, George w. Wood
ward, and the most blatant of the syinpathizers
with the rebellion, but for the mass of the cili-
zens, it cannot be expected that oblivion can be
long postponed. For this election, the recollcc-
tions of the past may suffice, but not for any flu
tnrc one.
The canvass will be affected somewhat by the
Temperance ISSUE the Democrats being of course
the partizans OF repeal Of the stringent license
law passed by last winters Legislature, and sign
cd by Governor Geary. While the Republicans,
however, have within their ranks most of the
Temperance men, they will avoid, very properly,
bringing the question into the pale of political
issue.
Col Jordan, the Chairman of the Republican
State Central Committee, i. earnestly organizing
his efforts for the compaign, and much is to be
lopeu from his efforts JAy