Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1872-02-16
WILMINGTON, DBL.
Friday Afternoon Feb. 10.
EQUAL REPRESENTATION - WHAT DOES
NEW CASTLE COUNTY ASKi

William Dean, Of Newark, plain, straightfor-
ward gentlemen, who believes that Democracy
even in Delaware, should maintain Democratic
principles, writes very significant letter to one
of the Wilmington newspapers, the gist of which
we print.
Mr.. Dean if We understand him, proposes to
the Democrats of New Castle County that they
shall demand equal representation in their State
Convention, and that, if that demand be refused,
they shall not meet in Convention with the
Democrats Of Kent and Sussex, at all. This, it
seems to us, is a most reasonable proposition,
and it does not need much effort to prove its
proprety. Look for one moment at the Census
of 1s70;--
The population Of New Castle county is 69,5l5.
"a Kent =" 29s04
Sussex " 81 696.
New Castle alone has 63, 515 people.
The other two counties, combined, have 81 500.
New Castle has LOIS more than both.
For the Democrats Of Kent and Sussex COUP
ties to insist that they should have double the
representation of New Castle county, in their
State Convention, as they now have is plainly
unreasonable, and unjust, for their population
is not eoen equal to that Of New Castle, but ac-
tuAlly less. When the rule was established it
was, perhaps, not so unfair, but the growth Of
population has been greatest in the Northern
end Of the State, and man who chooses to re-
side there ought to have equal rights with one
who prefers a residence south of Duck Creek.
Is this not true? Will any Democrat deny it ?
To ask, then, that the Democracy Of this coun-
ty shall continue to have one vote when each of
their party associates outside the country has
two and fraction, in their State Convention is
not reasonable, and it is not surprising. at all,
that fair and Independent men, like Mr.. Dean SO
declare it. Nor can his proposition to insist upon
justice be complained Of. rcsolute demand
will alone secure justice, for the Ring masters
Of the Democratic organization in Kent and Sus-
sex will give up not one jot of power, which they
dare retain in their grasp.
What, therefore, will the Democrats Of New
Castle County do ? Will they demand their
rights or servilely continue in bonds Will they
insist upon equality OF voice and representation,
or be content with half their due They may
remember that this is the first election since the
Census Of 1870 has been published and now is
the time to act upon the official showing OF that
Census. They may consider that in this cam
paign the stake is small. There is no Governor
to elact, and no United States Senator il to be
chosen by the Legislature. AS for the National
contest, their party has abandoned them and,
if it does not actually cast its vote for Repub-
hcan candidate, it will at least modify its dec
laration Of principles as to court the support Of
Republican stragglers and deserters. The New
Departure is taken the white Mans Party,
idea is Enthusiastically, and utterly abandon
ed-and the Democrats Of Delaware are left to
be glad or pleased, just as they choose. II those
residing in New Castle county decide, as con-
sequence, to take this time to assert their right
to equal representation, it would seem that the
moment was opportune. There is little at stake :
the lash of party discipline cannot be applied to
their backs; the organization outside of the
State is demoralized and itself abandons the
party position. This, then is the moment to
establish equality of rights, and Mr. Dean and
other Independent men cannot fail to see it,
What will be their course: