Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-09-09
REPUBLICAN NOMINATIONS.
THE DEMoCRATIC STATE TICKET

Neither Mr.. Cochran nor Mr.. Williams
has any element of positive strength. The rec
concentrations of both for the places TO which
they are named are of a negative character al
sogether. Mr.. Cochran has not been distinguished
for his acquaintance with State affairs and Mr..
Williams has no reputation as one familiar with
National politics. Mr.. Cochran Is not even
known as member of the Legislature, familiar
with the recent course OF its proceedings he has
not by that means acquired such an in
teiligent knowledge as would make his recon-
mendations concerning the repeal of old laws or
the enactment of new especially valuable. AIR.
Williams is not debater-not even speaker
he is not in accord with the majority of Congress,
and would be unable to do more as a member Of
that body than simply cast his one vote accord
ing to the leadership of Mr.. Cox or Mr.. Randall,
and draw his pay for the service.
We mean no attack upon either of these gem
tlemen, nor even disparagement of such of
their characteristics as do them honor. MIR.
Cochran has been a successful farmer and
peach-grower. This no one denies, but the fact
ia certainly not a positive qualification for the
Governorship. Mr.. Samuel Townsend is also
successful farmer and peach-grower, but he is
not likely to be elected Governor on that account.
Mr. Cochran bears the reputation of an honest
man, for which We do him honor,
but there are many other honest men
in the State, not in danger of being thrust into
she Governors chair. Beyond the merits of his
private character and his success in his pursuit,
we see nothing that especially recommends Mr.
Cochran, and both these qualifications, as we
have said, are but negative. They are reasons
why he would do well enough for Governor, if
he possessed, besides, such positive qualiica-
tons az fit man for the place, but in the alb
sence of these, the others prove nothing. Mr..
Cochran, like five hundred other men in the three
counties, would not disgrace the Goyernorship,
but as for making it great by his capabilities his
experience and achievements heretofore give
no such reasonable expectation whatever.
Mr.. Williams was not cut out for mem
Der Of Congress- He is much better
qualified to be Governor. He Is under
stood to be respectable farmer, popular in lii
own neighborhood, but little known beyond it
one who bows his thanks to public meeting TO
it's applause, and then-resumes his seat. Tha
he is statesman or anything approaching t.
especially fitted to sit in the Congress of tn
United States, to make laws for the diversifie,
interests of the forty millions of the Republic
has not been pointed out.
The Democratic State ticket, then, may hav
no especial weakness, but it has no especii
strength. Mr. Cochran's claim to be " Ne
Castle county man amounts to nothing of va
ne, since he is not the sort OF candidate til,
New Castle county desired He il probably oppo
ed to Equal Representation; certainly, he has ne-
with the demand for other State reforms II
has not been known as an advocate of bett
public schools. He has not helped to build Il
States railroads, or establish its new manufact
ries. He has not appeared in the assemblies
the people as the champion of measures of pu
lie improvement, development and progress
Hence, we say that though his house m
stand North Of Duck Creek, he is not repr
sentative type of "a New Castle county man
and he awakens no enthusiasm amongst tho
who desired such person for Governor
Some protest has been entered against d
ging up the memories of the war tines It
true that the war is over. 1t il al
true, however, that Mr.. Cochran was one
those who distinguished themselves by net su
porting the Union, and there are many voters W
remember the fact. He would be a strong
candidate if they did not remember it. but I'll
would be poorer patriots in the time of natol
peril, if they could so quickly forget it.