Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-07-10

DetaWare.'7
lFrom the Wilmington livery Evening. July ..
Mr. Pickles call for the assembling of the Re-
publican State Convention at Georgetown, Sus-
sex county, ON July 25th, may properly be con-
sidered az the formal opening Of the political
campaign of 1874 in this State, and thoughtful
view Of the situation at the very threshold OF the
contest may prove not merely interesting to par
tsans, but to thoee who have ceased to hope or
expect much of either party, as now organized.
1t is, OF course, evident TO every unprecedented
observer that the chances are in favor Of the
Democratic party for the simple reason that it is
sufficiently demonstrated that the prejndices and
convictions Of majority OF the people Of Della
ware are more nearly in accord with the views
| of that party on National questions than with
those Of the Republican party. This has besn
so in the past and nothing in the Republican
party's recent management Of national anairs
was calculated TO win for it the respect and con-
/ fdence Of those not hitherto in accord with it,
/ and on the contrary the abuses which have nat
urally arisen out Of its long continuance in pow
| er have alienated from it the affection Of many
who were in times past its most ardent support
| ers Hence il there were to be any change IN
/ the political management OF our own state, 1t
must be brought about through the influence
| Of other considerations than the difference be-
| tween the two parties on National questions.
But there were such other considerations, and
| they for q time gave the Republicans strong
| hopes for success and inspired thoughtful Dem
| ocrats with no little ALARM The Democratic
majority in our last Legislature did, unquea-
tionably by its omissions well by its acts do
much to disgust the people Of the whole State,
and especially those Of this county, and create
| a strong general sentiment in favor of a change
| in our State government The Democratic Gov
ernor added force and intensity to this sent-
| ment by his lamentable failure to appreciate the
dignity of his office, while in his exercise Of the
appointing power he has shown az little sense
of the importance of the trust confded in him
as President Grant himself. Had an election
been held Immediately after the adjournment Of
the last legislature, OF just after the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Salisbury as Chancellor there If
little doubt that the Democratic party would
have lost its control Of the State.
Added to these causes for weakening of it,
hold on the affection and respect of our people,
we're the facts that it paid little or no attention
to the strong and growing demand for a more
| efficient system OF public schools, and seemed
utterly Indifferent to the protests of the people
Of New Castle county against their practical dis
Establishment by the present iniquitous system
Of representation in this State. just here lay
the opportunity Of the Republican party. Il
was already committed to the principle of repre-
sentation according 10 population. and its dele
CATION in the Legislature had advocated most
: Of the good measures that failed and opposed
most Of the bad or foolish ones that passed IN
the last Legislature. Had it reailigined Its dec
aration Of desire 70 do Justice to tile people
| Of this county, marked out plain but cOmpre-
hensive system Of state reform, and attested
the sincerity Of its declarations by nominations
b them, it would have entered the campaign Of
1874 with reasonable hope Of success, and It
: seemed probable a few months ago that it would
do 20.
s But long before the formal opening Of the
t campaign there cropped out evidences that the
4 management OF the party's affairs WaA in the in.
tereats Of faction rather than of the party, and
i that a programme vastly different from the one
l. which would have given the party chance fui
Al succers had been determined upon by few
. wire-pullers, without consultation with the PEG
- pie, or with any of those who by character, eS-
e perence or long devotion to tne party'H princ
If pies, were best entitled to be consulted III in
portant matter. Instead Of Affirming witt
. greater force aud emphasis the declaration IN
favor Of just representation, tile Chairman d
E the State Committee tried to bring about a seri
"a Gus modification Of the declaration and Captain
Gallagher, afterwards elected chairman of chen
= County Committee, secuted the doctrine Of euna
ID representation a. absurd. This weakening on
principle was followed up by the development 0
a scheme entirely in accord with such weaken
= ing-tLe scheme to utterly ignore tile most p1u
u ulous and most Republican county of the Stat
TO in the nominations, and take both the candidate
al for Governor and Congressman from the leas
- populouH, the least Republican, and, POLITICAL
AI considered, the most grasping and treacherou
&c county in the State.
at Following close upon this development q
, a conspiracy between the City Ring OF Whining
y ton and the Dover Junta, to take both cand
dates from Kent county, came the shameful di,
one Of the parties to this con tract-the Cit
H., Ring. 1t was found to have il some stage {
nc development all the agencies which have mad
H. the great rings powerful promoters Of CORFU
III ton. 1t had forfeited the respect Of ever
re decent news paper and wac engaged in a
abortiye attempt to build up with public MOI
Vi ey an organ to support its interests. Ii ha
e, created monopoly for the performance OF
Ii certain class of municipal work and given int
- the hands OF corporation composed of city Of
NJ fee holders. 1t had permitted such ns1nanagi
ng meut and looseners in financial affairs that Ii
,r- city was robbed Of thousands Of doars witilol
A. anyone knowing it but for an accident. So gel
eral was tile feeling Of Indignation at oHe tim
ia that the voters Of this city turned at the nom
ng nation election and crushed the well founde
hopes of the leading Candidate, for the simpl
~, reason that his election was known to be desire
~ by the Ring.
ch After the development Of this conspiracy wit
ID. III the Republican ranks, the fears Of tile ID
cd mocracy rapidly vanished, and like wise polil
:. clanH they set about appropiiatng to their og
u use some of the very elements Of strength the
rs opponents had thrown away With practie
~ unanimity throughout the State, they agreed
L.. the nomination Of prominent gentleman
H' this county for Governor, and are still strong
IA disposed to take some New Castle county nla
lg- since the first gentleman refused to allow b
1 . name to be used, while there is no question tn
they will take Of their candidates fro
aw here and at the same time il Their county col
IN ventOn, they, Tor the first time. demanded
!, Their danger lies in tie facts that their Sta
'a7 convention may refuse to recognize this cou
ty'z demands for change in the matter Of re
nc resentation, and that if candidate from til
,a county is taken, that the zeal and persistence
~ msdirected ambition may have already ma,
en- it impossible to make proper nomination.
mp The only opportunity remaining to the Repl
70 lican party lies in its being prepared to take a
vantage of any such mistakes on the part Of
re- opponents. The early call for ite State Conve
ri ton, made in the interests Of the conspiracy
-ho course prevents it doing this with its eyes viz
~ open, and its only opportunity TO put itself
isS tirely right and trust to fortune that its oppo
m ents will make the mistakes anticipated. Shon
the Democrats refuse to take any steps in tic
State Convention, i'll behalf Of rigLtng O
hal connty'a wrongs, they will ALLEVIATE many mci
~, beers Of their own party in this county, vi
iih would probably support the Republican cam
les dates if they clearly in favor of this refo
ity Should the Democrats be forced to nominate n
10 Bright, az their candidate for Governor the
can be no question that the Republicans won
a. have good chance of electing Mr.. Thompson
mt the simple ground Of his superior fitness viii
hin if they run DR.. Jump against Mr.. Bright the Ii
ter would have the advantage of the indgma
feeling aroused by the denial of Governor
this county for thirty-two years. These are /
oh