Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-10-15
STATE MANAGEMEHT-A FEW INSTANCES
FOR COMPARISON.

Come facts and figures which We give else
where show distinctly what the record of the Re-
publican party is, with regard to ita management
Of State anairs in several OF the most prominent
Northern States. They speak for themselves
They tell their own story. It is not only re-
cord OF which the Republican party is justly en-
titled to be proud but it is such record as no
other party organization has ever made. Until
the Republicans came into power there was nev-
er party 30 devoted to principle, so moved by
the best considerations of public policy, and
SO sensitive to the just criticism Of the people.
as to be either able or willing TO undertake and
accomplish reform, either in the nation
or the States. The Democratic par
ty was never party of reform. 1t
neyer-we say this in challenge of denial
il neoer. Of lis o,ca motion, reformed anything
Every step Of progress, in the conduct of the
government for the last forty years. has been
taken, not only without its aid, but in spite of its
opposition. 1t is capable of covering up and
perpetuating abuses, but it has never had the
moral courage TO attack them
We do not need to prove this by the history of
the rise OF the Slave Power in the nation by the
management Of the Democratic party though
lainning proof that any set Of men ever reared
against themselves, but we are able TO illus
trate the proposition conciRziyely in ito state
management Look at our own state, and
what has it done Has it reformed any abuse Z
Has it moved TO lift the burdens from
the shoulders Of the people Are the records Of
its Legislatures the records Of progress Every
man knows the contrary. Every man knows
that it has thrown its protection over everything
that deserved attack and has maintained and
perpetuated every imperfection and monstrosity
which, in the long course Of years, had grow
npon the body polite. Here and there, i'll one
or two instances, during the last legislative SEES
sion, the evidences of public discomfort forced
it to yield point, but it yielded reluctantly. 1T
policy is not that of Reform it will not be, ii
tue future, as it never has been in the past. til,
willing instrument of publication.
The record OF the Democratic party III Della
ware, is it's record in other States. Under its adj
Ininistration, the debt Of Pennsylvania grew
from five millions of dollars, in 1928, to twenty
four and half millions, in 1885, and again. dur
ing te control, in the long period Of Democratic
rule, between 1889 and 1913, the deb
rose to the enormous sum of owe
forty millions of dollars This wan til,
glorious era for the party in that state. 1t haC
fattened on the State system Of railroads ant
canals. Its oifce-seekers we're qualtered b,
hundreds in the fat and easy places made fe
them in the public works, until instead o
returning nett revenue, these were an annua
loss to the State. A more corrupt politica
period was Heyer known in Pennsylvania, no
one when the party IN power was more intensel
partisan, and more severely proscriptive of al
opposition.
Such is the record of Democratic rule in Penn
sylvania. Since 1913, there have been but tw,
Governors Of that party-holding six years
while there have been twenty years of Wing an,
Republican management. What has followed
The nominal obligations ofsthe State, to-day an
less than twenty-five millions OF dollars, Wit
nine millions in the sinking fund, leaving tn
debt less than sixteen millions And this re
duction, since 1913, has been accomplished, il
spite of the war debt which the State contracted
and in spite of great reduction Of the people
taxes. The war loan was three millions Of do
lars-and the money was used to aid the Cnior
not TO coyertly lend assistance to its enemies
and yet reduction of twenty-four millions {
dollars has been accomplished since 1s4S.
Even in the South, Democratic managemel
shows conHpicuous instances of its characters
tic faculty Of failure. The State of Virgin;
which has not been out of its hands, except dul
ing a brief period at the close Of the War, fC
many years. and which has never been preye
nponi as it is pretended some of the reconstiuc
ed States have, il bankrupt and in a condition
reputation, to-day, with debt reared by Den
ffc md 81.