Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-16
The Democratic Nominations.

Saturday 10 choose candidates for mem
beers Of the Legislature and the Levy uouyt,
called out remarkably large vete IN this
city, and resulted in the selection Of Adiu-
tant-General PostIes for State Senator,
Henry G. Turner for Representative.
and Martin Farrell for Levy Court,
the two former by considerable
maiorities. and the latter By large
plurality over Mr.. Norton, the can
,iidate receiving The next highest vote.
The nomination is received with mixed
feelings by the Democrats, the nomina-
ton of General Postles meeting general
appreciation and ocoasioning much enthu-
siam among the majority of Democrats;
that of Turner being received with gem
eral satisfaction aud that of Farrell with
wild enthusiasm by the men who brought
it about and with regretby all others.
The nomination of General Postles is
one of the very strongest that could have
been made. lie WAS a gallant soldier
during the wal, has been a successful bust
ness man ever since, and is
universally recognized as a man
of brains and energy. There is
no doubt that he will strengthen the ticket.
The very large majority received by Mr..
Turner at the nomination shows that he is
decidedly the choice of his party and
his nomination will, doubtless, prove
strong one, not only on that
account, but because Mr.. Turner is really
young man of more than average ability,
a ready speaker, and one who has made
his way over difficulties with pluck and
spirit which excite enthusiasm and sym
pathy and respect. There is no doubt
that he would make a legislator watchful
Of Wilmington's interests, and he might
prove more efficient in the House than
man less active and energetic, but pos
sessed of years which Mr.. Turner lacks.
As to the nomination of Martin Farrell,
it goes almost without saying that the
JOURNAL considers il bad one. We grant
what Farrell's friends claim for him that,
so far as we know or have ever heard, he
is an entirely honest man who has never
been charged with any corruption, but his
political methods and associations and
his former action in leading COM
munistic movement make him, des-
pite persona, honesty, one of the
very last men to nominate for any office,
and especially such an office as that he
seeks. He represented in this contest,
however, the spirit Of dissatisfaction which
has for some time existed inside the Dem
ocratic party in this city, and gathered to
himself, with no little skill, the men
who have been disgruntled over various
things of late. lie is an Irishman and
Catholic, and thus had claim
on those who imagine that
Ford was defeated in his candidacy for
Sheriff By prejudice against Irish
Catholics. nucleus of discomfort thus
being formed, it served as a rallyiug point
for those vino We're made angry by the
recent wise but unwi,ely managed attempt
to change the county rules, aud for r
ton of the dissa isisd over receut appoint
msnts to c0ulty offise rh-n came tn.
fight between the City Democratic A--u-
citation aud the City Ex-cu'ivt
committee, which intensified tn feel,
and uDited more closely Tho m4couteut-,
and which eliminated in an Indifference
shown in the light vote cast at the city
election. As Martin Farrell is life
member of the Disconnected Club it was
entirely natural that he should become
its leader at time when the temporary
increase Of its members made it really
formidable.
As to the effect Of the nomination on
the prospects of the party there isnaturally
much difference of opinion, In the first
outbreak Of protest against such nomina-
ticn, many people declare that they will
not vote for Farrell, and such declaration.
weaken, more or less, the whole ticket
if they are continued up to the
election, but everybody experienced
III politics knows that as politi
cal enthusiasm ind party passion
increase with the progress of campaign
the feelings of men Of both parties greatly
change. On the other hand, Farrell
nomination appeases quite number who
have manifested serious dissatisfaction
1t answers the angry charge that Ford wa
defeated because he was an Irishman ant
Catholic. It is clearly a nomination
not dictated by office holders" since nearly
every Democratic official opposed it
1t will put to work the men who hay,
been standing off, and the more importan
issues at stake in this contest will lead tn
Democrats who are most dissatisfied will
Farrells nomination to be more dispose,
than usual to pass it over, since a Lev,
Court Commissionership in their eyes vii
prove very small thing compared witt
the retention of control of tn
State and county, the giving 0
the States electoral vote t
Hancock and unanimous reelection t
the United State Senate for Bayard. Cnde
all the circumstances, then, bad as "
think Farrells nomination to have beer
We shall not be at all surprised if it reall
promotes that harmony" which pol
ticians in both parties are making s
many sacrifices Just now to bring about
We suppose the pill will be no NOR
disagreeable to the disguised DENT
Gratis than was that recently swalowe
by the Republican County Commute
when it resolved in order to promoi
harmony in the party to submit to VIII,
It openly denounced as a ''usurpgtion" b
tue State committee Calculated 10 pr
mote confusion and contests at nomin
ton elections. Ia fact the reputab
Democrats will find their dose Il
easier of tue two, since the dlssati
fed Republicans had to submit
the complete control Of thrir par
in the State, while thu Disguised Den.
crata only have 10 submit to tue -~curil
of a comparatively uuimportant affile by
man they dislike and dlstrust If D-m
Gratis who submit to this nomination d
tainted by their opponents, they Will Il
have to go back to the days of Bin Sily
to find material for the You're anothe
''Bort of retort. .".