Daily Republican., 1880-03-04
aurLihsrties I'm danger.

7 strikes down thousand defenoeless cit
: izens and deprives them Of their blood
a bought rights, is always ready to strIk'
' down thousands more that partisan rul'
t and partisan tyranny may be upheld
I 1t has always been the boast Of Ameri
can citizens no matter how humbl,
their condition in life, that the bsllo
they welded had as potent an influences
as the ballot Of a millionaire, but wher
through the Vaccinations Of designing
, politicians the ballot Is taken away
from the humble citizen where Is his
weapon Of defence 7 What becomes Of
his dearest rights which stamps the
impress of man upon his brow How
is it with the people Of Delaware, how
is it with the people Of Wilmington
The dearest right Of suffrage has been
torn away from thousands Of them, and
the iron heel Of despotism is grinding
the m into the dust : The Levy Court
which should be bat the servant of the
people, has become a despot under
cover of law.
Every year since 1876, thousands Of
citizens have been ruthlessly disfran-
chised through the forms OF law which
have become hollow and sickening
msckery Of justics. Goaded on by such
rank injustice, the disfranchised people
Of Delaware are making an effort to re
gain their lost liberties, hut in the con-
hict they are met by officials who have
no other purpose in view than to still
farther degrade them and trampls upon
their sacred rights Of citizenship. After
complying with all the requirements Of
the law thousands Of citizens, white
and black, right here in Wilmington,
find themselves still disfranchised.
They have gone before the Assessors at
their own houses and given in their
names, only to find that they do not
appear upon the assessment duplicates.
They have gone two days in sue.
cession, losing the time and their
wages TO the City Hall, only to have
their applications to be assessed still
further refused. As q last resort they
have come before the Levy Court OF
New Castle County only to find the
facas Of those sworn to do justice turn
ed against them. Disheartened and
disfranchised, they turn away from the
hall here a mockery is made Of justice
sick at heart and disappointed. Can
men who act as the Levy Court Of New
Castle County did yesterday be the up
right, honest, God-fearing men that We
should look for in high official stations
where it becomes a duty to mete
out Justice to the people' If this be
justice we'll may angels weep over fall
en- man and fends rejoice in the victory
won. Are there honest Democrats in
Wilmington and New Castle County?
We believe there are. To them we
would not appeal in any partisan spir-
it, but we would raise warning voice
and tell them that their liberties are
in danger, the moment they cast an
Independent ballot. Whenever they |
may see proper to vote contrary to the
partisan convictions Of the Lazy Court |
they are in danger of having their
names stricken from the assessment,
and through the partisan action of a
partisan Levy Court they will be in
danger of being disfranchissd 80 long
as they carry out their independent ac-
ton. Werepeat again that the liberties |
Of the people are in danger. Enthron-
ed in power in the Court House at New
Castle, sits the tyrsnt that is crushing
liberty and Law into the dust. This
tyrant says in effect that 1000 people
in New Castle County shall not vote at
the next election. II they assume 70
themselves the power to keep disfran-
chised two thousand citizens they can
as easily disfranchise two thousand
more. With such ass umed unlimited
power the liberties Of one half the citi-
zsns Of Delaware are endangered. We
would not create any unnecessary
alarm. We would not excite people
who have just cause to bs indignant.
We would not say aught that would
lead to anarchy and confusion, but
while We would forbear doing this we
would sound the trumpet of alarm. We
would tell the people to see to it that
by supineness and neglect they do not
become the victims Of despotic tyranncy.
The people have listened to the syren
song Of no danger, too long. While
they have been listening to it, the iron
letters of the despot's power have been
forged, and yesterday the attempt was
made at New Castle 10 fetter the limbs
of over hundred msn who but simply
asked for their rigtts under the law.
Will the Lsvy Court succeed in its
despotic effort! This is for the free
men Of Newcastle County to answer.
| What will be the ausWer2 ID.