Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-12-29
what May We Expect ?

ItIOIul VIII oOOL w Pup w 'A&S
What are some OF these promises ?
First in importance is the read ,tment
of our representative system. AS II
now stands eighty thousand people O.
New Castle County, have seven repre-
sentatives in the low or, House ard three
in the Senate, making ten In all. Kent
and Sussex Countieslcombined, have
population OF only sixty.eight thousand
souls, and yet they have fourteen rep
resentatives in the lower House and
six in the Senate. This glazing dispari'
ty will be at once apparent to all who
read and think about State matters and
personal rights. Upon the question OF
increased representation there has been
no difftreu-; Of opinion between the
Democratic and Republican parties.
Both favored it in the late campaign
and amOAAss the resolutions composing
a platform each party had plank in
favor Of IL 5reas ID repr esentdtlnn. Thu.
far both parties were alike in promises,
bat here the simllitude ends with the
important inquiry, how much increase
in representation Here there is
difference Of opinion. The Democratic
plank in favor OF Increased representa-
ton is Couched IN such ambiguous
terms that loophOle of escape is left
The Democrats merely favor an in
crease, but they do not say how
IN Gch-whether one or ten members
for New Castle County. BY giving it
only one more will be comph-
ance with their State platform and
carrying out of their promises. The
Republicans were NOR definite and
incorporated in their platform, the
principle of representation according
to population. This, il carried ont.
would give New Castle County at !easV
twelve additional members in the Leg
islature-eight more representatives
and four more Senators, ia all fifteen
representatives and seven Senators.
Though this is no doubt the true theo-
ry of representation, it is argued by
the great majority of Democrats aud
some Republicans that in adopting tn. &
principle, too much power will 10 Civ
en- to New Castle County aud the Coun-
ty being controlled by vii nington, the
latter would virtually rule the State, ar
Kent and Sussex Counties with nj.
nOrity population and majority repre-.
sou alton now rule Il. This is met by
the argument that the rural districts OF
New Castle County, whose interests are
Identical with those Of the lower COun-
ties, hold the balance of power and
would act as a check upon any aggre>-
sive policy inaugurAted by Whining
ton. However, the question is moi
what might have been done, but what
will be done by the present Legislature
The waveling fortunes of politics, thougt
not 80 waverlLg in Delaware, has con.
tinued the Democrats in power. Mr.
Bates, the representative from this CT y
owing not only to Superior ability, kLt
to his legal ia .ents, will be LEI d r IN thu
Legislature. Mr.. Cooper, OF the Seo
ate, though representing a rural dis
triCt, will kold up Mr.. Bates hands
feebly perhaps, on the representation
question, and DR.. Chandler may rea.
sonably be- expected to support MI
Bales. Mr.. Belts Of course will give
his support to whatever measure vii
give the largest representation. Bul
We do not want to discourage either
Republicans or Demo Gratis, who are in
favor OF representation according &c
population. We tell them fatty II ey
will not gej it. The representatives q
the lower COUPLES will not permit then
30 have it, and it is extre Heiy doubtful
ia single Democratic mem Der Of the
Vow ChSJlC SOuuby IL
in favor OF it, The most that the down
State memters will be willing to grant
the lower House, and the most that car
be reasonably expected under the mo-
favorable circumstances, will b. three
mem be g Of the House and one memb he
of the Senat3. Ether one or the 9th
will be strict compliance Of the b mo
Gratis with their prOmiS III tn 4ir plat
form. 1t is about as reasonable to eG
poet, however, that no iaCre .se VIVA,
ever will be made. The Democrat
have been in power some thirty yer
1ld have never made the least effort
remedy the Inequalities of representa-
GOn, aud as they were continued il
power by an increased Democratic ma
JOrity az the late elect on, they ma,
look upon that vote as an endorsement
of their past course and keep on in tn
old beaten track. Frankly speaking
but Ii,!le can bo expected in the way
increased representation. To the rea
advocates OF re5r 4sen a,ion accOrdin
to population, an increase Of only one
Two or three, will be looked upon as a
insult - their maBhood and intelli
gencs, and as ike as not such an amend
meDt to the Constitution ould be me
with defeat when submitted to a vol
OF the people. No matter what shaE
the representation question may a
sumo, it will be the duty Of Republ
cans to stand firm in support of equi
representation, as embodied in the
last State platform. Any thing eli
would be humiliating aad unwurth
the support of party that believes