The daily gazette., 1882-11-11
gAtlusEA gnzelte
MlLMlNGToN, SATURDAY. Nov. 4
Tho sherin's Commission.

we lIhnk 0ON6THOr Ildii snOutu isouc NhS |
commission OF Sheriff of New Castle county |
to Purnal J. Lynch.
1t is matter of regret in this case |
that the ballot boxes of the entire county |
were not opened and the ballots counted
by the Board of Canvass 1t is a
monstrous doctrine to hold that the cleo
lion can depend upon tho arbitrary
action of any one inspector, and that his
decision in regard to contested ballots can.
not be revised by the full Board. Enough
Democratic ballots were thrown out upon
variousY Yfetcxts to elect Mr.. Lynch by a
safe majority and yet 1t is held that this
assumption of authority is not sub
jcct to the approval OF the Board Of Can.
Vass. If this view is correct it is the veriest
nonsense to have Canvassing Board, and
the election might as well end when the bal
lots are counted by the inspectors on the
nightof election, leaving to the Clerk Of the
Peace or some other official the duty Of
Calculating and aggregatng" the returns.
Had the Board of Canvass counted all the
ballots it would have ascertained that two
Democratic votes were thrown out by the
inspector of West st. Georges hundred, Eve
by the inspector of the Eleventh District in
Wilmington, and possibly more in other
districts, while in Mill Creek hundred
live alleged double ballots (four of
them Democratic) were thrown
out when the poll list conciusively
proves that they must have been voted in
single form. Here arc enough reflections to
elect Purnal Lynch Sheriff, and yet they
were made, in each instance, by ore man,
while the full Board was deprived Of any
opportunity to reverse or confirm these de
csions.
We venture to remind certain thin
skinned members of the Democratic party,
who hold up their hands In holy horror at
the very idea OF u Democratic Board of Can
Tass attempting to correct palpablo errors
for the benefit Of a Democratic candidate,
that two years ago none were louder
lnouthed than they in commenting the
Democratic Inspectors who then corrected
til; glaring errors Of Republican cleo
toa officers in order to elect
Republican Sheriff. Then the Board
uf Canvass opened ballot bor for the pur-
pose of getting certificate that was sup
IlDStu W DC ulOTc COITtCb bldu Juc one lue
laundering Republican Inspector was read
ing from, and on ascertaining that it was
even more erroneous, actually corrected Me
certificate itself. The same Board of Canvass
made various other alterations in the returns,
credited 10 several parties votes not actually
cast, but evidently intended, for them, and
retired from New Castle with the plaudts
Of Democrats all over the county ringing
in its ears. All this was for the benefit of
the Republican party and Republican cand-
dates.
On Thursday, when 1t was proposed to dc
this same thing fer a Democratic candidate
honestly elected by the votes of the people,
The cry was raised that the Board had nc
power to open ballot box, except for the
purpose of obtaining the second certificate
when the first could not be found
Why did not these gentlemen dis
cover this amazing fact two years ago
1hen it would have given the Board al
ample excuse for rejecting an imperfect Ger
iil!cate that failed to record over four hun
dFcd votes cast for Purnal J. Lynch fo
Sheriff, and forced every Republican candi
date to look to the courts for redress. Or
on the other hand, had the opin
ion been held two years aoo
That the Board had no power to 20 behinC
tie certificate OF the Inspector and Judges
or to alter it in any respect, the ccrtifcat
taken from the ballnt-bOx of the Eighth
ward, as it originally appeared, would hay,
elected Mr. Lynch Sheriff by majority O
nearly three hundred votes.
We are sick and tired of this cantint
hypocrisy that sustains Democratic Officials
IN technical violations of the law for tn,
benefit Of Republican candidates, but hold,
them to the strictest Interpretation
oi the strietcst letter, where I'll,
interests OF Democratic caudidat,
are concerned. We ask every fair
minded citizen to refer to the proceed
ings Of the last two Boards of Canvass, ant
note well the fact that while Democrats frc
Guently voted with the Republicans in tn,
interest Of honesty and fair play not sijsgl
Repabiicdn dcOiated an Instant from IN
strict line Qf party depotioa aad partisan
bias, no matter ehat issue pds iarolgcd.
ln another column we publish an eytrac
from the proceedings of the last Board O
Canvass, which shows how an honest Demo
craic majority strained the law for tb
benefit Of the Republican candidates, an
no tair minded man can fail to sec that tb
same principles applied to the presen
contest would have given tn
Sherid's certificate to Purnal j. Lynch
At late hour Thursday night a majorc
OF the Board of Canvass did Mr.. Lynch til
Iardy justice of giving him certificate, an
as the Republican members stuck lik
lccehes to their candidate, two certificate
will be presented to the Governor, and tw
candidates will ask a commission at hi
hands.
IN view of all the facts and circumstance
of the case, we hope Governor Hall wi
give the commission to Mr.. Lynch. ]
would be the depth Of injustice to compt
him To resort to the slow and costly pre-
cesses of the law for redress, and if hi
Republican competitor dares to brave tn
storm of fraud and corruption tina
secured his apperset majority and push hi
claims in court, there will be plenty of ey
dence at hand to support Mr.. Lynch and tn
honest Democratic voters OF New Castl
county. The people are with Mr.. Lynch i
this contest, and the Governor may rest az
snred that they will su,!ain him irhc stand
up for their just rights.