Daily Republican., 1882-10-23
MONDAY, OCTOBER % 1852.
Side Issues.

This is not the year for SIDE issues III
DE laware. The great objective point Is
TO wrest the State from the clutches Of
an unprogressive Bourbon Democracy.
First let the Republicans push on their
canvass, get possession Of the State
change its old etfete worn out constitu-
ton, place it upon the plane of progress
and prosperity, and then it will be time
to talk about side issues. 1t is evident
that the people of Delaware are not
prepared for proscriptive temperance
laws at the present time. Why then
should temperance be made An issne IN
the campaign? Both parties held their
State Convention, and in the platform
af rasolutions of neither was there any
u,afarepce made to the subject. The
nominations Of each party were made,
and the nominees were supposed 10
aubscribe to the platform Of principles
Laid down by their acceptance OF the
nominations. They are not expected to
subscribe to something that was nov
made an issue. The lea4ers of each
party knew that the people were dlVi-
ded upon the subject of Temperance
IeRislation, with the larger number op
nosed to it, and therefore confined the
campaign to the objects and principles
laid down in the respective platforms
The candidates of neither party were
under any Obligations to answer any
tnterrogatories from either an assocl
citation or individuals, in regard to any
question not laid down in the platforms
The State Temperance Alliance which
exists more in name than anything
else, has q right to PROFOUND all the
questions it sees proper in regard tt
prohibition, local option, license, fret
liduor law or any other phase OF th'
temperance agitation, but no candidate
is bound to answer either pro or con
So far only four of the Legislative can
didates have responded and answered
the questions of the Alliance. Two o
them are Democrats and two OF then
arc Republicans; and their answers II
substance mean about the same-tha
they are the creatures of the people an
if elected will be bound by the will 9
the people. This is the proper positio
10 assume upon the question, but 1t
an outside issue in the present campaig
and therefore should not be brougt
forward. There are other reforms neeC
ed in Delaware more pressing. IN
Constitution has not been changed &c
81 wears, and is entirely behind the ag'
In fact utterly worn out. 1t has becom
an engine of oppression instead Of prt
faction. 1t deprives one-third of th
citizens of liberty and equality an
binds the State to past age with Whlc
the present is not in sympathy. !
change this is the real contest IN Il
present campaign, and to this cham
only the Republican party is deVotir
fits energies. This alone Is a hercules
task and it should not be hampered al
mixed up with side issues forced up'
the people. The world is not coming
an end yet and there is plenty OF Tin
tor side issues in the future. Liquo
have been sold and drank since t
time OF Noah, and will be until Gabrt
blows his trumpet In spite Of all t
Legislation that can be enacted to st
the sale. Let religious denomination
and Temperance associations carry
the work of Temperance as they
proper, and let both Democrats a
Republicans engage in the work as th
always have done in the past, but
the present there is enough Of politi
reform work to engage the two gr
parties of the State without raising
banner of moral reform.