The daily gazette., 1882-11-03
A CANDIDATES. RECORD.
Mr.. CuRREY ON THE SUBJECT
OF FREESCHOOLS.
COMPARED WITH MR.. sT0oKLEY.
An UnfaiIing Opposition to Tax for Public
Education, and Propensity for Grind
ing q Poor Man in the Dust.
Especial correspondence OF the Gazette. !

--9
Especial correspondence of the Gazette.
HARRINGTON, DEL, Nov. 2.-The speak
ers OF the Republican party have forced GER
tain questions upon the public at their
meeting In Harrington on Saturday night,
and 1t is presumed at all other places
They took especial pains to try to convince
the people that the Republican party
| favored three distinct advantages over the
Democratic party, and hence entitled TO the
support of all good citizens. They said
first, that theirs was a party of progress,
that the Democratic party was party OF
stagnation. Second, that the Republican
party was friend of the poor man, that the
Democratic party was not. Third, that the
Republican party was in favor of good
schools and liberal education of all chill
dren, that the Democratic party did not en-
courage education, but upon the con-
trary rather encouraged ignorance. The
speakers especially dwelt upon the latter.
The platform of the Republican party also
gushes over in its declaration in favor of
progress, in favor of the poor man and for
liberal education. Party platforms and pub
lie speakers do not go very far in convinc-
ing people of the sincerity of their declara
tions unless the same be headed by party
candidates whose records chow that they are
platform within themselves. Now as we
claim that the Republican party cannot sim
cerely cry reform with such reformer as
Richard Harrington as its leader, we claim
also that the record OF Albert Currey, the
Republican candidate for Governor, will not
sustain their party and speakers In their
declarations that they are party Of pro-
gress, that they are the poor mans friend,
and that they are in favor of more liberal
education. Let us consider these points.
First, what has Albert Currey ever done in
the way of progress? He was never known
to do anything individually to foster any
public improvement Charles c.. Stockley,
upon the contrary, has devoted the best en-
ergies of his life toward opening railroads
and advancing the interests of his country.
Second, as to being friends of the poor man,
was Albert Currey ever known to be a poor
mans friend? One has but to go into his
community to hear all kinds of reports
about his paper shaving, and then about
certain hardships poor men have suffered
who got into his debt and under his clutches.
Albert Currey has taken advantage of poor
mans circumstances when needing money
very urgently and given him 800 In cash.
took his note for 500, and then charged him
6per cent. When the man offered to give him
the ninety dollars loaned, Mr.. Currey would
not accept less than the amount the note
called for. Let any supporter of Albert
man related this to your correspondent, and
your correspondent here heard the same
thing from balf-dozen persons, and was
asked If he considered Albert Currey the
FREUD of the poor man he replied that he
was "Hell of poor mans friend" Not
a man who lives can lay anything of this
kind at the foot of Charles G. Stockley. He
is kind hearted to every man. He never
shaved piece of paper in his life, but upon
the contrary has endorsed poor mems paper
and upon some occasions has footed the bill.
Now, thirdly, as to free schools. We all
agree that unto the free schools do we look
for the education of the masses and the
welfare of our State. VIII any man believe
the Republicans are sincere when boasting
so much about free schools, when I tell him
that Albert Currey has not attended a
school meeting for number of years and
when he did attend them he voted for no
tax. He is q rich man and can send his
own son off to college, but has not been
willing that his poor neighbor should have
the benefit of a common school education
for their less fortunate children. Go to any
collector of taxes in Nantieoke hundred and
he will tell you that Albert Currey
always grumbled about paying tax
and is not a friend of public
schools. Nehemiah Stayton says that
Mr.. Currey's reputation is bad on the
free school question. Go ask John Henry
Satterfield of Staytonville how Mr.. Currey
acted when he was collector. Right here in
Mispillion hundred we have Curtis Morris,
present assessor, who was once a collector
of school taxes in Nanticoke, who is
willing to make affidavit that when he called
on Mr.. Currey for school taxes in the ad-
joining district to the one in which Mr..
Currey lives, and in which adjoining district
Mr.. Currey owns property and was subject
to taxation, he was told by the present can
didate for Governor that he had to pay tax
in his own district, that the whole thing was
a fraud and humbug, that he wished they
had no schools, and that he would not pay
the tax. The tax was only a small sum,
Mr.. Morris did not care to collect it by law
and the tax was never paid. Such in short
is the record of Albert Currey on the school
question. Mr.. Stockley has always been
friend of free schools. He pays without
school tax in IL districts He
commenced life as a school teacher He
has been a school commissioner a good
portion of his life, especially when he lived
iu Millsboro. He has always admired and
assisted those interested in the schools, SO
am told by commissioner in his own dis
trict. AS State Senator in 1873, and as
q chairman of the Committee on Re-
vised Statutes, he worked for and
voted for bill creating a super
of public schools and one for
each county. The bill through an unfortu-
nate circumstance did not pass both Houses,
but two years later in 1875, when Mr..
Stockley was Speaker of the Senate, the law
creating the office of State Superintendent
with all its duties and which has SO bene-
fitted our school system was passed, Mr..
Stockley being one of its most earnest sup
porters. These facts are submitted to its
people of Delaware with this inquiry? Do
you think that the Republican party should
cry about progress, about being g friend to
the poor man and about more liberal free
school system, with the record of Albert
Curry on all these questions staring them
and you in the face!