The daily gazette., 1882-12-12
pailulS Gaxette
W1LMlNeToN, TUESDAY. pro: la.
Mr.. Gllman's 5 Letter.


We give place, to-day, to remark ably
frank and somewhat characteristic letter
from Mr.. Robert II. Gilman, of Milford, In
this State, author OF a series OF letters pub
lished In the MorniEg News and advising
the colored voters of Delaware to sever their
connection with the Republican party as a
body and exercise perfect freedom in their
political views.
We agree with Mr.. Gilman that the Demo-
cratic party win give the colored people
their ''rights under the constitution" but
We do not accept rs true his implied asser-
tion that the continued success Of the Demo
cratic party is dependent upon such radi-
cal change of policy as departing from all
party traditions and openly soliciting the
support Of the colored voters of the State.
On this point the position of the Demo
cratic party is plain. When 1t placed the
organization upon "White Mans Plat
"form " in 1870, it did 50 for the reason
that the cause Of good government would
have been seriously endangered by the sue
cess OF the Republican party, supported and
actually controlled as it then was by the
mass Of ignorant colored voters, newly en-
franchised and about to exercise the right
of citizenship for the first time in the his
tory of the State. The same conditions are
prevailing in great measure to-day, and
the Democratic party, while ready to ac-
cord full and equal justice to the colored
people, does not wish TO be handicapped by
the support of q mass Of ignorant voters
Whose presence IN the party organization
would be apt to drive from its ranlfs the
thousands Of honest citizens in whose minds
good govern ment is Of paramount import
ance to party associations.
Beyond a doubt there has been an i'm
provement in the intellectual status Of our
colored citizens during the past decade, and
the time has arrived when the most inteli-
gent will naturally cast aside sentiments OF
mere political gratitude, and decide
public questions In accordance with
their personal and property in
terests, which are as much involved
as those of their lighter-hued brethren. This
class OF men are, naturally, interested in an
honest, economical administration of State
affairs, and If an intelligent reasoning OF
the political situation impcls them to the
belief that their interests would be best
subserycd by the success OF the Democratic
party, no sensible Democrat, be he ever SO
partisan, would for an instant think OF laying
a straw ii the way. Such men are welcome
10 vote the Democratic ticket to their hearts
content, but when it comes TO opening tht
arms Of the party and inviting the eoloret
voters to rush pell-mell into the orgaBiza
non and he received on plane Of socia
and political equality, We are impelled Il
70 enter a protest, even at the lisk of bcini
accused of entertaining Bourbon sentiment
10 an extreme degree.
As far as the necessity for reforms in ou
system Of government is concerned we al
In full accord with our correspondent, an
ear assure him that the best energies Of IL
GAZETTE will be directed towards sceurir
afsithful redemption Of all the promis
made by the Democratic party during Il
recent CampaigD,