Daily Republican., 1882-05-25
THURSDAY. MAY 25, 1852
Democratic Reform.

appeals to their party to stand by
the reforms that have been inauguratet
and carried forward by the representa-
tives of their party. 1t might be wei
to ask these organs and exponents o
party principles what reforms TIN
Democratic party Of the city have in
augurated that it should be specially
entitled to the confidence of the people
Is the city better governed in the inter
ests of law and order than when the
Republicans had the Mayor and the
police force 4? Has there actually been
any economy used that would recon-.
mend the continuance of the Democrats
in power over the Republicans? We
ask these shriekers for reform to point
out single measure of reform that has
been inaugurated without entailing a
heavy and almost useless expense tc
the city. True, the police force has
been increased, but is life and prop
arty any more secure than when Re
publicans held the reins of Govern.
ment without an additional tax on the
citizens of $4,000 to pay salaries? The
Board of Health has been remodled and
re-organized, probably on better re
form basis than under the old system,
but those loudest in praise of the re.
form are the additional officers required
who are paid liberal salaries from the
pockets of the tax payers. IL is also
true that the Democrats have added the
Eleventh Ward to the city in spite of
the protestations of the citizens of that
Ward, but to reconcile those same vo.
ters, the Democracy exonerated them
from the payment of a city tax for three
years. How does this strike the minds
of honest voters? But this is not all.
That part of the city South of Sixth
street which has heavy Democratic
majority, but some 5000 less of popu.
lation than the north side, has been
gerrymandered into six wards with the
expectation Of electing twelve council
men, while the north with a larger popu-
lation and largely Republican is di-
vided into only five wards with ten
councilmen. Is this the fairness of
Democracy that is offered to the intelli-
gent voters Of the city? Is this the re.
form feast to which all are invited |?
This is Democratic reform. This kind
Of reform is no less prominent in State
affairs. Under Democratic reform
there are $4,000 disfranchised citizens
in New Castle County. Has the De-
mocracy ever made any efforts to en-
franchise these distranchised citizens
who are suffering worse than politi-
cal serfdom? The Democrats have
been in power continuously in the
State for over thirty years, bnt where
are the reforms they have created thai
entitle them to praise? Where are
the monuments Of their wisdom in, the
legislation of the State? The assess
.,nti1 - is -sn tampsred with
M. flth Considerable difficulty
that an Eonest vcter can keep his name
on the assessment lists. The laws re-
lating to educatios have been some
what improved, Elt only by the united
vo of the Republicans in the Legis.
lature and few of the more intelligent
Democrats, while the majority of the
Democrats were opposed to any reform.
Is this the great Democratic reform
feast prepared for the intelligent voters
of Delaware? Is this the table to
which the young men of the state
with advanced ideas are asket to sit
down? Let intelligent and thoughtful
voters stop and think before they lon
ger act with such an etfete worn out
Bourbon Democracy.