The daily gazette., 1882-10-21


In last nights nipping and eager air a
crowd OF nearly 900 people stood around a
stand on Fourth street between Shipley and
Market streets, while George II. Bates, Esq,
| the Democratic candidate for tho Legislature
from this city discussed the local issues of
the campaign and candidly gave his opinion
| upon them.
The meeting was called to order by
Thomas NJ. ogle and the following officers
were elected
Observation-Disclosures +. Grow.
Vice lPresidents-Preston Ayers, William
Silly, Thomas b. Eaton, John A. Mitchell,
John j. Toner, Archibald Given, William
A. Bleyer, Frank 7. Lackey, George
Hepburn, George Barnhill, William Hanna,
William Forsyth.
seeretaries-W. J. JefIerIs, F. R. 8. Davis,
James Griffin, Nelson A. Bertolette.
MR.. BATKs' SPEECH.
Mr.. Bates was intoduced and received
with applause. After brief opening,
urging earnest consideration of party sub
jecls, he said
There has never been In politics a more
impudent pretension than that put forward
by the present managers of the Republican
party to be the originatofs of a comprehcn-
sive scheme Of constitutional reform in
Delaware.
- NECESSITY OF REFORMS.
Beyond doubt we need such reforms
and there are features In our fundamental
law, SO radically wrong that have been
watching and waiting ever since my major
ity to see when the long suffering people of
New Castle county would rouse themselves
from the lethargic sleep of 30 years, and
assert their rights. An editor not yet res
ident long enough to vote, has recently as
sumed to enlighten the citizens of Delaware
upon public questions of State
policy which were yet old when
he was but school boy and to apply for q
patent upon views of public policy, which
was put forward by Democrats more than
than 30 years ago. He has condescendingly
stated that in response to the repeated re-
quests Of his paper l have given half
hearted adherence to the demand for M
creased representation. Either he had
taken no pains to inform himself, or he cares
only to misrepresent any political opponent
who happens to stand between him and the
designs Of his present eo-laborers In the Re
publican party. There are not only scores
of Democrats but dozens of Republicans,
who could have told him that for years past
! have not only believed, but freely expressed
the belief, that the citizens of New Castle
county should, If necessary, make common
cause and suit every issue In State cam
|
Indeed there is not a constitutional reform
hinted at In the Republican platform which
was not suggested and fought for by the
Democrats OF Delaware long before the guns
fired at Sumpter awakened the echoes which
for years filed the ears of the American
people and deafened those of a majority of
the Republican party to every tale OF politi-
cal wrong which afflicted any but the negro
race.
N 1,
istence or the Democrats had gained control
of the government of this State when the
disparity of the representation of the three
counties was far less than now, the party in
which was born, In which my father lived
and died, and of which my grandfather was
then, though 1t is / who say 1t, an honored
leader, lad sounded the alarm and struck
manly blows for the rights of New Castle
county.
And why should not Democracy then as
now be found the earnest advocate of just
representation
TIE PRESENT CONSTITUTION.
Our present constitution was framed
just after the second great upheaval of the
Democracy of the Union but the state OF
Delaware was held firmly in the grip oil the
Wing party, and its great leader aet
1t Is not to much too say that at one period
of our history and certainly not during
Jackson's first administration would'such
constitution have been formed in this State
under Democratic control. The inequality
of reprcseDtion was not SO great as now.
1t was and is notorious that John M. Clay
ton and his party had absolutely their own
way, and 1t is worth while to remember that
New Castle was Democratic, but Kent and
Sussex were Wing counties. Not the Demo-
Gratis then but the Wings of Delaware were
responsible for the beginning OF this great
political wrong. And If the Republican
party of to-day denies the responsibility
of descent for the acts of the Wing party,
then it must avow itself to be without
political ancestry We are therefore clear
of responsibility for the first wrong step and
it is the first step which costs. Truly
prophet was the Wing leader when he
boasted that he had .'locked the door and
thrown away the key"
In 1910, the disparity of population had
largely increased, but In 1866, when New
Castle had reached 42, ,7S0, with 22,Sl6 for
Kent and 25,936 for Sussex, the spirit oil
Democracy could remain silent no longer.
The first step of preparation for a conflict
which was to agitatc Delaware for three
years was call for public meeting in
Wilmington, on January IL, 1850, signed by
James A. Bayard and twenty nine Others,
most of whom are known to me to have been
there, and some of whom arc reputed men,
bcrs of the Democratic party OF our county.
The Wings had then held control of the
State for twenty-five years. Among their
Leading men were many who are to-day
prominent in the Republican party. The
wrong was scarcely less then than now. But
these men who so loudly cry out at the
| neglect of the Democratic party to remedy
this wrong in its past years of power, not
only did not suggest relief then, but bitterly
antagonized the proposal of the Democrats.
The result of that meeting in Wilmington
was Democratic State Convention held
February %, 1850, at Dover. 1t was called
| by no authority but that of the people and
delegates spontaneously elected from all
| over the State by meetings in each hundred.
| No nominations were TO be made, but
platform was adopted declaring the n'sd'si-
nous voice of the convention on Federal
questions and State as well--and i may
observe that in the preamble national was
spelled with little N aud State with big
| s. Laughter.
The Democracy of Delaware in CoDven-
tion assembled declared in favor Of CON