Smyrna times., 1883-10-31

PoLITICs IN DELAwARE.-If we are to
believe the indications as manifested in po-
litical inaction and the out-croppings of
the press, however the political cauldron
may boil in other places, we in Delaware
are to have listless. unexciting and
uneventful campaign in 1884. The
reason assigned is the disastrous cam
paign of last year to the Republicans,
which was the more disheartenlng because
the political leaders thought they were
nearer victory than at any time in twenty
wears Such was the effect of the defeat
that the party has since been without a
semblance of an organization, in fact an
swering to the military phrase aptly used
after crushing defeat in battle,-"routed
horse, foot and dragons" The position
of affairs is interesting only in studying
what may be the outcome. The Morning
| Ne,Cs, we think week or two ago noted
| the political status, of at least Kent and
| Sussex counties, that 1000 Republican
voters were off the assessment list in the
two counties and that the people there
thought it would be useless to go into bat
tie with so many soldiers horse dW combat
The Republican subsequently noticed the
same thing with the further remark tina
they were disfranchiscd by the manipulau
ticns of the law in the hands of its officers
The further fact remains that the voters o
their leaders for them, have not sought TIN
collectors, as was diligently done tw,
years ago, or there would not have bee
this discrepancy. Whatever reason ma.
be assigned, and whatever of truth Their
may be in them, the prominent fact sti
remains that the preset status results NOR
, largely from inactivity and indifference
than anything else. The Peninsula
| Ne,vS of last week says
| AS the situation now is the outlook fu
Republicans in this State is a fOrlOrn on'
e and no one has had the courage to mentlo
t | a future campaign. There seems no llkel
a | hood now that the Republicans of Deli
t | ware will even put State ticket III I'll
. | field next year, although the form of vOtin
S for a President will doubtless be goI
Y through, if for 40 other reason than Il
qualification of party pride or the ambition
:, of those who would occupy offices at Il
: disposal of the Federal Government"
= These expressions are all from RepubI
Il cen papers and foreshadow an annOmolO
condition in our political history-an Gle
ton without party strife and the wager
h battle. Writers who treat Of politics in
d broader and Governmental aspect say tn
ir this is not II good condition to be in; tn
E. a country is always safer when the peoT
ut are alive to their political condition a
ic nearly equally divided between two p;
IS ties. There is satisfaction, however, tC
r large class of our people in that they W
We be saved the disagreeable chickering's a
at | contentious incident to a political ca
lie paign. 1t must not be inferred, hOwev
ar that we are to be entirely without politi
in incidents and interests next year, for
its late meeting of the State Temperance A
ance indicated that unless the other part
lal did more for them than they had done
ill the past, they wovld enter the field the
on selves. They already number 1000 vOt
we and from thirty to fifty new names are p
.ry lished each week of men who vOluntal
len declare they will vote for no man at
vas next election who will not legislate
try | local option or prohibition.