Daily Republican., 1884-09-22
the Local Issues Involved.

Ooronas-CHARLEsE e. SPARKS.
The Local Issues Involved.
The county tickets of both the lead
ing parties of the county being nomina-
ted and presented to the people, it be-
comes necessary, in order to vote incl
ligently, to understand fully the issues
involved in the contest. 1t Is charged
that the Democratic party has been 30
long in power in the State that it has
degenerated into selfish organization
that cares more for the party than for
the interests Of the people. The Demo-
Gratis are charged with having not kept
pace in legislation with the advanced
spirit of the times that has 30 signally
marked its course in the progress of
improvements and prosperity in other
States.
They have had full control for over
thirty years, and no provision has been
made for the care and reformation Of
the unfortunate portions OF the citizens
of the State. The only public institu-
tions recognized by the State are the
jails and poor houses. The vicious are
sent to the Jail, and the unfortunate
poor are sent to the poor house. There
is not work house, q house Of refuge,
. Magdalen asylum, o blind asylum
not . single reformAtory institution in
the State, authorized by the State and
to which State aid Is given. This
alone is dark, blank background for q
people enjoying the boosted blessing of
civilization and moral refinement. But
the charges against Democratic rule
do not stop here.
The Democrats have been fertile in
expedients to disfranchise portion Of
the people Of the State, who are in po-
litical opposition to them. They have
tempered with the assessment laws and
the laws providing for the collection Of
taxes, until the assessors and collectors
have the authorized power to make a
partisan distinction between the voters,
by which they can disfranchise all
voters who only pay poll taxes, who do
not voluntarily come forward and pay
their taxes. By such legislation and
the action Of the State agents, the taxes
fall heavily upon the real estate owners
while the thousands who are disfran-
chised politically 60 free Of paying
taxes.
1t is charged against the Democratic
party that, to subserve partisan purpo.
ses, it has had laws passed for the city
of Wilmington, overriding local sell
government. For the proof of this
charge we need only refer to the Water
Commission now in force, the Munich
pal Court now in force, the gerryman
dering of the city into two Democrat,
and one Republican assessment distric
now in force, the gerrymandering Of TIT
city into six Democratic and five Re
publican wards, with large minority
of the people in the Democratic wards
now in force
Furthermore, the Democrats hav'
witnessed the inequality Of representa-
ton in the Legislature of the Stat'
between the counties, a representation
which every year grew more unequal
and yet for partisan reasons they hav,
net relieved the people from this de
pressing inequality. True, a move wa
made in that direction at the late ses
sion Of the Legislature, but the plal
PAOPOoOA WOula cbAli lC0NC uhOPACoCht
ed in the Senate $4,000 citizens Of New
Castle County, and $4,000 citizens o
the same county in the House, withou
any provision for an increase in time +
come.
The amendment is an insult to ever
citizen who prizes manhood and in
dependence. Aside from all thes
charges to sink any party int
oblivion, the Judiciary Of the State
appointed for life, which is repugnan
to a Republican form of government
There is not another State in the Unto
where the people have not got some sa
as to who shall compose the Judiciary
Democrats have never made any at
tempt to change this anti Republican
feudal law. For thirty years the d,
mocrats have had charge of the Stat,
and yet no effort has been made to RI
mand to the people the choosing Of the
county officers, with the exceptions Of
Sheriff, Coroner and Levy Court.
These are few Of the reasons VIII
there should be change Of administr;
ton in the State. Thirty years of pov
er has shown that the Democrats al
unwilling to make any change, unlel
these changes benefit their party.
There is no plan by which chang
car be effected, except by the defeat
this party that has been SO unwilling
take step forward. The change ca
only be effected by the Republican pa
ty Of the State, and those who want
change have no other alternative lie
than to support the party that is wi
ling to make the change.