Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-25
should DelaWare's Delegates be
distracted

In one sense they should, and in an
other not. If the delegates to the Ma
tional Convention at Chicago from
Delaware could name and elect the
candidate for President then it would
be eminently proper to instruct the
delegates to vote for and nominate that
candidate. But Delaware with her six
votes, while she can throw them into
the balance to secure the nomination of
a candidate, cannot deliver her three
electoral votes where they are most |
needed-to elect even the candidate |
voted for at the National Convention.
Then what is the proper position for
delegates from Delaware to assume in
the present contest for the PreSiden-
tial nomination
Simply position as an aid to thel
sentiment of the great pivotal States OF
the Union, the States without whose
votes there cannot be any Republican
President. Which are those States ?
New York, Ohio and Indiana. New
York has So electoral votes, Ohio 23,and
Indiana 10 together they have "A. 1T
is assumed by Republicans and admit
ted by Democrats, that upon these "A
votes depend the election of Presi-
dent, be he Republican or be he a
Democrat. 1t is assumed by Democrats
and as readily acknowledged by Re-
publicans that the Republican candidate
will not get an electoral vote in the
Southern States, of which Delaware is
one.
1t is admitted by Democrats that the
Republican candidate has a reasonable
prospect Of carrying every Northern
State, except the great pivotal States
we have named, and with the possible
exception of New Jersey and Nevada.
At any rate, with the shotgun and
other DISTINGUISHING agencies put in
motion in the South by the seni-civi-
lized Democracy of that section, the
Republican party cannot reasonably
expect any assistance from that quarter.
OF all the States that are usually called
Southern States, Delaware is the least
prepared to aid in the election Of a Re
publican President. Never were more
Republicans disfranchised in our State
than at present, and never was she in a
poorer condition to assist in the great
national cause.
With all these admitted, then what is
the true position tor the Delaware Re-
publicans to take? Through the UNI
bounded charity and muniticence of the
great Republican party of the Nation,
no State is ruled out of the counsels OF
the party on account of its inability to
aid that party. All are admitted to
equal rights and privileges. But be-
cause these rights have been conferred
upon the Republicans Of Delaware, a
proper regard for the true interests of
the party, and its success would dictate
cautious course that would not fetter
and hamper the great States where the
decisive battles of this great campaign
are to be fought. 1t is evident that
Indiana, Ohio and New York are to be
the great battle fields of the campaign.
This being the case, then is it not
wisdom to permit these States to name
the leader under which they can win
the battles What good can it do the
Republican party if other States name
the leader that cannot carry the States
named. AS well might the contest be
given up on the eve of battle as to 60
intoit without the heartest support of
those States. Who are to choose the
leader who can carry those States
Who does it seem reasonable should
choose that leader Are the Republic
cans fthose Seates not more able to
choose that leader than the Republicans
beyond them ?
1t is very easy for Massachusetts,
to shout Edmunds, Illinois Logan, the
South in general to take Arthur upon
its shoulders and Pennsylvania to
swear by the plumed knight Of Maine,
but none Of these will carry New York,
Ohio and Indiana. There is where the
rub comes in. This is national, not a
State election. Concessions must be
made and accepted to secure success for
the party.
What is the duty of D"lowar" in this
crisis ? She has six votes u give 10 a
candidate. To whom shall they be Civ
Nh htlV ID lII' o'lll-
ment of the State. Blind is the man
who cannot see that it is Enthusiastically
for Blaine by very large odds. 1t is no
discredit to the trampled down, listran-
chised Republicans Of Delaware that
they are for Blaine. Rather is it a
glowing tribute to their honesty and
fidelity to the cause on trpublicanism
that they choose so brilliant and able a
leader.
Then let the Delaware Republicans
elect Blaine delegates. From the over
whelming force Of numbers Blaine Isl
entitled to the Delegates from Delaware.
Let every ward and Hundred III the
State elect delegates to the Dover
State Convention, and let those dele
gates be pledged to vot" for Blaine dele
gates to the National Convention. This
would be all right and proper. Della
ware will then have put herself upon
record as being Enthusiastically in
favor Of Blaine. Blu right here let
there be pause Should there be far
ther instructions ? These delegates
will of course be expected to vote
first for the choice Of Delaware.
But now comes tn" crisis. suppose
the "A delegates from New York, Ohio
and Indiana, should hold IL conference
and say that Mr.. Blaine cannot carry
all or either of those States and that
some other candidate can carry them.
Must the Blaine delegates from Della
ware under those circumstances, under
the instructions they may have recciv-
ed from their State Convention contin-
ne to vote for candidate that the dele
gates from those States say cannot oar
ry them
If they name candidate Who can
carry them, and as the election Of a
President higrs upon those States, would
il not be the part Of Wi.dOa in That!