Daily Republican., 1884-02-06
Opposite. TO tho Anne. dmesl.

3 CduS Will nave W ub III tlib COMING
campaign TO carry New Castle County
will be to nominate good ticket and
not precipitate any fractional quar-
rels amongst themselves.
Their reason for talking in this
manner is that they are opposed to
the proposed constitutional representa-
tive amendment which bears most
heavily upon them, and the Water
Commission and Municipal Court
which bears most heavily upon the City
of Wilmington, and on general pripai-
pies is subversive of local selfgovera-
ment. In Wilmington Democrats can
be counted by scores who are as much
opposed TO these unjustiiiable interfeE~
. ences with the will OF the people as
Republicans are, and ii an opportunity
was given for them 10 express their
opinions on the question at the ballot
box, disconnected from the allegiance
they owe to their party ,icket, the larger
number would be found voting against
the amendment.
Democrats in the outlying Hundreds,
so far as the Constitutional Amendment
is concerned, have as much reason to be
opposed TO it as Republicans. 1t dis
franchises them us much as it does
Republicans, because it deliberately
takes from them Senator reducing the
number left TO two, and it adds to Kent
and Sussex each one Senator in addi-
ton to what they already had. Ii
does this while the population OF New
Castle County outside Of Wilmington
is greater than that of Kent County and
almost as great as that Of Sussex. The
Democrats OF Blackbird, Appoquini-
mink, St Georges and other outlying
Hundreds are not insensible 10 the fast
that if this amendment is adopted il
will distranchise one-half of them from
representation in the Senate.
\ either are these Democrats i'll the
rural districts oblivious Of the fact that
if this amendment passes it will not be
exactly like the laws OF the Modes and
Persians, unalterable, but they know
that it will be many years before it
would be altered, They plainly see in
the amendment the glaring iusult
couched in words not easily masked
that one man in Kent or Sussex shall
have as much political recognition III
the higher branch of the Legislature is
two men from the rural districts Of
New Castle County To show that this
will be the case we have but to use the
figures of the last census.
In 1880 Kent County had q popula-
ton of 80, sI4 with three Senators. New
Castle County had a population outside
of Wilmington, Of 81, 23S, with thrce
Senators. Sussex County had a pOpu-
latiOn of 36,0lH with three senators. 1t
is but just and proper, however, to state
that the whole OF New Castle County at
that time, with a population of 17,7l6,
had but three Senators and that by a
local political arrangement i'll both
OF the political parties one of thesc
Senators represented Wilmington spc-
cially but no less the whole county, but
virtually the rural districts had by this
arrangement but two Senators.
1t does not help the cause that the
proposed amendment comes i'll to make
permanent and lasting a rule that Wa,
adopted by political parties forth rura
districts to share the distranchisemcn'
of Wilmington by giving the latter 4
Senator. The people outside Of vii
mington are entitled to the creates
credit for surrendering one of thci
Senators that the city would not b,
totally DISTINGUISHED from representa-
ton in the Senate. But it is the rs
sence of arrogance and oppression II
take advantage Of that generosity ant
by a constitutional amendment maxi
that disfranchiscment perpetual.
Let Us turn again to the relative pop
ulation of the counties and Of Whining
ton. and see what the amendment pro
poses to do for the people. This tint
we bring Wilmington into the calcutta
ton because the amendment make, it !
separate legislative district. The
amendment gives Kent County, with :
population OF g, S74, four Senators. |
gives New Castle County, outside o
Wilmington, with a population Of 80,
23s, TWO Senators. 1t gives SuSse'
County, with population Of 3o,OlH
four Senators. Ii gives Wilmington
with a population OF 42.47S, in 1880, bu
now OF IL, 900, TWO senators.
Unequal Il, the representation still
when Wilmington is taken into COnSl
Grafton, the latter has been the gamer
because where she had no Senators be
fore according to the law, under tn
proposed amendment she would hay
two. The rural district Of New Castl
l. r.nllt- fln an, IL s.itib tbut has lbs
by the new deal. Looking at il III thi
light Kent has gained one Senator
Sussex one, and Wilmington two. III
where stands New Castle County GU
side Of Wilmington Where is he
gain? With all her territory, almo>
equal to Kent, the productiV"ness
her soil, the education and wealth {
her citizens, with Il population gre'ttt
than Kent, She loses Two Senators,
BY this arrangement the rTral di,
tricts lose not only two Senators, hu
Unc-half Of the people ar" dstranChiSc
from any voice or influence i'll the SCI
ate. The people out in the country Sc
this and very naturally every iLtelligrIl
right-thinking man is opposed TO an
sutH Ildul lllilhlIJINs u - Ibl ~ -
wondered at that they are opposed t
the amendment. Inder ordinary cir
cumstauces men are cXCuSable to
adhering to any political party to whicI
they may attach themselves, but whcl
the individual rights Of the people ar
to BE- sacrificed and til" people are calle'
upon to sanction the sacrifice by thei
own votes, it is quit" ditferen
thing.
This is about the way the people il
the county see it. They see that tn
proposed amendment only gives 1928
people in the agricultural section .
New Castle Comfy TWO Senators, Will
it gives to 81, S74 people in Kent County
also agriculturists, tOnr Senators. II l.
natural that they should ask them
selves, why this distinction? 1t is no