Daily Republican., 1886-06-12

given TO the collectors in 1873, when the
present ass sssnent laws were passed.
These laws were passed with the DELHI
crate intention OF cheating Republi-
cans out Of their Votes by cheating the
counties out Of the taxes they should
pay. II this were not the purpose in
view why were the assessment laws
ehaaged7 Before this change collectors
CoWld only return voter 40 q delin-
quent after having repeatedly called
upon him personally for his taxes.
Failing In collecting them after this Of.
fort the collector was excused from col
lecting the taxes for that year, but the
name was continued ON the assessment
duplicates for the next year. In fact q
name once upon the duplicates was
dropped only in 6ases Of death and re-
moval from the county or State. The
assessment laws seemed all right then,
and there were no objections to them
until an act OF the National Govern
ment through q constitutional amend
ment conferred the right to vote upon
negroes.
As the latter were naturally all Re-
publicans, the Democrats became
alarmed and were compelled 10 adopt
some extraordinary device to counter
got this deluge Of black mems votes
that threatened to engulf their party
The danger ct that time was over
come by the then United States Sena-
tor from Delaware, willard Salisbury,
now Chancellor OF the State, raising
the standard OF the white mans party
and making an appeal for all white
men to combine against what he called
negro rule. As may well DO imagined
{ thousands Of white voters, who had un'
til then been Republicans, caught the
alarm, left their party, and rushed into
the arms. OF the Democratic white
mans party, and this more than neu-
trAlizsd the new allies OF the Republi-
o ans. But this was not sufficient for a
permanent assurance Of victory. The
gloss Of . white mans party would
soon rub of, and something else was
necessary to insure permanent success.
The remedy was soon discovered. II
was found In the assessment laws thai
with the aid Of collectors In full sym.
patty with the purposes land aims Of
the Democratic party, 1t could disfran.
ohise Republicans ut will. and as many
rs are required to insure Democratic
success at every election.
How well the assessment laws and
Democratic collectors, to give them po-
tency by their plan Of not collecting
taxes from Republicans, the present po-
htical situation fully illustrates. A
city that would on full and fair vote
give 800 Republican majority gives a
1najerty for the Democrats Of 1900 and
could rs easily have given $500 by the
Democratic method in vogue Of increas
ing the Democratic vote. A county
that would on q full and fair vote Civ,
1000 Republican majority, gives tina
m 1ch the other way, and under thu
Democratic plan carried outin the Third
Tenth and Eleventh wards OF this city
1t can easily be made to give 1000 o.
5000 Democratic majority. How thiI
disfranohisement OF Republicans Il
done we need not spend time in re-
hearsing. Thousands OF Republican,
In Wilmington know that when they
call to pay their taxes, find their name
not on the tax duplicates. They hAv,
never been called upon personally by
collector, nor asked to pay q cent o
taxes. The new law made to cover tn
case does not require collector to d
80. Upon the other hand thousands o
Democrats know very well that thei
tax receipts are brought and placed II
their hands, and ali they have to do
TO 60 to the polls and vote, asking n
questions as to whether they are %
sessed or not, who paid their taxes o
whether paid at all or not. 1t Is yer
well known that there Is not Demo
Crat in the city who cannot vote If b
wishes to vote, and 1t is as well know
that there are thousands OF Republi
cams in the city who cannot vote sin
ply because they have been disfrsr
chised under the law by Democrat
tax collectors.
Under these circumstances what hog
Is there for an honest ele,tion In Deli
Ware7 The Indications are that th
Republican party OF the State will nc
even organize for the coming cAmpaigr
though a majority of the voters OF th
State would be on its side we're the
not disfranchised. A feeble resistanc
will no doubt be made by independent
under the name Of temperance an
labor parties, but this will only wht
the Democratic sppetites, and anotht
screw Of their political machine wi
grind out enough Democratic votes I
meet and subdue any opposition NOV,
meut.
But this stamping out of the Repul
1ican vote cannot be done withol
making Its influences felt In the
nances Of the respective counties.
the thousands of isfranchised Repu
licans are not to be permitted to vo
they will nost assuredly not pay an
more taxes, and in consequence add
tional burtheDs will be entailed upc
the property tax payers. The respet
tive counties must have 30 mua
money to meet the current expense
whether that money comes frsm Il
many or the few. Under the presei
System the few must bear the burthen
How long do the honest and intelligeI
voters OF Delaware intend to submit
this sta OF affairs? What is Bourbo
Democracy that the half of the people
the st ate should be virtually disfrar
chised not only of their votes, but {
representation in the law making bod
of the State? Ia the midst OF DemC
cratic primaries, which but debauch,
the public mind and consciences, Is
al hat III
ties should combine and stand togeth
aor their rights and q reform policy
Delaware?
-s-BN<@
II Is GENERALLY conceded that q