The Wilmingtonian., 1886-11-20
The Sussex Platform.

reason for healthy existence, must not b,
forgotten. 1t is necessary that it be KEEP
continually before the public eye. The hack
neyed phrase ''eternal vigilance is the pric,
Of liberty" was never more applicable thar
at the present moment. Humanity is too
prone to lull itself to sleep in ianced securi.
ty trusting in an indefinable optimism thai
things will pan out all right.
| The Sussex people have set the ball roll.
ing. But it is absolutely dependent upol
the intel igent citizens of the whole State that
any good is reaped from this movement.
| Agitation must be kept up The realization
Of the need for constitutional revision must
be kept industiiously before the eyes OF
the people. Interest must not flag. We
must not become weary in weil-doing.
This is most important crisis in the CON
stitutional history of our State. Indeed the
most important one within the memory OF
any Delawarean. Citizens OF New York
speak of their new party as that Of Progress
sive Democracy.
There is need in no State of the Union OF
such party more than in Delaware. We
are hardly out of swaddling clothes in re.
gard to any practical democratic liberty and
independence.
The fight must be kept up unremttingly.
The demand is for uuwavering adhesion to
the Sussex Reform platform for Coustitu-
tional r vision.
Let all party d'ssensious be forgotten. Let
all memory of contrasted opinion, Democrat,
Republican, or Prohibition be for the time
oblterated and let all honest Americans in
The Diamond State give not alone their un-
,tiuted adhesion but also active co-opera.
ton in this work, which, after ali has only
the simple aspiration of placing Delaware
alongside its sister States upon the matter OF
individual democratic liberty There should
oe an awakening all over the State, from
Brandywine to Appoquinimiuk upon this
subject which is of such live Importance not
alone to us but to posterity.
And, as regards our representatives at
Dover let them take heed and place no OBJ
struction in the way of the wishes of the
people. The legislative representative from
this city is reminded respectfully by the peo
pie of Wilmington, with that dignity pos
sessed by constituents who are always mind.
full of the value of the honor and impol tant
trust they have confided temporarily in his
hands as their agent at Dover that their wish
is for Constitutional revision. The fact OF
Mr.. Wares election upon what is curiousiy
enough called the Gray ticket Gas if Mr.
Gray's needs, and not those of the citizens
Of Wilmington were to be considered in the
connection) does not for one moment dis
charge that gentleman from full and com
plete accord with the Sussex platform. New
Castle County demands, along with Sussex
and Kent that this work be consummated or
put upon the road to successful cunsumma-
tion. The people will closely scrutinize the
action of its representatives throughout the
campaign of Constitutional reform. The
administration and Legislature has been
elected upon these guarantees overtly given,
OF so implied without reservation.
The question of reform has come to stay.
The question will be maintained until it is
attained ........
Centuries ago when ancient Rome feared
the commercial supremacy OF its African
neighbor Carthage, while the Runc wars
ragged, the far seeing Roman senators, solci-
tous only for the ascendancy of the seven
hlled city, clamored in forensic oratory for
the destruction OF Ddo's colony While
Carthage lived Rome was threatened. Pol-
cus Cato the censor, always terminated his
speeches, no matter what he subject which
which brought him to bis feet, with the ring
ng words, Delenda est Carthago Carthage
must be destroyed).
So let the theme most prominently borne
upon the tongne and in the view of our leg
rsators at Dover be Reform Reform
Let it clatter around their ears. Let all
nther questions be dropped for the moment
Let every other concession be made in orde
that this one may succeed 1t is the most
important one. 1t demands the whole, sole,
and pre-eminent attention of the Legislator,
Just in the same sense that the Irish question:
monOpoizes that Of the British government
There must be no putting off, no hesitan.
cy, no unnecessary delay, no lobbying inter
ference nor senatorial influence tolerated
that may have even the color of anything
iuimical to complete success. Let the peo-
pie judge of tue wortllness of their present
representatives at D1vsr upon the basis OF
their loyal adhesion to the Sussex platform
Amusements,
This afternoon al the Grand Opera House
the Corinne Company will play "Arcada'