The Wilmingtonian., 1886-11-13
GAS the Twig is Bent

l 80
We have here in San Francisco some forty
five thousand of them attending school. al
Hele in Wilmington, the metropolis O
Delaware we have some eight or nine thou.
sand children attending public school,
In very few years several thousand Of
this number will be voters in this city.
1t is necessary that these embryo citizens,
in the name of honor of this State and its
future progress, be informed thoroughly up
on the present status of citizens and voters
in Delaware, of The extent and limitations OF
civic rights enjoyed or denied to them.
Generations ago when John M. Clayton,
after completing the existing constitution
made that e-forgotton assertion
that it (the constitution) was finished and
the key thrown away, people then could not
have realized how significantly possible OF
future realization those epigrammatic words
were.
We are now come to judgment. A reyi-
sion of the constitution is demanded.
Some people venture the assertion that it
is impossible of accomplishment in this
State, that the present code places so much
opportunity of obstruction in the pathway
o. its accomplishment that the effort is not
worth trial. ..--
Kent and Sussex, as the Constitution
stands, have the legislative upper hand over
New Castle County. The later with pop
ulation about equal to that of the other two
counties has only third of the total legisla.
tive representation. ....
The citizens of Kent and Sussex, an ag-
ricultuial population, are well aware of the
advantage they hold. Their past record in
dicates no inclination on their part of making
any concession to New Castle County. 1t
might be added, in candor, that it would be
more than one could expect of ordinary hu-
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the lower counties upon the plank of repre-
sanitation according to population.
That is not asked though as an abstract,
general theory it is a not an unjust one.
During the present campaign it may be
remembered that State Superintendent Will
liams was brought to account by local
journal for introducing politics into his de.
partment of public education. The citation
was mainly based upon the hypothesis that
State officer such as the Superintendent of
Public Education was entirely out of order
when perambulating the State as a stump
speaker, or otherwise using his influence,
when his proper business demanded atten-
tion to the numerous requirements of his
department.
Senator Gray took occasion to vindicate
Mr.. Williams position as assailed by the
journal referred to, by saying on the public
platform that an important part of the re.
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to it that the youth of Delaware are lntelli-
gently taught and informed upon the facts
that form the basis of our government, Fed
eral, State and Municipal.
Now let us see that there be some logica
outcome of this declaration.
9 The youth of the High School and tn
grmmar Departments of the common school
) have sufficient mental development to com
prehend ordinary questions of Constitutions
D rectitude or of Constitutional insufficiency
@ Let the exact facts, as they exist in re
e gard to representation, appointive power
S the suffrage, assessment regulations (thes
: arc not necessarily beyond their comprehen
5 sion) and other pressing questions, be clear
' ly and justly explained to them, withou
o bias, so that when these thousands of youth
, arrive at voting age they will be enabled t
o make an intelligent Judgment.
The present generation may not be abl
e to accomplish the desired reform. Many res
/ sons are ascribed for this probability. tt
g best perhaps is that of early association an
J. gradual fixity Of opinion in regard to IL
& laws as they stand. 1t is now the duty {
J. educators to take away from the new gene
,e alton all possibility of conservative, unprt
D. gressive reasons, if reasons they may
rs called. There should always exist in IL
ir minds Of an intelligent people a susceptible
= ity to progressive ideas and free opportunii
e. for investigation and criticism of condition
al social, moral, or political as they exi
around them.
lie 1t is not too much to assert that we
e. five hundred of the most intelligent youtl
SO of our public schools requested 70 give the
he Judgment upon the status of the citizens
1g Delaware, when compared with that
ly other States, arguments having been ma
re fully pro and con by the favorers of t
present political status and Ealso by tho
IT. who demand reform before that jury of Fl
)" hundred of our adolescents the strong msj'
lis ity would be in favor of reform.
US Thare Is then M OhipctiOn IN Stata Snn