Milford chronicle., 1888-08-03
Political Treachery.

[,rhe following letter appeared in the
Smyrna Record of last week, and is bitter
arraignment in a democratic paper of hard
worker Of that party.-ED.l
DOVER, DEL, July 24th, 1888.
To The Editor of The Record.
Dear Sir,-You have seen fit to revive the
so-called celebrated ''Fishbury deal" and
pretend that the Record and held tele.
phonic colloquy between ourselves I utterly
repudiate, and suppose that every sensible
person knows that the pretended colloquy
was mere burlesque. I regret, however,
the course you pursued in dragging me into
first-class dialogue with Mr.. Charles H. B.
Day, as was in hopes that should never
be called upon to throw any light upon this
ka6VyiNfhicaI deal, because I did not wish
to enter into any newspaper controversy
with any member of the bar nor with any
body else, hence have preserved almost
absolute silence concerning the "Fishbury
deal' for nearly two years, being at the same
time pressed and waited upon frequently to
state the facts, and would not do so now
except under very peculiar circumstances in
which my own honor is involved.
There appears in your issue of the arst
inst letter addressed to the Record and
signed Jos. Burchenal, putting certain inter
rogatories to me, which read as follows:
DOVER, July 10Th, 1888.
To the Editor OF the Record:
DEAR SIR.-I write through your columns to ask
Beniah Watson Esq. OF Dover, Delaware, ,wheth
er he did not Inform me on more than one ocea-
sion that C. u, B. Day, Esq, Of the same town
and state, was acquainted with the basis or con-
slderation upon which deal was predcated, and
whether he did not say to me that Mr.. Day and
himself had had repeated conversations. not in
terms concerning the sO-caled "Fishbury deal," g"
bat Mr.. Day understood all the minuta Of the
deal, although he was not present when the deal
was made, and that such conversations took place
repeatedly both in Mr. W ,tson's and Mr.. Days
Offices long prior to the election in 1886. and fur
ther would ask Mr.Watson whether he did not say
to me that Mr.. Day was in full and eonpete har-
mony with the movement that led to the cutting
ef the regular democratic ticket in lssGi
Will you kindly publish this letter at your earl
lest opportunity, and Oblige
did say to Mr. Burchenal just what the
above letter contains and might have said
a great deal more. l do not contend that l
talked with Mr. Day about the deal" be-
cause have no recollection of using the
word IDEAL" in my conversation with him
before the election in 1886; but knew very
well that he understood the basis upon
which the deal was predicated. I am not
playing upon the word deal" I am stating
the facts, He thoroughly understood all the
minutia that led to that deal" He under
stood the agreement and bargain, and how
1t originated, and who made it and for what
purpose it was made, and when it was made,
he was not present and visible at
the deal, - neither was I.
never saw Thomas Jefferson, Daniel
Webster aud Henry Clay in person, yet am
morally certain from history and other ways
that such men lived; and am equally GER
tain if there is any truth in human lips,
that there was full fledged IDEAL, " which
shall speak about later on. have no hes
itation in saying that Mr.. Day was consulted
by his democratic friends in reference to it,
and knew all about it, and was trusted and
to carry out the deal" according
10 its fair and legitimate import, aud to use
his influence and do his share of the work
IN the election of the combination ticket It
seems to me a work of supererogation to en-
er fully into the details of the matter, and
yet l am constrained measurably to do so in
'rder to bring out the plain and undeniable |
acts. Every man can then judge for him
ielf and see whether Mr.. Day, the Rip Van
Winkle, is entirely oblivious to his real sit
iatiou.
say he was in entire harmony and SYM
,athy with the movement that led to the
'utting Of the regular democratic ticket in
SS6 that he and I frequently talked about
he combination ticket before the election
# 1886 (for it was no good to talk about it
fterwards) commencing to confer with
ach other soon after the slate was fixed up
propose to state some of the conversations
Which we had in reference to the election of
he combination ticket, which furnish CO.
ent proofs, if any were necessary, of what
tated to Mr.. Burchenal
There is no intelligent, honest man in this
ounty, be he democrat or republican, who
oes not believe that there was a deal or
ombination made and entered into by a
republican with equally as prom
lent democrat in the town of Dover to de-
Eat certain portion Of the regular demo
ratio ticket in 1886. The agreement or un-
erstanding was made primarily between
vo persons alone. knew before the con
piracy was entered into what was ON foot
know the republican who made the deal,
ecause had it from him in five minutes af-
II the bargain was concluded, and know
lie democrat who pledged his wing of the
arty that certain deal" to defeat a por-
on Of the regular democratic ticket in the
ear 1886 should be honestly carried out and
xecuted. Before the IDEAL" was finally
this republican called on
umber of his friends to confer about the
latter, and, Mr.. Editor, assure you the
publican camp was a perfect beehive, so
ixious were the republicans to find out the
iaracter Of the "Fiskbury deal"-both sides
ibmitted the affair to their mutual friends
fter the intervention of a few days word
as sent to the republican to come aud see
lis democrat and talk about the terms of
lie deal" aud to formulate ticket. Now,
hat were the terms Of the "deal?"
The republicans of Kent county wanted
e obnoxious, iniquitous assessment laws
Hanged; they demanded a constitutional
invention and new constitution; they de-
anded a registration law for the State
ey demanded the county officers of this a
ate should be elected and not appointed as
ey now are by the Governor; they de-
anded district representation, and other }
inor details that is not necessary to men t
IN. c
The republicans, you will remember, two a
ars ago, that is at the election in 1886, had ;
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