Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-12-04
THE GRANGE ATTACKED.

THE GRANGE ATTACKED.
AS an alleged organ Of the Republicans
party Of Delaware the News Of this city
is constant surprise % its readers. 1t.
lack Of political sagacity must he and +.
painfully appreciated by every intelligent
Republican il the state. Thelatest chapter
IN its eccentric and extraordinary career,
is its quarrel with the Delaware State
Grange this morning II literally goes
out Of its way 70 othis- tsregular cor
respondent at Dover al is obvious from
his report, part Of which We reproduce
this evening, went ont 20 His way to in
teryiew several members 90 tile grange.
He asked for their opinions ia order that
he might have something to report to the
News and the News publishes what be
reports and makes nyidious and un-
called for comments On tile same. m
doing So our English morning contempt
rary, especially a. ourad that IS am
bilious 10 be recognized as the party
organ, takes a most remarkable attitude.
IL forces a quarrel upon the grange. a
body thai is non-partisau and is composed
Of the best men q all parties. and is
therefore a much safer guide as to what
the state needs than amy party or any
party organ. The grange is thoroughly
independent. Il is entirely reasonable
and it has been conspicuously patriotic.
In season and ont If season, when the
opposition 70 the party in
power was whipped and demora
lied and its party organ, inclua-
ing the News. were silent for reasons or
hopes rather, best known to themselves.
this body Of organized farmers has
spoken out in no Uncertain language for
reform in the state, for new conssitu.
tion, for relief from monopolist.c oppres-
sion, for better public schools, for an
honest ballot for honest legislation. and
indeed for all that ia pure and wholesome
in local politics. When the News and its
other alleged party organs lacked either
the courage or the knowledge.
Or probably both, to attack the abuses 81
the state and county governments and the
still more pernicious abuses of powerful
corporations, which were encouraged ~
the local authorities, the grange spoke
with unfaltering courage and with
wisdom that events have proved uner-
ring. We cannot see that ii lies in the
province Of the News OF ia that Of any Of
the organs to quarrel with or question the
motives of the grange. We believe that the
grange has been the saving of the state. II
has taught its members the simple and
elementary principles underlying our in
stitutions. 1t has inculcated the old
fashioned methods Of honest and straight
forward administration in public affairs
Il has eeaselessly taught the sauctity
and dignity of the ballot.
In respect to the relation Of the State
Grange with the railroads 1t is enough TO
say that it is a condition and not theory.
II is fact and not incorporate
rhetoric. The grange has case, an
issue at law, against the railroads Of the
Peninsula before the Inter. State Commits. +!
sion, to be tried and decided according 10
legal and well-regnlated means and con. 1
ditions and it does not become any one
or any newspaper TO try to PREJUDICE Or in
any mvidious way to influence that
pending decision. The News iutruded
itself into this question through tie eli.
terprise Of its Dover CORRESPONDENT II
u additionally impertinen. and iniudi-
eious for i TO attempt to prejudice tue
verdict ia an issue that /. made already.
The political side of tins question i
something else Il is probably none of
our business. But we cannot holm Ii al.
press the conviction TINT when the News
makes such an ill-tempered ana ill.aa.
Fised attack upon the most powerful.
most important and most benefcent non
partisan body in the state. it does 50
solely upon its own responsibility and
not upon the advice Or suggestion 81 any
responsible member or members Of the
Republican party No Republican who
could be trusted to east
his own vote would be indiscreet
enough to tell the grangers that the cleo.
non Of United States Senator was none
Of their business. This attitude Of the
news IS exceedingly unfortunate and in.
in view Of the fact that the
Republicans could have carried neither
Kent nor Sussex had it not been for the
active support Of the members Of the
grange, and this largely without regard
their past political affiliations It is a
most foolish blunder in the face Of the
resolution Of the SUSSEX Republicans.
adopted at their late county convention.
which calls upon the General Assembly
to guard the interests Of the people
against the undue and undoubted en-
aroachment Of the railroad corporations.
The News ought to make two apologies
tomorrow morning. one to the srangers
Df Delaware and the other to the Repub-
leans Of the state
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AEAfCnrnrn