Daily Republican., 1889-01-10

Tbs action OF Republicans and Demo-
Gratis were fairly outlined In the joint con-
vention Of the Legislature at Dover yes
terday upon the purpose Of calling con-
stitutionsl convent n. Mr.. Downham, a
Republican, offered resolution declaring
the vote cast in November, 1887, sufficient
for the calling Of q convention and that
the General Assembly should proceed to
cal convention and provide for the
election of delegates thereto.
II will be with some surprise and con-
siderable Indignation that the people will
receive the news that a Democratic Sena-
tor, Mr.. Donahoe, Immediately arose In
his seat and offered resolution as sub
stitute to Mr.. Downham's, declaring that
the vote OF November 3, 1887, is lot suili-
Client for the calling OF convention, as
there was not a constitutional majority.
Mr.. Donahoe Is Technically correct, as
the vote actually did fall few hundred
short OF the required majority, but the
DRIFT Of the vote cast plainly showed the
evident will OF the people. There can be
no mlstaking the meaning of vote that
stands II, 450 In favor of calling a Consti-
tutional Convention, with only 467 against
1t. But this is enough ior qulbbling on
the part of those who do not want the
Republican party of Delaware to have the
credit Of calling a convention, and this
straw to drowning man, 1t Is evident. Ia
now to be made the pretext for putting
OIL constitutional reform two years In the
vague hope that the Democrats will be in
q majority In the Legislature aGd will
reap the credit. The Democratic position
upon this question, as plainly before out.
lined by the REPUBLICAN,, Is to be one ol
obstruction, and the do s-,n-the-mangel
DoIlcY Ia To be pursued
But what lie TO become oil Democratic
promises upon this question. Hatdly /
leading Democrat could be found In thil
city, or the State either for that matter
ho was not outspoken In favor of !
constitutional convention being call9d re
gardless of the lack OF few votes t.
give the requisite majority. The election
of Republican legislature at that time
however, was never drea of. 1t wa
expected that 1t would be all smootl
Democratic sailing at that lime, majorit.
or no majority.
But 1t Is evident that all the Democrat
will not favor this obstruction poicy
All along Market street there are Demo
) cratic murmurings of dissppIoval 0
: Senator Donahoe's substitute. Sue
men as George II. Bates, Esq, Judg'
Ball and others are far-seeing enough t
understand that an obstruction po
J icy that will postpone const
tutionel reform two years more, simpl
because the Republicans no d a msjoIit
OF the Legislature means total defeat {
i tie Democratic party two years hence
8 and that instead OF there being Demt
cratic Legislature thers will be strt nj
: er Republican Legislature.
2 The question in the mouths OF all WI
L give the matter mature thought, IL, wi
the Democrats care carry their oppos
ton so Tar as to defeat the will OF u
: peoples Const tutional reform is I
l. urgently needed that opposition will lea
70 to the certain defeat of the party tn
n obstructs. The Republican party, thoug
e anxious for constitutional reform noN
:, AMI VIII do ali it can TO get 1t now, CT
s better afford to wait two years more
e compelled to do so ty Democratic opp
IS tition than the Democratic party can.