The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-07-19

The success of the republicans last fall in
Delaware has awakened them to the neces-
sity of contending for their political rights
If they would have them respected. For
number of years the democrats have had
everything their own way in that state, and
owing to questionable election laws they
have been able to count with as much GER
tainty on the vote of that state as on the
vote of any Southern state. Last fall the
dynasties of Salisbury and Bayard, that
have ruled the commonwealth for time i'm
memorial and divided up the Offices among
their respective families, quarrelled, and the
Salisbury family gave silent encouragement
to the republicans. When the votes were
counted Mr.. Secretary Bayard not only
found himself out of business as cabinet
officer, but discovered that his pocket bor-
ough could not return him to the Senate
owing to an adverse political majority in
the legislature. The election of Senator
Anthony Higgins has given the republican
party leader, and encouraged by the vic
tory the republicans are now organizing to
keep their control of the state.
In 1878 the democratic legislature, under
the inspiration of Mr.. Bayard, passed law
which provides that i'm case of persons re-
turned as delinquent taxpayers the levy
court shall allow the collector the delin-
quencies, and the names of such delinquents
shall be dropped from the assessment lists
by the levy court and shall not be placed
thereon again for period of twelve months
from and after the date of such allowance.
In the hands of INSCRIPTIONS Democratic
collectors-and that is about the sort Della
ware has generally had-this law has made
democratic success and republican defeat
always sure. The state holds biennial cleo
tons, and i'm the ''of'' years the collectors
assess the democrats, skip the republicans
as a rule, and in March of the election year
the lists are sent into thedevy court and
there enough republican names are dropped
to make democratic majority of hundred
in county secure. AS the law says the
names cannot be replaced for one year the
DISTINGUISHED voter has no power to vote at
the November election following. In this
way figures are given to prove the fact that
fully 5000 republicans are disfranchised at
every general election in Delaware.
A test case has been made up by the
republicans, and is carried on appeal to the
court of errors and appeal, the highest court
in the state. Senator Gray appears for the
democrats and Senator Higgins for the
republicans. The questions reserved for the
decision of the court are first, whether or
not the the act is constitutional, and, second,
if unconstitutional, whether the members of
the levy court are not personally responsible
i'm damages to the plaintiff. The case is at
tracing wide spread attention, as the citi-
zenship of thousands hangs upon the de-
cision. Whatever the court may hold in
regard to the constitutionality of the law, it
is certain that agitation will secure its re-
peal. The state cannot afford to rest under
the stigma which such law casts upon it.
Delaware is situated too far north to uphold
election chcanery which DISTINGUISHES its
citizens. Calling public attention to the
iniquity of the law would have long ago Sc
cured its repeal, and the republicans have
remained in the minority all these years
simply because of their patient submission
to democratic Vaccinations. We are glad
they are at last alive to their political inter-
ests. Delaware is small state, but its
political franchise should be free. The
whole country'is interested i'm the results
Independent Statesman.