Daily Republican., 1889-02-11
DEMOCRATIC KEYNOTE
SAVE THE PARTY FROM CO.
ING TO PIECES.
The Leaders Care Nothing For an Hon.
est Collection of Taxes. Demo-
cratic Success First, Last
And Always.

partyl"
1t was q strange spectscle. Here were
eleven men OF New Castle County, elect
ed by majority of the votes permitted
TO be cast, sitting under oath, sworn To
transact the public business of the county
In a fair and impartial manner, who
threw open their doors to a gathering o.
party leaders armed with the privilege OF
debating to the CouIt who would be the
best men to subserve the interests of the
Democratic party as collectors OF taxes.
What does this mean reduced down to
fine pointsi Simply, who would take it
upon themselves TO issue the most bogus
tax receipts to non voters who would use
them, and who would refuse Issuing the
most bonafide tax receipts to Republi-
cans entitled to vote. This is the whole
truth In u nutshell. II It did not mean
this what did Colonel Norton mean when
he said that New Castle county would go
Republican If Msssre. Neary and Dickey
were re-appointed.
If 1t did not mean this, why did Coun-
Gilman Quinn advocate their Tesppoint-
ment as the best thing that could be done
for the Democratic party? If it did not
mean this, why did Councilman McGoni.
gal say that the interests of the Demo
cratic party demanded n changed 1t 1t
did rot mean this, why did ex Sheriff
Ogle declare that the Democratic party
will need these two men (Neary aud
Dickey) in the next electioni II 1t did
not mean this, why did Mr.. McCafferty
say that New Castle County would go
Republican at the next election II Neary
and Dickey were elected II it did not
mean this, why did such knowing politi-
clans as Assessor Frank McCloskey and
Councilman Sharkey declare that If
Neary and Dickey were reelected Re-
publicsn Levy Court would succeed The
present onei II 1t did not mean this, why
should the secretary of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, who, because he
was President of the City Council, leave
the interests OF his company run loose
while he entered the arena of politics
long enous h to tell the Levy Court Com
missiorers that the best interests of the
Democratic party demanded the reap
pointment of Neary and Dickeyi And so,
many other Democratic speakers might
be quoted, but the great object sought,
whether for or against the old collectors,
was the safety OF the Democratic party.
The law prtsumes that collectors are to
collect the taxes, but modern politicisns
OF the Democratic faith Insist that they
are to save the Democratic party. Such
go bhAbH 40 = COlltC-
ton OF the taxes never entered the minds
OF the excitable leaders of the Democracy
last Friday. The burthen OF the cry
was "save the party
But the struggle is over so far as the
Levy Court is concerned. They did the
best thing they possibly could do. II
saving the Democratic party was their
main object, they could not baye acted
differently If they believed what both the
advccats and cppogers OF Neary and
Dickey said. If they believed their
friends the Democrats would be mesbed
II they did not appoint them; and if they
believed their opponents the Democratic
party would be smashed II they did
appoint. Who were right, and who were
wroDgi The Levy Court could not de-
eide. Ihey were not certain which would
bring victory. They did the best thing
they could under the circumstances by
naming Messrs. Dougherty and Mckee,
With these gentlemen the insignificant
thing as as an homes. collection of taxes
may receive some attention, and it 10 not
believed the city will be flooded with
bogus tax receipts to enable Democrats
to vote whe have no votes.
But where is the Democratic party
nowi If Mr.. Quinn, Mr.. Cele. Mr.
McCloskey, Mr.. Sharkey, Mr.. Phelau,
Mr.. President of the City Council. Mr.
Dolan and many others were sin,ere in
their remarks the end of the Democratic
party Is at hand. Messrs. Neiry and
Dickey were not Ieappointed and in their
estimation that settles the question. With
the appointment of others, in their view,
an honest collection of taxes might be q
possibility and this might insure Repub-
lican success. The old leaders could be
depended upon. They had tided the
Democratic party safely over the billows
for si1 years, they could still be depend
ed upon In an emergency. They did not
want to trust the difficult task to others.
Ihey were willing to overlook the little
sip Of last June that gave Wilmington q
Republic mayor by Democratic votes
and gave the old collectors another chance
Tor the grand state battle of 1890 But
according to their logic the battle IA al.
ready fought unless the new collectors
walk In the same light and make party
success paramount to an honest coliec-
tion of taxes. 1t is not believed they will
do It,.
There are Thousands of Democrats who
are tirl of paying high taxes upon their
property that others should pay and they
are demanding that the taxes shall be
collected no matter whether from Demo-
crats or Republicans. Their eyes are
open to tho fact that nearly 1900 people
now assessed in Wilmington did not vote
at the late Presidential election, The
reason why they did not vote is because
they paid no taxes, and the reason why
they paid no taxes is because they were
| not assessed. These 5000 people, had
they been assessed and have been per-
mitted and made TO pay their taxes.
would have lifted not less than Sl2 OO0
from the real estate assessments of the
city. 1t is this 6I2, 600 the Democratic
politicians seemed to care nothing about
last Friday. For the sake of Democratic
success they would barter away that
much money and make real estate pay It.
VIII II be done now? That is for the
new Democratic collectors to say. They
have IL 900 assessed voters of Whining
ton from whom to collect taxes, and il
they give fair opportunity the most of
1t will be paid without trouble. If they
carry out the came plan and employ the
same tactics that has been carried out
| by their predecessors and that was ex-
peeted OF them In the future, they might
succeed In keeping the vo'e Of Whining
ton down to 5000 or 1000, with a loss
to the county OF $40, ,0O0 to Si2, COO, which
real estate will have to make up next
year. But the collectors will not do n,
They are honest men and will collect the
taxes.
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