Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-24
Wilmington, Thursday, Ian. "a, 1889.
A Question for the People OF Deia-
NVnro.


A Question for the People OF Deia-
xVnro.
Z We End an editorial from the Alta Cal
tfornia Of the 10th of the current month,
on the subject of the letter recently ad-
dressed by Harrison Gray Otis and Judge
Fitzgerald of Los Angeles, California, to
Mr.. Harrison, to caution him against Civ
Ing any official reward to pseudo claim
ants OF tho authorship of the Murchison
forgery, the author of which they profess
TO disclose in the person OF ore osgocdby
of Pomona, California. It would be i'm.
possible to find in the annals of political
fraud letter more disgraoetul to its
J writer's and more insulting TO the person
to whom it is addressed, than that which
forms the subject OF the editorial of the
California journal. Having had its origin
In secret fraud and forgery, the crimi nal
character, in the eye of morals and of
law, of the Murohison letter is now pub
, holy proclaimed by those who were con.
cerned In Its concoction. And they even
have the shameless effrontery publicly TO
claim from Mr.. Harrison reward for the
crime they have committed against the
laws, morals and good representation of
their country.
Ia it not an ALARMING sign that suca
thing should be possible Osn il be true
that these self-proclaimed parties to
fraud and forgery in politics are war
ranted in their evident assumption that
they will find support and reward in the
moral Judgments Of any considerable
portion Of their fellow citizens?
Unfortunately, sueh an assumption has
only too much support in the industrious
use made of the Mnrchison forgery by
conspicuous Republican leaders aud
newspapers in the campaign lately CON
cluded. And has n gingle voice Us yet
been heard TO condemn the crime, among
thoss who are supposed 10 have prof.ed
by IL?
The moral tone which these facts batrey
lis cause Tor apprehension among the
honest people of the United States, in
Delaware So we'll as in California, ia New
York or in Maine. Within the last feg
days the people OF Delaware have wit.
messed the election of Republican 10
represent them in She United States
Senate. II this result had been brought
about by a change Of opinion on tho part
OF sufficient number of our electors to
alter the political complexion of the
State, no one could haFs complained or
have raised an urgent cry OF alarm. But
is there any one who doubts that the
result was brought about by the corrup-
ton of Sussex county2 Was not the fact
publicly proclaimed, with no inconsidag-
able degree of felicitation, by many of
those who looked for future rewards,
until 1t became evident that the honest
people Of Delaware might not yet have
got so far on the road Of "progrssa" as
to approve the importation by political
hustisrs" Of the means and methods cf
Quay and Wansmakes into our state, for
she determination vi its eiecIiuns2
y In the election, however. OF Mr.. HIg-
gins to tbs Senate, we fail to perceive
any Reputation on the part of the Re-
publican majority of this Legislature Of
the political methods of Mr.. Treat, with
whom M. Higgins worked hand in hand
to obtain the victory" though he did
not prove SO friendly when its fruits
came TO be divided. Wilmingtonians at
least will remember the days when James
Lewis, the Postmaster, aud John II.
Dunn, The United States Marshal, were
powerful and efficient factors in Della
ware politics as the supporters and con.
federa.es OF Mr.. Higgins. Do the people
Of Delaware desire The return OF thai
timef It is for them to answer. WI
believe theiY answer will be the repudia
ton of suon politics.