Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-01-04
CONVENTIONAL and Ballot Reform.

Ballot reform and constitu-
llonal convention, many leading Dem
Gratis say i, Is to be their rallying battle cry
nuring the campaign Of 1890 in Della
ware, and other issues ale to be con.
sidered - secondary matters. This 10
taking high ground at the start, but 1t
ls not the frat time the party has
started out by making high sounding
promises which were never intended
10 be fulfilled. Why is it that the
Democrats have Just now wakened up
10 the Importance Of having some kind
bf . reform emblazoned upon their
bannersq They have been IN posses
Non Of the State government Tor 10
bears and now they have come TO the
conclusion 10 have new string to
eheir kite. For several years past
they shouted Constitutional Conven.
gon" until their throsts became
hoarse, but every recurring Legisla..
lure only proved that Constitutional
Reform was the farthest from their
thoughts. Even when the Legislature
was unanimously Democratic, the
farther off Was Constitutional Reform.
The nearest they ever came to II was
when Hon. George II. Bates was a
member OF the Legislature and speaker
Of the House, in 1885. But the meas
ures proposed by MIR. Bates, which
were fair and equitable, were whitfield
Down by amendments until there wa.
very little reform LETT in lis bill, aud
afterwards was totally defeated.
In 1896 the cry of Constitutional re-
~, raiao,j onI nj
nous Democratic legislature in 1887
passed bill leaving the question 10 :
vote OF the people, whether a Consti
bitional Convention should BIO called
Nearly all the Republicans not die
tranchised and . goodly number o
Democrats voted in favor of q conven
hon, but il fell few votes short OF tn
number required 10 lie cast by the con
biitutlen, and the reform Jailed again
A failure to vote counted vote aRains
4 convention, and enough Democrat
remained away from the polls TO detes
It. The Republicans wers porerlcs
10 save IL as one.third at least Of th,
members Ct their party had been dis
lranchised by Democratic ASSESSORS an'
III lut tJFkielaNhtG vi i-'@'f W hNA
The Republicans had majority in tn
lower house, every effort was made
call Constitutional Convention b
the Republicans. They prepared
fair and equitable bill, but upon i
passage through the House i. only n
teived two Democratic votes out
seven in addition TO the solid Republ
Fan vote.
The Senate being more stIongl
Democratic than the House was X,
publican, it WAS there that Constt,
Honal Reform met its Waterloo. an
none rejoiced more over its defeat ths
Denator John Y. Donahoe OF Wilmini
lUu Now the Democrat. are couplin
"Bsllo, Reform with Constitution
Reform to give the matter new lac
Democracy is no more sincere in bail
yeiorm than it wss in Constitution
Reform. What kind OF reform h
Democracy ever given to the peopl
Turn back to 1875 and look at the q
pessment aud tax collection law
There Is Democratic reform, pure al
simple, reform that makes votil
easy ior Democrats, but dsiranchl'
Republican, Ballot reform 10 I
HIN game TO cover the skeleton
CONSTITUTIONAL Reform, as the Dem
Gratis left IL and no real reform
should lie deceived by this nav raj
ing cry. When Constitutional q
Bslo, Reioim come TO stay, they v
come through its friends, tie Reput
cans. and not through lis enemies,
Democrats. Turn down . corner 8
marx that prediction.