The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-11
SATURDAY JULY IL. 1891.
Rhode Island. Delaware-The Differ
euce.

ence.
. A little OF the spirit of the Republi-
cans OF the town OF Lincoln, Rhode
Island, is needed Eby the Republicans
OF Delaware. The Democrats, at a
town election held June l, introduced
the Southern method Of carrying cleo
tions by means of the tissue ballot,
hut the Republicans were in no mood
to he cheated out OF thelrrlghts by such
Infamous methods, and on Tuesday
last they righted the wrong in man
ner that might not be called exactly
legal nor orderly. but they rightod 1t
nevertheless, and the cause Of justice
will not suffer in the least by it. At
the election, when the time came for
counting the ballots, several wads Of
thin tissue paper were found amongst
them which, when unfolded, proved
to be Democratic tickets. They could
not have been voted the regular way,
and must have been crowded into the
ballot box or thrown on the table
amongst the other tickets, when they
were emptied upon the table for count
ing.
The Republican minority Of the
election board objected of course to
counting those tissue tickets number
ing ITO. but were surprised to hear
tho Democrats who controlled the
Board OF Elections decide that they
must DO counted. They did count
them and by this means the Democratic
candidates for Council were given q
majority and declared elected, and
then the Democrats FASTENED indecent
ly to burn tho ballots.
The Republicans were Indignant,
but restrained themselves from physi-
cal force for the time and took the case
directly into the Superior Court. 1t
was lucky for the Republicans that
. they lived In the email State OF Rhode
Island instead of the small State OF
Delaware. Last week the court rem
dered decision Of custer against the
usurping Democrats who were holding
office through the votes of tho.e llC
tissue ballots,
The election was declared Illegal and
void. 1t would naturally be supposed
that anybody holding Office under
these circumstances would have i'm.
medlately got out after this decision
but Democrats who attempt to profit
by means OF tissue ballots are not
built that way. Instead OF vacatlng
they barricaded and took possession
OF the town house and records. Thu
Republicans then assembled and talk
ed the matter over. The more they
talked the more Indignant they be
came and resolving not to be entirely
cheated out OF their rights demanded
possession OF the town house and theil
demand was refused. Then they knew
what they had to do and they did it
They went for that town house and
they captured ii. The Democrats los
no time in getting out of it. The Re
publlcans might have waited for
sheriffs posse TO eject the unlawful in
mates but they were not in the hume
OF waiting. They believed that wheI
the Supreme Court declared the cleo
tion OF the Democratic Councilmel
void 1t implied that Republican C1un
cilmen lau been elected, and ever
man who who has an Inherent sense
Of justice within him will agree will
them.
The Republicans of Lincoln may b
called law-breakers which they wor
In a certain sense, as they took n
s legal steps to get possession of tn,
town house, but II must be remenl
bered that the old Democrats Council
had possession with the intention O
staying thore and gaining the sam
object by legal distractions 1t ha
sought TO calmly means OF tissue ba
lots. And then it must also be take
into consideration that tho Republ
cans had great preToeation and grca
allowances must he made for their il
dignatlon at the attempt of the Demo
srats to Import South Carolina metl
DDS into Rhode Island.