Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-05-14
THEE RsPue. IcAN SPEECHES.
Messrs. Curtis, maealIister spd Eiiiett on
the Constitutional Convention.

Messrs Curtis, M0eaiifster EDu Eitlstt on
the Constitutional Convention.
A meeting Of Republicans was held In
the rooms Of the Republican Invincibles
of the Fourth ward last evening, to hear
| Charles M. Curtis, Colonel Samuel A !.
Macallister and George A Elliott speak
on the coming election for a constitu-
tioral convention.
Joseph G. Wiggleswortb opened the
meeting by remarking that Delaware
was noted for her divorce privileges, her
peach crop failures and her old constjtu.
ton.
Charles NJ Curtis was next introduced
| and after thanking them for having
nominated him, said he would treat this
| non partisan question from non par til
san standpoint. The question now to be
considered was the getting out OF vote
next Tuesday large enough to indicate
the sentiments of the people on the
question OF q new constitution This he
thought could be done by united effort
on the part Of every one.
He then gave history Of the eonstitu
tion OF the State of Delaware from the
time it was first formed, the changes that
had taken place in it, and the efforts
that had since been made unsuccessfully
to have it still further amended
In 1881 there was little difference in
the population of the three counties, but
the county of New Castle has doubled
its population within the last decade
while the two other counties have
remained with only a slight increase
Yet Kent and Sussex has many times
larger representation in proportion to
population than New Castle This was
an inopportune season OF the year for
the holding of convention. The
farmers were busy, there we're no
| political interests to stimulate them, and
there was likelihood Of general apathy.
The important change to be decided by
a constitutional convention was the
giving Of equal representation in the
General Assembly. New Castle has
double the population Of the other two,
two thirds OF the wealth of the state,
seven Fights of the manufacturing inter
ests, and only third of the repre-
sentstion
The court system should also be Sc
amended that when an appeal is made
from the lower to the higher court, the
same judges should not have the oppsr-
tunity of rehesring thecase. There should
be no county commissioners appointed OF
| elecbsd that would not ensure minority
representation, and the election should
be so fixed that there would always be 1
holding over member. The assessment
laws at present prevailing are benefil
only to the party in power, which can tt
a certain extent, control the party vote o.
the county. These obnoxious laws should
be swept away next Tuesday by each ant
every one casting his vote for a consti.
tional convention.
Colonel Samuel A. Maeallister was mex
introduced and made a number of argu
ments for the holding of a convention
He gays credit to Messrs. Bayard, Gray
aud Lore for their good intentions
George A. Elicit made the last speech
he said If Jackson and jefferson coulC
return and sec each man in New Castl,
county counted only as one-third OF
man, they would exclRim, by ye Gods
we shall have a new constitution
Another meeting will be held mex
Monday evening, when Democratic an,
Republican speakers will discuss tn
same question ,