The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-01
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 1. 1891.


Gsery few days sor the last two
months we have been reminded by our
neighbor that the Democrats of tho
Maine Legislature were fighting a
great fight In favor of ballot reform
especially in favor of the Australian
ballot law but that they wero most
viclously opposed by the Republicans.
The words used by our neighbor may
not have boon exactly such as we have
used but they were the same in spirit
n anything much stronger in condem-
nation OF Republican opposition as in
dicated In the language above which
We have clipped from its lasteyenlng's
Issue.
Forthat matter the Republicans OF
Maine have not only been held up be-
fore the public as having been opposed
TO ballot reform, but the Republicans
IN all tho States of the Union wherever
Abe question has been introduced, have
been found fighting against ballot re-
form, II We are to believe our neighbor,
whereas on the contrary we know Of
no Democratic State In tho Union where
The Democrats themselves have passed
the Australian form OF ballot, with
possibly the exception OF Maryland
where miserable abortion of an Aus
traiian ballot law was passed to apply
70 the counties where tits least needed,
but care was taken that it should not
apply to Democratic Baltimore city.
Now let US look for moment at tho
political status Of the Maine Legisla-
ture, where the Democrats have gained
such O signal victory in the face of
Republican opposition. The Senate is
composed OF "a Republicans and Just
Democrats. The victory belongs to
these Democrats, what brave set
they were. Paddy. surrounding and
capturing the Hessians presented no
grander spectacle Of personal bravery
than these four Democrats did In cap
turing the 81 Republican members of
the Maine Senate. But the House, how
does IL standH Exactly no Republicans
and Al Democrats. What n whipped
set Of ours these ITO Republicans must
have been to permit Al Democrats to
outvote them and pass ballot reform
bill IN the face of "the opposition Of
Speaker Reed and all tho other Repub-
lican leaders" Pass round the ehromos
TO these As Democrats all told, who OH
Monday beat the 1877 Republicans in
the Maine Legislature and passed a
ballot reform bill. Glorying over this
great Democratic victory, in n pa
roxysm Of delight our neighbor says
ssThe Democrats OF the Delaware Log.
lsleture should speedily follow tho ex-
\ ample OF their brethren in Maine. The
failure Of ballot reform would be very
pleasing to the Republicans OF this
btate."
We presume our neighbor means the
example OF the Republican Legisla.
ture oil Maine, as The few Democrats
who are In that Legislature would
hardly have any more effect upon that
body than tiy would have In stopping
. balance wheel in full motion. But
.'the failure OF ballot reform would be
very pleasing to the Republicans o.
this State says our Democratic neigh
Dor. We suppose it will never recover
from its disappointment in not get
ting the Graham Australian ballot bill
passed by Republican House OF Rep
reeen.attyes two years ago. 1t passed
4 fhe Senate where there wore but two
Republican members, without muel
iif1ieulty and before Its true Yisctuus
pes as disfranehiAing agency was dis
Powered, but stopped iniits mad course
Had that bill become law our Demo
cratie friends would not now he rack
ing their brains over County Commits
sion bills and registration laws to de
feat the will OF tho people.
The Republicans OF Delaware neeC
no defence for their opposition to tn
kind Of ballot reform the Democrat
party would have given the State
For seventeen years they have expei
ienced the workings of Democrat
ballot and they did not want any NOR
even when offered under the guise o
. so-called Australian ballot bill in
landed only TO thunbscrew the LII
out Of the Republican party.
Tho Republicans of Delaware d
4 want ballot reform very badly but no
Of the kind the Democrats have bee
offering them. Let the Democrats
they are anxious for ballot refori
stop in their attempt to pass laws |
override the will OF the people an
turn their attention to passing law
that will aid the people in casting
4 full, free, honest and untrameled vot
and they can count on Republica
support Of such laws all tho time.
THg KEPuBIIcANs Of the Second Di.
trtet OF the U, S. Steamboat Inspeotio
Service are not pleaaed over tho fa,
that all the Offices of this service, i
this district. are held by Democrat.
who draw annual salaries from OF
Ahonsend to three thousand dollar
and who hold their Offices during Il
n pleasure OF the Secretary of the Trea
ary.
Capt. Smith 8. Godfrey OF Salon, !
j., well known ship builder of Mau
Toe River, prominent Republioa
has been presented foI Local Inspe
tor of hulls of steamboats, and