Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19

chisemont in Delaware.
Senator Higgins responded to the
toast 1.-THE Franchise at the banquet
of the Lincoln Republican Club in New
York Thursday. From full report of
his address the following is taken:
y BY one of those waves
which periodically sweep over any peo-
pie governed by consent the lower
House of Congress in 1874 passed into
Democratic control, and with it the
command of the purse strings of the
nation. Under that in the south was
enthroned the system of force and
fraud, by which the national House Of
Representatives has been returned with
a Democratic majority up to 1888, with
the exception of single Congress.
During these IA years there was no time
when the Republican party held control
of all three branches of the Federal
legislature--the Senate, House and
Presidency. At last, by the cleo
ton of 1888, they for the first
time since 1874 obtained this
control, and one of their chief
measures proposed bill further to
regulate the election of members of the
House of Representatives Keeping
strictly within their constitutional limi-
tations. The proposed measure went no
further beyond the existing statutes
than to provide for count of the ballots
for congressman by supervisors ap-
pointed by the circuit court of the
United States, and for certificate of
election 10 be made by the court in all
cases of contest, that should give a
.,tt,,1 60, =, ,.,.r a.,
could be finally settled by the House it.
self under its constitutional perrogative.
This most modest measure has been
unsparingly denounced and finally de-
feated. think the criticism to Which
it offers the least defence is that it was
too moderate, and too inadequate to
meet the problems demanding solution.
1t did not touch the election of state
officers, and aside from enacting just
penalties for illegal voting, bribery, &c,
it only dealt with the election OF con-
gressmen, and that in the provision for
a count and certificate under Federal
authority in cases of contest. In all
cases such elections for congressman
were still TO be held, the count of the
votes made and a certificate Of election
issued by the state officers. Surely a
count conducted by officers represent
ing both parties, appointed under au-
thority of the court and subject to its
supervision, and such certificate to be
awarded by the court after judicial de-
termination, could only work for the
freedom and fairness Of elections and
the honesty of the result. =
The result of the vote in 1890 can no
more be taken as gauge of the party
relations of men in the south than it
can in the north. In both sections the
total vote fell off largely from the vote
of 1888, while the Republican voters
stayed at home almost TO the extent of
one-foarth.
What were the causes that led to this
state of feeling it is not worth while
here to consider, further than to know
they were but temporary and are not
likely to arise, but in exceptional in
stances, in 1882.
The Presidential election of 1888, how
ever, with Democratic administration
in power, furnished the best test to be
had of the relative strength Of parties in
the states to which am calling atten-
ton. The figures of some of them chal-
lenge interest.
The Democratic pluralities in 1888
were IN Maryland, 6,lS2; in Virginia,
1889; in West Virginia, 552. The
Democratic majority in Maryland
was but 1,415. In Delaware, which
elected that year Republican Legsla-
ture, there was majority by shameful
acknowledgements Tor Cleveland of
3,441, which, in 1890, was reduced to
but SAB.
Such are the slender margins hy
which the Democrats retained control
ami in the larger states mentioned, in
polls involving hundreds OF thousands
of votes =
In most,if not all, the sectionsto which
migration and capital are tending there
is now largely free vote. The i'm
pending changes when realized will
surely make it free. When that day
shall come there will be dispclled that
dense ignorance in the north which
seems incapable of taking in the differ
entiations Of condition and of political
opinion which mark the respective sec
tlons Of what is known as the south,
They cannot forget this great question
and contest arising out of giving the
suffrage 10 the negro was not of their
making-that it was forced upon them
by the north. That task, Mr.. Chairman,
they loyalty accepted, and have done,
and are doing, the best that in them
lies to solve problems than which none
more difficult were ever submitted to
the solution of free people. They have
had to meet and withstand every method
that prejudice and passion could dictate
or wlckedness devise, even to social OBJ
loquy, ostracism and death. They look
over the border and see those who led
them into this condition turn against
them with the cool assurance of the
Pharisee.
They will find such men led by news
papers, one of which was, in part,
founded upon money piously CON
tributed in aid Of the freedmen; by |
another newspaper conducted by one
earned noble fame in the anti-slayery |
and earlier Republican struggle.
They will find such influences mar
cotizing the conscience of the north and |
joining with heart and hand the men
and the party which believes in, and is
doing all it can to doom the south to a
government not by the franchise, not by
but by force and fraud They |
will see Kansas, that child of the Re
publican party, and other states of the
northwest, abandon their faith and duty,
n foolish following Of economic de-
usions. But however others of the
lorth, whether in the east or west may
wave for a time, the Republicans of the
outh will not. They cannot. 1t is
heir own freedom; it is the government
" consent, and not by force, for them
elves for which they are fighting, and
will continue to fight, until it reaches
he only settlement that will stand-a
ettlement upon the basis of everlasting
light. Tremendous applause.]