The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-16
THIS YEARS STEALING.


NEW YORK Tribune. &
''who is stealing nowr' asks a Sc.
rious reader, who Is not quite familiar
even yet with the Democratic habit of
shouting stop thief'' when Democrats
have been detected in rascality. The
outcries are confusing, even to those
who ought to know well the ways of
that party whose popularity IL is to re-
gard every law TO secure purity and
honesty OF elections as blow aimed
at its very life.
In New Hampshire certain towns
were entitled to increase of represen-
tation after a new census had estab-
lishcd their gain In population. The
Democrats have been trying to rob
these towns OF their increased mem
bership until after Senator has been
elected by the Legislature. The only
excuse or reason for this bit of ras-
cality WAS that Democrat might
possibly be chosen, If part of the
members rightly entitled to seats
could be kept out for some weeks.
But the Democrats were unable to
Brighten anybody with threats of
revolution, appealed to the Supreme
Court OF the State, and were de-
servedly defeated, and now have the
consciousness that embitters the life
OF the thief who has been caught with
his hand in another mans pocket.
They failed to steal a Senator, but
have acquired considerable amount of
disgrace.
The case in Connecticut is not quite
SO simple. The Republicans have q
majority in tho Legislature on joint
ballot, and will elect Senator and a
majority In the House, but have lost
the minor State offices, and the Gov
ernorship alone is in dispute. The
Democratic candidate is not constitu-
tionally elected uulcss he has clear
majority of the votes cast, but the
pretense that he has q bare majority is
sustained only by throwing out few
Prohibition ballots in certain towns on
the ground that they bore little mark
resulting from n defect in printing.
Nobody honestly supposes that they
We're not actually cast by legally quail
lied voters, nor is 1t seriously believed
that they were Intentionally marked
by anybody in disregard of law, as
might have been supposed If they were
ballots for eny candidate who could
have been elected. No Democrat would
think OF throwing them out, il II had
not happened that bare majority
could in that way be figured for a DEM
ocratie candidate, and not in any other
way.
The knaveries by which Governor
Hill and his Instruments hope to steal
certain seats in the New York Legisla-
ture have been fully described, and
have no excuse except the greed of
Democrats to get Offices which they do
not need and to which they are not en-
titled. 1t is merely a wanton robbery,
because being honest is unnatural. An
attempted theft in Illinois through the
quick unseating of enough Republi-
cans in the Democratic House to give
tho Democrats majority over all par
Lios on joint ballot was intended to rob
the farmers, who had elected three
members, and rightfully hold the bal
ance of power. The Republicans
promptly met the trick by serving no.
tees OF contest against like number
OF Democrats in q Republican Senate,
and the Democrats appear to have con-
cluded that they can gain nothing by
will probably be the election of mem
Der OF the Farmers Mutual Benefit As
ISOLATION to the Senate, and he is likely
to be a Republican.
The case in South Dakota appears to
be threatened theft, with Senator.
ship as the particular plumber to be
| desired. By unseating eight nepubli-
cnn members with sufficient haste the
Democrats hope to be able to snatch
that prize, and the Republicans intend
to prevent it II they cen Ii they sue.
coed, another prolonged shrek will be
raised that the Republicans ero "steal.
ing" another Legislature, although
they contend only for the retention OF
members who were duly elected and
returned and have taken their seats.
In Montana, the frauds in Silver Bow
county by which the Democrats tried
in vain to snatch two Scnatorships last
year have been repeated, and they are
now trying to frighten Republicans
into submission by Disappointing the
whole State Government, and prevent
ing necessary legislation, unless they
can be allowed to seat men not law
fully elected. Such is the crop of
contests which inspire Democrats at
Washington with horror at the thought
that Federal law may promote honest
elections next year, when Congress
fnen are to be chosen.