Middletown transcript., 1893-04-15
FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT.
AN EARNEST PROTEST AGAINST
PARTISAN LEGISLATION
BY Democrat-The Action is Held
as a Blow at self-Government, and
an Infringement Upon the Rights
of the people-why it Should be
Defeated.

Defeated.
To the Honorable members of the
DeIaware Legislature. e.-GENTLEMEN:
There is in your possession bill which
will soon come up for your considera-
tion aud disposition. 1t is called the
"Police Commission Bill" and seeks
to displace the present Police
Commission of Wilmington with three
other gentlemen, removing the mayor
of Wilmington from all participation
in the city's affairs and placing the ap-
| pointment of these commissioners ever
afterward in he hands of tine governor.
Abo It the gentlemen named in the bill
| have nothing to say at this time, but
as a citizen Of free commonwealth
and as Democrat, do most emphati-
cally protest against the monslrous
proposition which you thus try to foist
upon us under the plea of 'party
policy" l protest against the vicious
principle which you would thus ircul-
cate as Democratic doctrine.
His proposed measure violates all the
rights which are part of the Inherit
ance handed down to US by our fore
fathers, who shed their blood when
tyranny tried to wrest these same rights
from them. 1t prevents the very fun
damental principles Of a government
by the people, and usurps their rights.
It prohibits the right Of Sc f-govern-
ment and puts the people of Whining
ton without their consent under an
oligarchy which is as autocratic as the
government of tie cZar of Russia.
Who are these self-constituted men
Who say that the people Of Wilmington
have fallen SO low that they can 10
longer be trusted with the election of a
single one of their officials?
Are Mr.. Dickey, Mr.. Ne4ry and Mr..
Callahan the repositories Of the rights
of the people Of Whining on.
The PEOPLE have not asked for this
measure and the people do not want it.
If the present Police Commission
was conceived in sin and born in in
iquity, who was responsible for III but
Governor Reynolds and his henchman,
Mr.. Dicky? Granted that Police Com
missioner Jester is stencil in the
nostrils OF decent people, was not Mr..
Jester appointed by a Democratic gov
ernor, at the solicitation of Demo-
cratic boss, to betray his fellow-Re-
publicans for mess of pottage? That
he did not betray them was due to his
own weak character.
Gentlemen, you have been elected by
the people of Delaware to discharge
trust placed in your hands by them.
1t is the most solemn duty which you
can exercise toward your follow man.
In your hands lie their rights, their
liberties. Fulfill your trust faithfully
and you will be honored, and praised
and trusted, as you should be. Betray
that trust and ycu will as surely meet
With the contempt Of your fellowmen.
There is a compensation in the affairs
of merit just as surely as it exists in
nature. Violate the laws of nature
and the punishment is as certain as the
fact that night follows day. Violate
the principles of right, truth and jns-
tice in your dealings with your fellow
man, and compensating fate is sure
to overtake you. Right, truth and JUS
tice are the trinity of virtues which
are the verv foundation Of good gov
ernment, and as far as you vary from
these beacon lights in dealing with your
fellow-men, just so far are you diverg-
ing from the very essence of our gov
ernment.
In passing this proposed Police Com
mission bill, you are violating all three
of these standards of public and private
duty. You deny the right of the
people to say who shall govern them;
you falsely assert that the people are
demanding measure whose sole object
is to further selfish and partisan ends;
and you place in the hands of another
the right Of saying Who shall minister
our municipal affairs.
Is this right?
Is this justice?
Is this common sense?
Is this politics?
In your insane desire to please GER
tain class of your party associates, you
propose to pass a law that strikes at
the very root of self government. As
law it is an outrage to our rights and
betrayal Of the trust We have placed
i'll your hands. AS political measure
il is suic dal. If you should pass this
measure yon would but have To pass
one moIe law giving the governor
power to appoint the mayor of Will
mingtln and your contemplated action
would be complete. Such will be the
effect if this law is passed.
Gent leInen hesitate before you com
nit an ire; aratle bluuder. You are
standing on the edge Of "a precipice.
Do not rush into it in your folly.
Be warned and awake from your
nightmare. 10 trample beneath your
feet the most sacred rights of the
people is neither good common sense
nor political wisdom. Il is the mad
ness of blind partisanship.