Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-04-13
THE POLICE COMMISSION BILL.
An Earnest Protest Against Its
Passage by a Democrat.

Passage by a Democrat.
1t Is Held TO he IA Blow at Self-govern-
uenr, and nn Infringement Upon the
Rights Of the PeOple-Why 1t should |
ba Defeated.
10 Mc Honorable members Of The Dsidmdre
LtgiSlatilt. --GENrLEMES There is in YOUR
possession a bill which will soon come up |
for your consideration and disposition. IL |
is called the Police Commission bill,
and seeks to displaGe 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 appointment
of these commissioners ever atterwnrd in
the hands of the governor. About the
gentlemen named in the bill have moth
me to say at this time, but as citizen OF
a free commonwealth and as a Democrat
J do most emphalicallY protest against
the mnnstrous proposition which you thus
try to foist upon US under the plea uf
vicious principle which yon would thus
iuGulcate as Democratic doctrine.
Ills proposed measure violates all the
rights which are a part of the inheritance
handed down to Us by our fore fathers,
who shed their blood when tyranny tried
to wTGSt these same rights from them. 1t
prevents the very fundamental principles
of government by the people, and
usurns their rights. 1t prohibits the right
of set.guyernment and puts the people of
Wilmington without their consent under
an nligarchy which is as autncratic as the
government of the car of Russia.
Who are these Selt.Coustituted men who
| say that the people Of Wilmington have
| fallen So low thai they can no longer be
| trusted with the election of single one of
! their officials
Are Nr Dickey, Mr. Neary and Mr..
Callahan the repositories of the rights of
the people Of Wilmington?
The people have not asked for this
measure and the people do not want it.
! If the present Police Commission was
| conceived in sin aud born in inqnity, who
was responsible for it but Governor Rcy.
| nulds and his henChman, Mr.. Dickcy?
| Granted that Police Commissioner Jester
| is stencil in the nostrls of decent people,
| was not Mr. lester appointed by n Demo
cratic governor, al the solicitation of
Democratic boss, to betray his fellOw-Re-
| publiGans for mess Of pOttagc2 That he
did not bctray them was due 10 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 fellow man. In your hands
letter rights, their liberties. Fulfil your
a
and PRAISED ana trusted, as you should be-
lietrny that trust and you will as surely
| meet With the contempt of your fellow.
men. There is a compensation IN the
affairs Of merit just as surely as ii exists
in nature. Violate the laws of nature and
the punishment IS as certain as the fact
that night follows day. Violate the prinCi-
pies pf right truth and justice in your
dealings with your fellow man, and a com.
pcn-uting fate II sure to uvertakp YOU.
Right, truth and Justice are the trinity of
virtues which are the very foundation of
good government and as far as Won vary
from these beacon lights IN dealing with
Your fe!lowm just so far are You
dycrgIug from the very essence of our
government.
III passing this proposed Police Commits
sion bill, you are violating all three 81
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 Il inpaslr,
whose salc object is to further selfish ant
partisan ends and you place in the hand:
! Of another tie right Of saying who sha
minister our municipal affairs.
Is this right
Is this justice
. l. this common sense?
i this politics.
, In your insane desire to please a certain
: elias, nt yoar party associates, Won propose
to pass a law that strikes at the very roo
ui sgli-gpycrnment. As Il law il is an ont
I rage IN our rights and betrayal Of tn
> trust We have placed in your hands As
political measure, it is suicidal If yul
should pass this measure YOU would bu
= have to pass one more law giving tn
:. governor power to appoint the mayor o
Z Wilmington and your contemplated action
wUuld be complete. such will be the effec
y If this law is passed.