The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-11-21
LETTERS TO THE ED1ToB.
The Senatorial Question In Kent and Sussex
To the Editor OF THE MORNING NEWS

Tor the senatorship in Delaware; and, es
pecialy considering the character of the ar
guments beginning to be employed by Ger.
tain persons In order to influence the issue
Of the contest, 1t is imperative that truth.
full survey Of the sltuation-both past and
present-should be had, and few pertinent
facts recalled in order to obtain Just judg-
ment and hushed into shame silence the
senseless clamor Of the ignorant or hypo-
critical who are seeking to pervert the situa-
tion.
We can understand the motive underlying
Democratic hostility to Mr.. Addicks-a can
didate for the Senate-in the present con-
test. They know, by personal experience, his
strength and determination as a combatant.
and realize that, so far as Sussex and Kent
are concerned, he was the chief factor in the
recent fight. What we cannot understand is
the position of certain Republicans mouth
ing and repeating the drivel of Democratic
hate and vituperation against man who
has done more in lower Delaware to over
come the almost insuperable obstacles that
Democratic legislation had erected against
Republican endeavor or success than all
other influences combined in the last thirty
years. What were those obstacles, and what
has been. and is yet, the condition Of the Re-
publican party in Delaware In respect to
liberty Of the elective franchise, upon which
rests solely the question of political supre-
macy and the ability to sustain Republican
principles? Every Republican knows the
state of affairs-a tyranny of machine rule
more Infamous, more unscrupulous than can
be adequately described. and only realized
by bitter experience. Think of the corrupt
and shameless acts of assessors, collectors,
levy courts and registrars for years past!
Think Of the names of citizens being
scratched off of the assessors lists by ire
sponslble political heelers of levy courts ad-
journing, ostensibly that the clerk may at
tend the funeral of a second cousin of his
first wife's husband, but in reality that per-
sons applying for assessment might be
robbed OF the right of franchise! Call back
the spectacle of the Levy Court OF Sussex
county, after a day formally fixed by resolu-
tion, and after lists for every hundred had
been submitted in advance, in order that
any attempts at fraud might be defeated,
meeting before breakfast and adjourning,
leaving the county's work unfinished
breaking their oath OF office, drawing their
salary for days work not done. or rather
most foully done. and leaving scores of citi-
Zens, coming from great distances, standing
helpless in the clutches of the remorseless
machine built for the sole purpose Of per-
petrating Democratic supremacy. Remem-
ber that. following upon this, and fearing
that not enough had been done to lessen the
Republican vote, scores of voters were
stricken from the registration lists, and this
so nicely done to dot. as 1t saved the Demo-
cratic ticket In Kent, thus blocking Iegis-
lation by retaining possession of the Senate.
Remember also appeals carried to the
judges OF the State Of Delaware for relief
from this iniquity, and the profundity of
wisdom that was embodied in the two de-
cisons which followed-the first at George
town. mo relief, for the registration
board is dead" Such was the political state
of the Republican party In Delaware-in-
gloriously defeated for thirty years. with one
exception. and that given to us by the enemy
gratuitously-with no hope of deliverance
from this CALLING servitude. seeking in vain
for justice and freedom.
Now, what did Mr.. Addlcks do in the midst
of this hard and tyrannous condition of the
party? Did he say: "Eect your ticket and
then will step in and buy a seat in the SEN
ate?" No. After appeals had been made, and
made in vain. to the older leaders of the
party for the money to organize the party
and to infuse new life and hope through It's
ables from being returned by the Levy
Court Of Kent and SUSSEX am writing the
Sussex and Kent side OF the case. BY doing
this 1t was possible to even nominate state
and county tickets; to secure a complete and
hopeful organization in the face of the
Democratic machine. to enable the liberty
loving people of Kent and Sussex to free
themselves from the thraldom of Democratic
unserupulousness.
/ repeat that, after every effort had been
made. and Mr. Higgins himself had plainly
written his inability to furnish the neces-
sary means for party organization, Mr..
Addicks, candidate for the United States
senatorship for six years past, came for
ward and alone supplied the only means
which could give the Republicans of Kent
and Sussex any expectation of a success
ful light against a hitherto victorious Do
iitical machine. 1t is intimated in certain
quarters in New Castle county, and by
writer from Milford, Delaware, that every
friend Of MI. Addicks is venal and corrupt,
and that to advocate his candidacy is open
proof OF the same. What can be, and must
be said, OF those who knowingly received
the assistance of Mr. Addicks In all the
preliminary work of the campaign.-I speak
or Kent and Sussex-after all other an
peals for assistance had been refused and
who were fully informed during the whole
of the fight that no assistance was being
rendered by any other person to place men
upon the assessment lists; to pay delin-
quent taxes; to arm and strengthen the
party struggling helplessly before a mercl-
less machine. and who now stand as par
Elephants and victors in the recent fight
and yet spurn and villify the hand that
armed them in the conflict?
leave that contemplate position for
highly honorable men. II 1t is foul and
corrupt-this spending money to prosecute
a political campaign-why not have re-
fused the use Of 1t? Why do these honor
able objectors do the same thing? Are
these high-minded immaculates willing to
profit by another's liberality, without even
according fair treatment? on with the
gloves and handle the matter without dis
guise. Is it not known to all men that
the use Of money. both for organization
and for corruption, prevails In both par
ties, with men who engage In politics; and
yet the air is filled with the discordant
clamor Of hypocrites who think by noise.
to prove their virtue, or by senseless cack-
ling to exalt themselves to a higher alti-
tude Of morality. The methods of the re-
Gent campaign ulIer IN no wise from those
that have preceded. They have been In
our midst and openly followed by the emil
nent and respectable men OF the state. and
generally men have been nominated for
their capacity to give, and men rewarded
by positions OF trust and honor in proper
ton to their giving. II 1t is wrong-thls
use OF money In poltics-and, as Chaucer
says: II accorde, well 1t is so," then was 1t
wrong for Mr.. Bancroft, for Mr.. Gray, for
Mr. Bayard. for Mr.. Singerly In 1892, for
the whiskey and sugar trusts for state
treasurers, for oifice-holders, for ten-cent
contributors. to swell the fund; for SIS, 900
spent by legislative enactment for special
constables? On the other hand 1t was
wrong on the part of all those, In whatever
place, who have contributed to the Repub-
lican campaign fund In the past 1t was
wrong for Mr.. Higgins In 1883, but in re-
turn for which Kent and Sussex, without