Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04

Respectable men who prefer the Re-
publican party on national issues, should
think seriously before voting to turn
over our State government to that party
as we have 1t in Delaware.
For many years the Democrats have
had control in Delaware. They have
given us clean and honorable admins.
tration. They have been conservative
and economical.
The public money has been neither
wasted nor stolen. Scandals In the
administration of public affairs have
been almost unheard of.
Our city and towns have been pro-
tected by the State Legislature, and
municipal affairs are well managed.
Our school system has been built up
until it is one CT the very best in the
United States.
Justice has been administered In our
courts without stain.
Our taxes are light, and our credit is
high.
We have moved towards Constitu.
tional Convention until it Is now imme.
diately at hand.
In our State affairs we have every
thing to lose, and absolutely nothing to
gain, by turning the Democrats out and
putting the Republicans in. The good
conduct of the party SO long in power
in Delaware, is probably due to the fact
that 1t is composed entirely OF the hon
est and independent plain people of the
State. Its officers have had before their
eyes an accounting with the people at
their party primaries.
The composition of the Republican
party in Delaware and the force upon
which it is relying, do not promise well
for the State If it should be successful
at the polls.
Over third of the voters in that party
are negroes. We are not appealing to
race prejudice, but desire simply to
point out that the 1000 negro voters in
the Republican party constitute solid,
ignorant, hoss-ridden force. They domi-
nate the party's primaries. From the
nature of the case, themen who unite
with these 1000 negro voters to control
the party are not the cleanest, most
patriotic, and most responsible men in its
ranks. The serious situation we are point
ing out is manifest in this city TO every
decent Republican who goes to the polls
on primary election day.
II is even worse in the lower counties
where the negro vote is half of the
whole Republican vote. As a result of
the situation, and as an illustration of
what we are indicating, probably it is
safe to say that the politicians who con-
troll the Republican party in Sussex,
and who sold out their recent con.
vention to Mr.. Addicks, could not get
one thousand dollars from any bank on
q note endorsed by every one of them.
Perhaps the force upon which the Re.
publican party in Delaware has learned
to rely, is even more serious evil than its
Its negro vote. Pennsylvania Republicans
have so often made up purses to buy
Delaware, and wealthy Republicans in
this city have given so often and so freely
to campaign funds, that their party in the
State has learned to look to its corrup.
ton fund as its greatest political
strength.
Doubtless the average Wilmington Re-
publican was amazed, as we confess that
we were, when he saw his party bought
up at its recent conventions in Kent and
Sussex. 1t was an indication of the evils
in store for Delaware if such purchase
BILE politicians be put in control of the
State government.
Now, in view of these irresponsible
negro voters, controlling the primaries
of the Republican party, and in view of
this corruption of the party organiza-
ton, can respectable men afford, no
matter what they may think about the
tariff, to vote to turn out such a local
administration as We now enjoy and to
put in its place such a party as the
Republicans have become in Delaware ?
State affairs are very important. Re-
publicans who visit the far South and
see for themselves the situation, are
usually free to say on their return that
If they lived there they would vote with
the Democrats on local and State mat.
tiers. On the same principle, conserva.
tive and respectable men, be theil
opinion on national issues what it may
should vote with the Democrats in Della