Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-06
They Are Sot Consistent.

I
The protest Of the Republican papers,
particularly those Of this city, against
the partisan action Of the Sussex county
Levy Court with respect to the assessors
of Cedar Creek and other Republican
hundreds, comes with very bad grace
and small consistency. 1t has not been
many months since there was an in
stance of partisan unfairness and polili-
cal rascality in this city shat casts the
Sussex outrages in the shade, and yet it
was condoned and excused by the Re-
publican papers, simply because il was
committed by the agents of the Repuo-
lcan party, and iu the interest OF that
organization.
The instance referred to was the
Maguigan-G Griffin contest in City Coun'
Gil, in July, 1892. James NJ. Griffin, a
Democrat, was duly elected member
of City Council from the Third ward of
this city, and mis- seat was contested by
Francis Maguigan, Republican. On the
unsupported testimony Of 4 man named
Louis House-a man whose subsequent
actions proved his utter unre!iabllity
and unworthiness-to the effect that
certain ballots were counted for Griffin
that should not have been, the Council
unseated Griffin and gave his place to
Maguigan. There was no pretence that
this man House was an election officer,
or had any special means of obtaining
correctly the alleged facts to which he
testified, He was merely spectator OF
the count, and 1t was proved that he
was not in position to see what he
swore he had seen. The Republican
members of Council who in spirit Of
blind partisanship accepted his rotten
testimony, could not Help knowing that
it was untrue, but they voted to unseat
Griffin, who was elected, because he
was Democrat, and to seat Maguigan,
who was not elected, because he was
Republican. The witness whose crooked
testimony was used as the basis for this
great wrong was soon after sent to Jail
for another, though less heinous offence,
but the stolen seat in City Council is
filled to this day by the man who was
honestly defeated by the people of the
Third ward at the polls.
} THE GAZETTE denounced this out
r rage at the time. 1t has denounced the
t outrage committed by the Democratic
i Levy Court Of Sussex county against the
S people of Cedar Greek hundred. 1t is
: consistent in its opposition to fraud and
e the upsetting of the verdict of the peo-
pie, no matter by which party the wrong
i is perpetrated. But it does not lie in
: the mouths of the Republican papers to
e denounce partisan outrage by Democrat:
e as long as they defend it when committed
o by Republicans. This reference to the
d Griffin Maguigan case will serve to show
the shallowness of their pretences, and
e the hollowness of the indignant senti
+ ments they now express. They are not
C indignant at the act of injustice perpe
Il trated by the Levy Court of SUISSE!
l. county; they arc simply angry because
e it was directed against the Republican
sr party.
i Such partisanship can never becom
ct effective in rcdressing wrong or in en-
lo forcing respect for law and honesty il
le the conduct of elections and the deter
Of mination of their results. twill requir
A. the united efforts of the reputable mem
" bers of both parties, men who condemn
at fraud and will demand its sure punish
De ment, whether committed in the nam
~ of Democracy or in the interest of RI
re publicsnism.