Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-03
ppecIaioorrespondouce of Gazette ana journal

Dover, Jan. 1.-The second biennia!
message of Governor Robert j. Reynolds
was read in both branches Of the General
Assembly to-day. 1t is as follows:
Gentlemen of The Senate and House Of RGp.
reseatdtives In addressing the people OF
this State through you. their representa-
tives am aware that | am performing
flight of time, which has brought you to
the threshold of your public duties, is fast
closing the door upon mine The eXecu-
ton OF your labors, your debates anu
counsels, will all take place under new
administration, and with new executive
in my stead,
IL is the consciousness of these facts that
has induced me to deal especially with
those subjects which all men must agree
are Of the highest Importance to the people
of this commonwealth. lnean those SUD
iects which lie at the very toundatlon ol
our government, and which most nearly
concern the honor and stability OF our IN
stltutions.
Our State is small in territory and popu-
lation. Our material resources are limited.
We have no rich mines. no extensive
forests, no large seaboards, anu but
limited number of manufacturing interests.
The chief industry of the rural portion OF
the State is agriculture, which yields only
u moderate return 10 the toll OF the nus
\ bnndman. Under these conditions, indus
try, with economy. may bring the SUD
stantial comforts of life, put not the
Injuries which characterize the livings OF
the rich 1t is not then by our area, nor
bv our wealth or commercial Importance
that orr pusition among the sisterhood OF
states is to be determined, but by the char
} acter of our citizenship.
/ hold it TO be true of all good men
Z that their honor is their most cher
ished possession. And ! hold il true,
as we'll, that the State, which is
Y but the aggregation of the individuals,
has an honor to cherish as dear and as
sacred as that of any one OF her most
honorable and exalted citizens In moth
ing does that honor consist more than IN
the preservation of the source OF political
power from the taint or suspicion OF cor
ruption.
of government the people are the ultimate
source of all political power. All authority
indirectly emanates from them. GoN-
ernors and legislators are but the executors
of their will, and judges the eXpounders
t of their opinion crystalized into law. That
IA will or opinion is ascertained through the
medium of the ballot, and its corruption
involves nothing less than the corruption
of our entire system of government, ana
VA the final subversion of our republican IN
stitutions. The ballot should be the eX'
X preston of the conscience OF the lndlVld
a ia voter. When it ceases to reflect the
r honest and unbiased will of the people
then representative government ceases tt
a be representative. 1t VIII exist III name
only and not in substance.
N This brings me to consideration OF the
IA subject of elections,
M ELECTIONS.
The usual methods employed by unscru
3 pulous politicians to corrupt the ballot arr
IN intimidation and bribery; and our expert
f ence at the late election emphasizes tn,
S especial danger of the latter evil. hav'
,W no desire to alude to this subject in th
lN to your attention the rapid growth of thi
~ fatal vice and to ask you to exert what
III ever mower YOU may possess to prevent tn
N repetition Of this deadly crime agains
# good government.
@ Whenever the polling booths come to b
M the market place for the barter and sale o
W the highest right of citizenship, then til
end of free government is not far distant
and large wealth in the hands of one man
N or OF several men, becomes 4 standing
menace to the safety OF our State and til
N continuance of her institutions.
You yourselves, no doubt, are awar
A that this vice has grown TO its presen
M magnitude, not so much on account Of tn
M lack of proper legislation, as of a too t0l
& Grant public sentiment. General Assem-
IVA blies prior to this have recognized ii
if danger, and enacted Jaws intended for it
SUPPRESSION. DuI IUelT GubIlS were ISil
4 dered futile because of the indifference o
gl the people who had not, up to the recer
lFt election been awakened to Il sense of tn
Gt enormity of this crime. For example, tn
esfN Legislature of 1891 adopted the Australia
system Of voting, then considered to b
KS the most effectnal method of securing
tSf pure and free ballot but its provision
HI have been virtually nullitied by the GU
&f pable failure of the people to carry thel
into effect. myself am convinced Of tn
effectiveness of this law, If fairly inte
preted and properly executed. The col
struction, however, which It's provision
in relation to voters assistants has r.
ceiyed, has well-nigh defeated the inter
sa stion and spirit Of the whole act. In fac
the whole statute, which was Intended
prevent has been used as q means to facll
tate bribery and corruption.
l can, therefore, think of no more in
perative duty resting upon you than
q carry out the design of the General A
AZ sembly OF 1891 by so amending the law
D to preclude even the possibility of sue
constructions or of such practices in ii
future This can only be done by aholis
MA ing the office of voters assistant" al
R by providing simply for assistance
M those who, unaided, are physically i
4 capable of exercising the elective fra
Z chise
There is still another feature of I'll
W subject which should address itself
Il your earnest andthoughtful considerable
| have before said that popular i
@ difference has been the chief cause
I f@ the non-entorcement of the laws again
/ & bribery at elections. No statute, howev
\ explicit in its details and drastic in
VI panaltes, will Gomplish the object of
VI authors unless it is backed UP by stro
F and uncompromising public sentimcl
N Without the corporation OF the people
& the discovery and prosecution of crin
& to which there are only two parties, a
IA both equally guilty, any law against
B commission is practically nullity. L
\ ~ consciousness that the eyes OF the co
H munity are upon them, will inspire suct
| M degree of caution and fear in the gull
I W minded as will lessen the frequency
I such crimes, and finally work its to
suppression. ),
4 a therefore recommend that a small {
I W propriution be made to defray the actl
4 s, expenses of such good people as III
l associate themselves together to ferret {
N such offenders against the purity OF |
II ballot, and bring them to the bar of pub
Justice, such action will, am coniide
M STIMULATE into activity public sentimt
already shocked by the wholesale bribt
which was practiced at the recent electio
4 FINANCES.
The report of the State Treasurer, he
with submitted, shows the finances of
State to be in that healthful and sa
E factory condition which an economical 9
Af honest administration of its affairs hi
established. The detailed statement G.
tanned in tha rA"Art shows an excess
IL II