New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-05
TUESDAY,
MARCH s, 1895.

three years Registration urder Democraaic ma nns-
Inhalation has been converted into partisan sys,
tenn Of DISTINGUISHING Republicans py .ee" 10.
errors. In various ways the eiec.io,i .Iast ana
been employed year after year FOR the Vs S,. on.
most dishonest partisan ends; ana hepuohSan7
have been exposed to intimidation. vexatlous ue
lay and organized duplcity wheneeer o,,esnsh,n
attempted to regain their rights OF ci'nenS,np'
Whether there have been high-handed ou,Iases'
as when three Democratic assessors In WIn'ns
ton with a partisan police behind them' nay ..
Guided hundreds OF Republicans from enroIlnen',
or whether there has been petty khave,y,
when citizens offering their ballots on Eiecuon
Day have found their names registered WIFI an
Incorrect initial and themselves disfranchised,
elections in Delaware have been crimes asains.
liberty and decency, and dastardiy assaui'' "p'"
the rights Of the people.
The Democratic managers have not been con-
tent with making a partisan use OF the assess
ment levy-court and registration statues no.
with insolently disregardng all forms OF law ana
justice: nor with taking part in intrigues ana con-
spira cies which have brought blusnes 10 the ,dces
OF all but well-seasoned party men. Iney naVS
been buying votes in Sussex and Kent counties
for many years This system was introduced
good many years ago. when s. was CONSIDERED
high price for vote. but 1t has been operated
until the market value has risen to 80 or even
$40 | am not speaking now OF elections IN New
Castle County but of the horrible corruption
which has prevailed in the other two counties.
and for which the Democratic party Is primarily
responsible Political corruption In those coun,les
Is as notorious as the knayery or the TAX coiiec-
tors and election officials. Lower Delaware nas
been not only demoraliZed, put Iouliy oeodue"e"
under Democratic rule.
These are among the facts to which the Ad-
dicks Republicans Of Sussex and Kent reler
when they attempt to justify the candidacy OF
their leader for the United States senate. lney
assert that they have been compelled 10 i've
under conditions of political rascaty which
have been intoerable: that abominable laws de-
signed a screen for trickery have been adm,n-
istered by unscrupuous partisans; that MI AZ
dicks saved from 200 to 1900 votes In the lower
counties by paying po-taxes when nopody eise
would do 1t. and that his financial Contributions
to the canvass have placed Republican voters
under obligations to him. and that their only nope
of victory two years hence lies in the contn-
uance Of his leadership. We must hgnt the
devil with fire." is the phrase commonly used
among the organized workers in southern Deia-
ware: and 1t Ia to be added that honorable men
like Mr.. Treat who know the state inch by men
and are thoroughly conversant with tne resources
OF Democratic tricksters, support TINS view.
What makes bad matter worse Is the I'M
practicability of any immediate reform or the
iniouitous poll-tax and election laws under which
Republicans have been cheated and dlstrahchiseu
for twenty years. While the present Legislature
is Republican on joint ballot, the Senate Is Demo
cratic and nothing can be done. Inc people
have sustained at the last election the demand
for a Constitutional Convention. but sectionalism
NAV intervene to prevent Legislation LOT carrying
out the popular will. There are three bills now
before tie Legislature providing Tor the e.ection
OF a Constitutional Convention, but IL Is douotiui
II a compromise on the basis or representation
can he effected between New Castle on one side
and Kent and Sussex on the other Inc taliure
of legislation will BE- a grave pupllc nisior,une,
since the political regeneration OF the state HeS
,'narringIv i'm radical measures Of election re-
form.
Whatever may be the result of the Senatorial
contest now in progress. or Whatever Juusniens
,a,, ha formed of a cola hard-cash candidacy
Uls that of Mr. Addicks the political conditions
OF Delaware. with sectional jealousies. provincial
feuds and a lamentable lack OF sensiuVehess Oh
an Questions Of morality in politics. are to be
Justly attributed 10 the protracted PERIOD oI
Democratic rule under the Bayards. Saulspur!s
h.seu n
foml atmosphere OF dupcity and corruption, ana
Delaware has become thoroughly acclimated 20
4, There is perhaps no other state wnere IL ~
81 h"'"'"' ~ I ~ F.