Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-11-21
Governor watson's Choice of the Delaware
Dny Orator.


Our esteemed contemporary, the
Dover Index, seems to think that there
was something peculiarly inappropriate
IL Governor Watson's inviting William
Michael Byrne to deliver the Grafton on
Delaware Day at the Atlanta EXPOSE
ton, because, forsooth, Mr.. Byrne had
previously been 10 Atlanta to look up
precedents bearing on the constitutions
ality of the Governors vote in the Joint
Assembly last May. We understand,
as a matter Of fact, that Mr.. Byrne did
not go to Atlanta for any such purpose.
When he was in that city last August
on legal business connected with will
case, he heard incidently of some
Georgia presidents alleged to have some
bearing, by way of analogy, on the Della
ware Senatorial contest, and he looked
them up as matter Of personal IN
terest or curiosity and not as retained
counsel.
But even surprising Mr. Byrne went
to Atlanta for the sole purpose of find
ing material TO support the weak claim
which has been set up for Colonel du
Pont; what of it, Was it an improper
thing for him 70 do? lie is Republi-
can lawyer, outspoken in politics. He
is junior law partner of Mr. Edward
G. Bradford, who is understood TO be
Colonel du Points legal counsel. Hunt
ing up presidents TO aid Col. du Points
contest is not work that Democrat or
an Addicks Republican would natur-
ally fancy, but we can see no reason
whatever why lawyer of Mr.. Byrne's
politics and affiliations might not IN
dertake it with perfect propriety. His
doing SO could not possibly be construed
into any personal offence or atfront
TO Governor Watson. 1t involves no
personal animus. 1t was something
which any Republican lawyer, not un-
der obligations to Mr.. Addicks, might
naturally, honorably and appropriately
do.
II it was proper for Governor Watson
TO invite any Republican lawyer tc
make tho Atlanta speech, it was
not improper to invite one who had
given professional services to aid In
the du Pont contest. And what posi-
Bile improperly could there be in call.
ing on "a suitable Republican to make
the speech for Delaware at Atlanta
He spoke not as a politician, but as
Delawarean. Politics have their place,
but the man is not wise who insists OF
using politics 10 salt his food anG
sweeten his drink. There should b.
some limits put on political strife. II
is quite too much of a good thing IL
drag political differences into such ar
occasion as Delaware Day at Atlanta
Governor Watson had the duty d
selecting an orator who could berom
ingly speak for this State as one of tn,
sisterhood of States in tho Union. s,
long AS he chose one who had too mucl
sense and good taste to refer to mart
politics on such an occasion, it did no
matter whether the orator chosen was
Democrat, Republican, OF Prohibi
Zionist.
As The event proved, Governor Wal
son made good selection, for thos
present agree that Mr.. Byme acquitte
himself handsomely. Even withou
the charm Of Mr. Byrne's delivery, til
speech in Every Evenings cold tyI
was pleasing and appropriate wit
sound sentiment and choice dictior
II Mr.. Byrne added to his reputatio
by the effort, that result came from III
merit of his speech, and is ccrtainl
no cause for unhappiness on the pai
Of tho Index or Of any citizen Of Del;
ware.