Middletown transcript., 1895-05-11
Youngest Republican Of the body, but

youngest Republican Of the body, but
when the members of Kent county in
vain tried to settle upon a clerk for
Kent to which county the clerkship
was conceded, Mr.. Downham waved
his election, and a speaker was chosen
from Kent and the clerkship went to
Sussex. Any member of that General
Assembly will bear witness to the above
fact. This is falsehood No. l.
"It was settled who was to be made
United States Senator before any eau.
Gus was had. Mr.. Downham well
knows how, when, where and by
whom it was DONE" The man does
not live, and never did live, who evel
had any knowledge or took any part
in any such settlement, nor will any
paper ever produce the first line Of
proof to that effect. This is falsehoo6
No. 2.
That Mr.. Downham was rewarded
by Senator Higgins with pretty lit
tie Office in Washington" can be be-
lieved by all who desire to do so. Mr.
Downham stood all night in the caucus
for the man that his county wanted
the man who had lead the Republicans
of old Sussex to victory, Charles Fl.
Treat, but being assured by the men
opposed to his election that Mr.. Treat
could not be elected, Mr.. Downham at
the early morning hour, after an all
night vigil, turned his efforts towards
the election of the man who in New
Castle county had stood as leader OF
the Republican party in victory or de-
feat the same for twenty years, and
the result was the election of Anthony
Higgins. His record of six years in
the United States Senate stands out
clean and clear, able and brilliant, and
last Wednesday and Thursday not less
than 95 per cent. of the Republicans of
the State desired to see him elected to
succeed himself. No better vindication
of the choice eff the General Assembly
of 1889 is needed than the feeling
among the Republicans within the
State and Of all self-respecting citizens
within or without the State to-day, of
the character of Anthony Higgins,
nor can little men nor little papers
detract from the place he holds in the
nation, in the State, and with the best
people of whatever political opinion.
Mr.. Treat had no idea of being a can
didate for the Senate when he was a
candidate for Representative in Con-
gress nor can the name of any man be
given who has knowledge of any such
intention on his part, hence Mr.. Down
ham, could not, and did not, make him
any promise before the election, and
never made him any promise after the
election. Accusation that he did is
falsehood No. 3.
Falsehood No. 4 is the assertion that
Mr.. Downham claimed to be "a Massey
man." He did claim, and does claim,
respect for Mr.. Massey personally, be-
cause of his former personal and bust
ness relations with Mr.. Massey, and
regrets as much as any one can that
Mr.. Massey did not decide years ago
to enlist fully as a Republican leader
in this State, and to help fight its
battles under all circumstances. He
would have made brilliant leader,
and with Higgins and Massey in the
Senate, as it might have been, no
State would have been better repre-
sented in the United States Senate.
We feel that IAN apology is due our
readers for this extended notice of an
anonymous scribbler, but being a
comparative stranger to the people of
the community, we felt it but right to
publish the letter in full and to make
the contradictions explicit that both
sides may be read and we are willing
to leave the verdict to discriminating
public.