Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21
violation of Election Laws Punished.

The verdict of the jury which Wednes.
day convicted John Lally on the charge
Of illegally registering, marks the rising
tide Of public opinion in this State. II
is tide that flows against corruption,
fraud and all kinds Of chicanery at cleo
tons.
Net long ago the feeling was general
that jury could not be induced to con-
vict man for violating the election
laws. Political tricksters felt secure.
Democrats who violated election laws
thought that they could rely upon there
being some Democrats on the Jury to
stand out against conviction. Ropubll.
cans who violated election laws had
equal confidence in some Republicans
on the jury to protect them. The work
of the political ROSTERS went merrily
on, with none TO molest or make them
afraid.
The present term OF court has seen
two men convicted for violation Of the
election law. One isa Republican, and
he was convicted by Jury with Re-
publicans on it. The other is Demo-
crat, and he was convicted by a jury
with Democrats on it. These con-
victons mean that public opinion is be.
coming enlightened on the subject of
corruption and fraud at elections. They
mean that political tricksters high and
low must take warning and prepare for
the wrath of outraged law.
II will not be safe in the future for
men to buy and sell votes, 10 register
and vote illegally, to forge tax receipts,
and to do other things fraudulent and
corrupt in politics. Good men in both
parties are resolving in their own minds
that such practices should stop, and
that they must stop. The men from
whom juries are drawn are getting their
eyes so wide open that partisanship can
no longer llind them 10 crime against
the ballot box, committed by members
of their own party.
The verdicts in these two cases Of
illegal registration must cheer the hearts
Of those who are determined to purify
the politics of Delaware. Such verdicts
hatly contradict the gloomy predictions
of those who shake their heads and Sc y
that corruption has gone so far that no
Roadway can be made against it and
nothing effective done to check it.
Public opinion is already aroused on the
subject, and with thoroughly aroused
public sentiment there is enough that is
decent and upright and honest amongst
us to save Delaware from debauchery.
There is no reason, even from parti-
san standpoint, why Democrat on the
jury should not give his voice for the
conviction Of Democratic rooster who
violates election laws, or why q Repub-
lican should not do the same for the
conviction of Republican rooster. The
man who violates the law in the name
and for the supposed interest of a politi.
cal party does his party great deal
more harm than good. Corruption wins
not more than honesty" In the long
run it wins not half so much. The
sooner all tricksters are outside of
political party and inside of q Jail, the
better it is for the political party.
Ii either of the great political parties
in this State would only drive every
trickster. corruptionist, aud rooster out
of 1t, and become in deed and very truth
scrupulously honorable and pure in all
of its dealings, it would become invinci-
BILE. Its corrupt opponent would be
helpless in the face of such party; for
decent men are in an overwhelming ma
jority and such men are sick to the
hearts core of indecent politics.
The conviction of two men out of the
many known and unknown ROSTERS who
violated the law at the last election, is a
small beginning, but il is beginning
that distinctly marks the rising tide of
public opinion. The enforcement of
election laws with the same vigor that
other laws are enforced is necessary
feature of the reform to which this
journal is devoted and to the accom-
pllshment of which good men in every
part Of Delaware are turning.
Mr.. Edward G. Bradford has declared
in favor of electing our judges for
term Of twelve or fifteen years. That